Evergreen Apps Challenge Seeks to Create Apps, Stimulate Economic Development
If you live in the Washington State area and would be interested in developing apps for cash prizes that start at $500 and go up to $20,000, then you might want to check out the Evergreen Apps Challenge. This contest is offering prize money for development of apps that use government data and stimulate economic development throughout the state. The challenge officially started August 1st and is open to anyone who lives, works, or studies in Washington State. The city of Seattle, King County, and Washington State are all making government data available to developers. And wouldn’t it be cool to see what kind of interesting Serious-style game that an iOS developer could create from that?
Have an idea for an application that would benefit the people who live in Washington State? Need an idea for an app to build for the challenge? Check out the Evergreen Apps ideascale site for ideas to share. Among the data sets that will be available for developers to use for their apps are three posted by Seattle, King County, and Washington State.
In addition, three events are scheduled in August to build momentum for the challenge and connect developers with like-minded competitors. The first is Seattle’s Office of Economic Development will host City Business Casual on August 9, 2012, focused on technology start-up businesses. It will be held at the Alexis Hotel’s Library Bistro in Seattle, 5-7 p.m. The event is free and no reservations are necessary.
Geeks on a Ferry invites developers to ride the Washington State Ferry from Seattle to Bremerton on August 14, 2012, 3-10 p.m. Participants will have free Boingo wi-fi on the ferry and then spend about five hours at the Kitsap Conference Center working on apps. The registration fee is $35 for professionals and $15 for students and includes the ferry ride for those who need it and dinner. Lastly, Spokane will hold the third event on August 22, 2012, at Riverpoint Academy, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Developers will hear from ESRI and Socrata. Tickets include a light dinner. You can register for these events at the Evergreen Apps Challenge site.
“We’re coming together to encourage job creation and innovation here in Seattle and across the state,” said Seattle’s acting chief technology officer Erin Devoto. “If you’ve got an apps idea that can improve how we work, travel, play or learn, step forward and join the Evergreen Apps Challenge.”
The Evergreen Apps Challenge closes September 6, 2012, and awards will be presented on October 1 in Seattle. Check out the Evergreen Apps Challenge site for more info.
