As part of an initiative to modernize municipal government, the Florida League of Cities will host its first-ever MuniMod Hackathon on Friday, May 12 in Orlando, Florida. The MuniMod Hackathon is the Southeast’s largest civic tech competition, bringing together students studying fields ranging from electrical engineering to public administration to computer science, in order to address problems that are affecting cities and communities.

Ten teams representing nationally ranked universities across Florida will first complete virtual webinars to gain an understanding of the current climate within municipal government. The teams will then be presented with civic problems challenging our cities and will be tasked to work through the night to find innovative solutions to these problems.

"What Florida needs now is a generation of young minds who are invested in the success of their communities,” said Susan Haynie, president of Florida League of Cities and mayor of Boca Raton. “This competition gives us the chance to connect with these future leaders and help them start their journey to improving our cities, towns and villages."

The students will be given the opportunity to work with world-class advisers and mentors to find a creative solution using their unique skills and backgrounds. The goal of the competition is to find new approaches incorporating modern methods and technology. After 24 hours, the teams will present their solutions to a panel of judges, which will select the winning team and award a $10,000 grand prize.

"These students see problems in a way that no one else does,” said Dr. Haris Alibaši?, assistant professor and advisor of the University of West Florida team. “They have a unique perspective and provide valuable insight that leads to innovative solutions to the world of civic engagement."

The competition focuses in the areas of civic services, civic analytics, and civic engagement. This includes aspects such as utilities, infrastructure, big data analytics, public outreach, and participation. These factors have been identified as areas in need of improvement in recent years, and the competition provides a platform for students to bring a fresh perspective on how to enhance the current municipal government system.

The MuniMod competition lays the foundation for a new generation of civic problem solvers by giving students a way to apply their skills to real-world issues. By working to bridge the gap between technology and cities, the students will help cities throughout Florida, and potentially nationwide.