Civic Tech

Digital Prince William, a program in Prince William County, Va., launched a pilot project offering free technology classes to older adults to teach them the digital skills necessary to operate mobile technology.

Plus, the U.S. Department of Commerce will invest $1.5 million in tribal connectivity programs; Georgia awards $408 million to broadband grants; North Carolina announces $350 million of grant funding for broadband; and more.

The county, which is home to Las Vegas, has announced it will be working to deploy optical sensor technology in one of its popular parks as part of a pilot project to monitor occupancy and vehicle counting.

Residents can now update their government-issued licenses and registrations, receive proactive reminders and complete transactions through the new Texas by Texas digital assistant platform.

Plus, a new bill proposal in the U.S. House would extend the lifespan of the Chief Data Officers Council; the Urban Libraries Council recognizes the top innovators of 2021 in digital equity; and more.

As the 12-month digital equity pilot program funded by US Ignite enters its final quarter, stakeholders involved in the project are noting its achievements and looking forward to possibly extending the effort.

Texas has refused to modernize and create an online voter registration system. As a result, communities across the state have less accurate voter rolls, and taxpayer money is wasted on paper.

The Indiana Management Performance Hub has played a key role in the state’s data-driven pandemic response strategy, as well as helping the state center data in its overall approach to governing.

All city technology agencies will now operate under the Office of Technology and Innovation, overseen by Chief Technology Officer Matthew Fraser. Fraser took over the CTO position earlier this month.

Plus, Missouri names a new director for the state's Office of Broadband Development, a grant in the San Francisco area aims to expand digital skills training for incarcerated individuals, and more.

Plus, the public comment period is now open for the broadband programs within the new infrastructure bill; Maine has named the first leader for its broadband authority; and a New Jersey city works on digital inclusion.

The state of New Mexico built a cloud-based platform during the pandemic to support the Department of Finance and Administration’s management of grants and funds from the emergency rental assistance program.

The New York City Department of Correction has increased the use of tablets since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to help offer information and resources to the individuals in custody within its facilities.

Plus, Iowa awards more than $200 million in federal broadband grant funding to rural communities; New York City puts out the call for Open Data Week civic tech programming proposals; and more.

The recently released 2021 Invest in What Works State Standard of Excellence analysis highlights the way states are using data to protect residents, speed economic recovery and improve equity.

The local farm-sales platform, called Healthy PlanEat, was originally the brainchild of East Lyme, Conn., native Rosemary Ostfeld, who teaches sustainable agriculture at Wesleyan University.

Plus, USDA invests in rural infrastructure, the Massachusetts Broadband Institute extends digital equity programs, and appointments are made to the Texas Broadband Development Office Board of Advisors.

More than half of all law enforcement agencies utilize body cameras to improve public trust and safety. Research shows that body cameras have positive behavioral impacts on both officers and citizens.