The city of Mableton has been named a winner of the 2026 Smart 20 Award for its 100% cloud-native municipal infrastructure. The global honor from Smart Cities Connect recognizes Mableton as the first city in the United States to run its entire government system without traditional on-site hardware.
The project, titled “Zero to 80,000: Building America’s First 100% Cloud-Native Municipal Infrastructure,” allowed the city to establish a digital city hall within six months of its incorporation. Mableton was selected alongside major metropolitan areas like Los Angeles and Las Vegas for the award, which identifies influential and innovative municipal projects worldwide.
Mayor Michael Owens, a cybersecurity and information technology executive, led the initiative alongside the City’s IT Security Risk Department. By using cloud-based platforms instead of physical server rooms, the city avoided millions of dollars in upfront infrastructure costs and six-figure consultant fees. Owens described the “City-in-a-Box” model as a potential blueprint for other municipalities across the country…