Amazon Web Services challenge to honor local governments, developers

Amazon Web Services today announced a new challenge that will reward state and local governments along with applications developers innovating for the benefit of students using the company’s cloud computing products.

From May to June, a panel of experts will select seven grand prizewinners who will receive substantial credits for the company’s services.

“The AWS Cloud is enabling government innovation at all levels,” said Teresa Carlson, vice president of the worldwide public sector at AWS. “From the United States to Singapore, Europe to Brazil, and Japan to Australia, municipal governments and their technology partners are putting their ideas to work for citizens.”

“We’re looking forward to recognizing pioneering municipalities and partners, as well as seeing the next wave of ideas and innovations that will further transform what is possible for local and regional governments through low-cost, highly scalable, agile cloud computing services.”

AWS on Tuesday opened the call for entries for both the Best Practices Award and Partners in Innovation Award.

Three AWS local government projects will be awarded the Best Practices Award, recognizing local governments that have already adopted cloud technology, each receiving $50,000 in AWS credits. Four applications developers will be awarded the Partners in Innovation Award for individuals or companies engaged in creating applications that solve local government challenges, each receiving $25,000 in AWS credits.

Entries for both awards must be received no later than May 12, 2014. They will be judged based on one or more criteria that include the impact of the solution, likelihood of long-term success, implementation of AWS services, and the potential to help other local governments solve similar challenges.

AWS will announce the finalists by the end of May 2014, and the winners of the Best Practices Award and Partners in Innovation Award will be announced June 25, 2014 at the AWS Government, Education, and Nonprofits Symposium in Washington, D.C.

“It is an exciting time in government as we are in the very beginning stages of transformation – the cloud is accelerating innovation at every level of government around the world,” said Chris Coleman, mayor of St. Paul and president of National League of Cities. “Whether it is offering better service to residents through websites, mobile applications and access to data, or driving new levels of operational efficiency, the City on a Cloud Innovation Challenge makes it possible to dream big.”

For a complete description of prizes and applicable territories, read the contest official rules.