Next Century Cities Announces New Awards for Tech-Powered Civic Engagement

AUSTIN, TX – Next Century Cities announced the new Next Generation Engagement Awards, which will celebrate city governments that are harnessing high-speed Internet to enhance the democratic participation and civic engagement of their citizens.

Next Century Cities is a nonprofit membership organization of 130 communities nationwide focused on bringing more opportunities to their residents through access to fast, affordable, and reliable broadband. The inaugural Next Generation Engagement Awards, which will be awarded this summer, will elevate the wide array of creative innovations for using next-generation broadband to bolster civic engagement in communities.

Celebrating Pioneering Communities
“Broadband Internet is the opportunity-generating infrastructure of the 21st century. Communities across the country are beginning to tap the potential of high-quality broadband connectivity to improve civic life and democratic participation for their residents,” said Deb Socia, executive director of Next Century Cities. “With the new Next Generation Engagement Awards, Next Century Cities will celebrate communities that are pioneering the civic applications of high-speed Internet access and encourage other communities across the nation to learn from these innovators and enhance their own tech-powered democratic engagement.”

The Next Generation Engagement Awards will recognize at least three winners, who will receive up to $30,000 each and hands-on technical support for their projects. Applications from interested communities will be accepted through June 15, 2016. The awards program is being primarily supported by the Democracy Fund, with additional support from the Benton Foundation. Next Century Cities will host a public webinar on April 20 to share best practices in tech-powered democracy and offer details of the award application process. The application link and more information about the Next Generation Engagement Awards program can be at Next Century Cities.