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Rikard Larma/Metro
Philadelphia is gaining quite the reputation for its social media savvy.
The city made a strong showing at the 2011 GovFresh awards, with locally-based sites, apps, initiatives or Philly itself ranking either number one or number two in seven of the sixteen categories.
For the unenlightened (it's okay, I Googled this one, too), GovFresh is a website highlighting technological innovators and innovations that promote government-citizen collaboration.
Its annual list "best of" list, released last week, honored the most successful cities and projects. This year, Philadelphia was runner-up (though tied with Chicago) for the highly-coveted social media "City of the Year" prize, beat out only by New York, which officially proclaimed Apr. 16 "Foursquare Day" (how can anyone compete with that)?
Philly also ranked number two in blockbuster award category "Best Use of Social Media," again beat out by New York, but this time tied with Williamson County, TX for second (we're just as surprised as you are).
Most notably, Philadelphia ranked number one in four categories:
Other Philly-based runners-up include collaborative redistricting software DistrictBuilder, also developed by Azavea, for "Best Use of Open Source," and, for "Best Civic Startup," ElectNext, a site founded by University of Pennsylvania doctoral students that bills itself "like eHarmony for elections," matching citizens with politicians based on shared opinions and issues.
In summation, when it comes to grassroots civic technology (and really cool under-the-radar sites and apps), we're kind of awesome.
The city made a strong showing at the 2011 GovFresh awards, with locally-based sites, apps, initiatives or Philly itself ranking either number one or number two in seven of the sixteen categories.
For the unenlightened (it's okay, I Googled this one, too), GovFresh is a website highlighting technological innovators and innovations that promote government-citizen collaboration.
Its annual list "best of" list, released last week, honored the most successful cities and projects. This year, Philadelphia was runner-up (though tied with Chicago) for the highly-coveted social media "City of the Year" prize, beat out only by New York, which officially proclaimed Apr. 16 "Foursquare Day" (how can anyone compete with that)?
Philly also ranked number two in blockbuster award category "Best Use of Social Media," again beat out by New York, but this time tied with Williamson County, TX for second (we're just as surprised as you are).
Most notably, Philadelphia ranked number one in four categories:
- Best Government / Citizen Collaboration AND Best Open Data Platfom: OpenDataPhilly – The site, built by local software firm Azavea and packing strong partners like the city's Office of Innovation and Technology, connects Philadelphians with as much information across as many fields as possible to promote a more educated citizenry and encourage creative public uses of data. The portal provides access to over 100 data sets across a ton of fields, from campaign finance records to bicycle commuter routes.
- Best Transit App: Reroute.it – Developed by Code for America fellows Aaron Ogle of Philadelphia and San Francisco-based Talin Salway, the open source mobile site tells users the most efficient way get from one address to another by comparing the cost, time, calories and emissions expended by biking, walking, using public transit, taking a taxi and driving each route. Runner up? Septa.mobi, another Philly-based transit app that tracks SEPTA routes in real time.
- Best Social Services App: Sheltr – The mobile-friendly site and app was developed earlier this month by a Philly Random Hacks of Kindness collaboration and partners with resource-providers including Philadelphia's Office of Supportive Housing. You enter an address and receive a consolidated real time list (and map) of the closest available sources of food and shelter, whether affiliated with city agencies, churches or nonprofits.
Other Philly-based runners-up include collaborative redistricting software DistrictBuilder, also developed by Azavea, for "Best Use of Open Source," and, for "Best Civic Startup," ElectNext, a site founded by University of Pennsylvania doctoral students that bills itself "like eHarmony for elections," matching citizens with politicians based on shared opinions and issues.
In summation, when it comes to grassroots civic technology (and really cool under-the-radar sites and apps), we're kind of awesome.
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