Civic Technology: Open Data and Citizen Volunteers as a Resource for North Carolina Local Governments

Civic technology is an emergent area of practice where IT experts and citizens without specialized IT skills volunteer their time using government-provided open data to improve government services or otherwise create public benefit. Civic tech, as it is often referred to, draws on longer-standing practices, particularly e-government and civic engagement. It is also a new form of citizen–government co-production, building on the trend of greater government transparency.

This report is designed to help North Carolina local government leaders:

• Define civic technology practices and describing North Carolina civic tech resources
• Highlight accomplishments and ongoing projects in civic tech (in North Carolina and beyond)
• Identify opportunities and challenges for North Carolina local governments in civic tech
• Provide a set of resources for education and involvement in civic tech
• Public participation