Civic Tech

The North Carolina library system began handing out refurbished laptops to eligible adults in Mecklenburg County this week as part of the MeckTech program. The initiative is focused on boosting computer and Internet access.

The Yolo Superior Court has started to send text messages regarding court dates, continuances and cancellations through their mobile smartphone. The notifications are only available to those involved in the proceedings.

In his first public appearance outside Springfield, newly inaugurated Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias visited Bloomington's driver services facility Thursday to talk about tech upgrades.

The one-stop shop MyCity commitment has yet to come to fruition despite over a year in office and a host of six-figure city contracts that had public hearings, according to the City Record.

Several of Pittsburgh's city departments will partner with startup companies in an effort to improve how city government functions and support the participating companies, Mayor Ed Gainey said Tuesday.

The Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is leveraging AI technology to streamline the return process for items in the lost and found. The new platform will save time and stress for visitors and airport staff.

Harris County Public Library has been supplying residents with free Google Chromebooks and T-Mobile 5G hot spots since February. So far some 40,000 hot spots and 15,000 laptops have been distributed.

In order to help support mobility for constituents who are blind or have low vision, the city of Tampa, Fla. has implemented a new technology solution to improve access to city services and facilities.

The Cook County 2010-2020 Census Demographics App received a major update today, giving users insight into a range of demographic changes that took place in the county between 2015 and 2020.

At least six states in the past few years have started pilot programs to test plastic roads. New federal legislation and programs have added to the momentum because of the government’s commitment to using sustainable materials.

Plus, New York reaches a critical milestone in its ongoing broadband connection efforts; Colorado offers more broadband grants; the NTIA highlights 40 local government digital inclusion resources; and more.

Clay Connected, a recently launched mobile app and platform, is offering residents in the county new access to service requests across county departments, timely information and a route to report problems.

The city’s approach to digital equity involves several different programs and partnerships managed through the Telecommunications and Regulatory Affairs office. This work has helped to solidify the region as a tech capital.

A partnership in the California county is connecting 50 families with no-cost Starlink Internet service as part of a larger effort to address disparities in Internet access for students in rural communities.

Before the big snowstorm hit the area on Nov. 17, Buffalo officials were talking up how their new GPS tracking for the 44 city snowplows would keep residents up to date on snow removal operations.

The Office of Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship has launched a new mural map and smartphone app to bring attention to the work of local art and artists. In recent years, the city has focused on replacing graffiti with murals.

As private-sector technology companies continue to announce layoffs, state and local government agencies looking for workers to bolster the public-sector workforce may be able to hire some of the skilled talent.

With Thanksgiving days away, GIS technology has been helping cities and local organizations understand how and where food insecurity impacts residents in their communities so they can prepare accordingly.