Civic News

Build an app for the city’s Philly311 Widget Contest

The city is looking for an app to add as a feature to its seven-month-old Philly311 app that lets users report city service problems.

At last month's BarCamp News Hackathon. With its short timeline, the winning 311 widget could be thought of as a hackathon project.

Get your civic app out to 13,000 Philadelphians.

That’s the winning prize for the city’s Philly311 Widget Contest. The city is looking for an app to add as a feature to its seven-month-old Philly311 app that lets users report city service problems.

Submit your app by June 4. Get more details and ideas for apps here.

Past 311 app widgets include the Election Day app and the L&I Property History app.

NoLibs hackerspace Devnuts will be hosting a hack night for the contest on May 21 at 6 p.m. Philly 311 director Rosetta Lue and Chief Innovation Officer Adel Ebeid will be on hand to provide feedback on projects.

The contest, which is not a paid contract (though it is posted on the city’s new site for tech contracts), feels a bit like a hackathon challenge, especially with its civic focus and  short timeline. Where’s the line from the community building and creativity inspiring hackathon and a challenge with civic incentive alone? This may help find out.

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