Posts tagged with: Development
March 09, 2010
On Tuesday the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation announced a new contest to develop online and mobile applications that will help people improve their lives through better access to government/community info and services.
The Apps for Inclusion Challenge “encourages technology innovators to review government and community services and develop tools that will improve lives by making it easier for citizens to receive these services through mobile and online applications.”
This announcement came during an event co-hosted by the Knight Foundation in which the FCC previewed its forthcoming National Broadband Plan. The FCC will be “in partnership” with the Knight Foundation on Apps for Inclusion.
Contest entry criteria and deadlines have not yet been announced. However, the Knight Foundation will commit a total of $100,000 in prize money. A panel of experts will review applications and pick winners. The public will have a vote through several “people’s choice awards.”
Stay tuned for further details.
By Amy Gahran, 03/09/10 at 4:14 pm
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August 24, 2010
More millions go into the pot for community technology with a new effort aimed at engaging citizens on local issues. The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation launched the Technology for Engagement Initiative August 24 in an effort to “help residents take action to strengthen their communities.” Knight quickly put some large amounts behind the effort, with $2.23 million in funding going to five projects, including one with a co-founder of Facebook and another involving Craigslist.
The biggest grants - of $750,000 apiece - go to Jumo.com and to the Craigslist Foundation. The Jumo site, started by Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes, matches individuals interested in fostering social change with organizations that can help them do it (Hughes explains the project in a video). The Craigslist Foundation project would create an idea-sharing website.
Additional grants of $250,000 apiece will go to two other efforts. One, called Code For America, is based on the Teach for America approach and will enlist promising web developers to foster more transparent, participatory and efficient city governments. Knight funding will bring the project to Philadelphia and Boulder, CO.
The second project to receive $250,000, dubbed Community PlanIt, will use an interactive gaming platform to help community stakeholders improve planning and problem solving, initially in four communities supported by other Knight grants.
A fifth grant of $235,000 will go to a project called CEOs for Cities. The proposed effort will test a crowd-sourcing platform in San Jose, CA and Grand Rapids, MI, in order to encourage residents to work with city hall to solve local problems.
Watch a video clip for more detail on the Knight initiative, or visit the initiative site to submit your own proposal for funding.
By A. Adam Glenn, 08/24/10 at 10:45 am
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