Public Service Announcement

$44,000 in cash prizes available in Apps4Halifax Open Data App Contest

Monday, September 9, 2013 (Halifax, NS) – Beginning today, September 9, HRM is inviting Nova Scotia developers and designers to turn one of the 276 ideas submitted by citizens - or an idea of their own - into a city-focussed app for a chance to win thousands of dollars in cash prizes in the HRM’s first open data app contest, Apps4Halifax. The app development phase will officially kick off this Friday at the opening night of a 48-hour Open Data Hackathon, cohosted with Halifax startup house Volta. At the Hackathon developers and designers will form teams to build an app prototype and have an additional opportunity to win prizes at the end of the event.

Apps submitted in the app development contest must use at least one dataset from HRM’s Open Data Catalogues and fit within at least one of the four categories: Keep ‘er Movin’, Live it Up, Go Green or Your City. There will be five cash prizes awarded in each category for a total of $44,000: Gold - $5000, Silver - $3000, Bronze - $1000, Top Student App - $1000, and People’s Choice - $1000. The contest is open to all Nova Scotia residents and full contest rules are on the contest website. The deadline for app submissions is November 29, 2013 at 4 p.m.

There are still a few spaces available for the Hackathon; a $10 registration fee is required to confirm your space. Attendance at the Hackathon is not mandatory to enter the Apps4Halifax contest.

What: Open Data Hackathon
When:
Friday, September 13 5-8 p.m. (kick off)
Saturday, September 14 – All day
Sunday, September 15 – All day (app prototype demos start at 4pm)
Where: Volta, 3rd Floor, 5415 Spring Garden Rd, Halifax, NS, B3J 1G1 Participants will have 24 hour access to the Volta building during the Hackathon.

For more information about the Apps4Halifax contest, and to register for the Open Data Hackathon, visit www.Apps4Halifax.ca.

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Media Contact:
Janet Bryson
HRM Communications
490-5057

Media Contact:
Janet Bryson
HRM Communications
490-5057