TROY – Automation

Alley Wednesday announced that participants in the upcoming #hack4detroit event

will use the city of Detroit’s new Open Data Portal to create an app to benefit

the city. The winning individual or team will receive a $5,000 grand prize.

#hack4detroit

is a 24-hour hackathon and will take place at Grand Circus Detroit from 7 p.m.

on June 12 to 7 p.m. on June 13. The specific challenge hackers will be asked

to address using the data will be announced on the day of the event. #hack4detroit

will include breakfast and lunch. The cost to participate is $20. Participation

is limited to 65 people. Registration closes June 5.

Apps will be judged by Beth Niblock, CIO of the City of Detroit; Sean Hurwitz,

CEO of Pixo; Brian Balasia, CEO of Digerati; and Will McDowell, Business

Analyst at Detroit Labs.

“The challenge to create an app using data from the city’s new Open Data Portal

provides a unique opportunity for the hackers to show off their creativity.

There’s a mountain of data available for them to use, so it will be interesting

to see which data they choose to incorporate and how they make it accessible to

users,” said Beth Niblock. “We’re excited to partner with Automation Alley on

this project and to see what solutions come out of it.”

“We’re looking forward to seeing what our participating #hack4detroit coders

can create for the city,” said Diane DeForest, Automation Alley director of

events and marketing. “The developers of the winning app are not only receiving

a great cash prize, but they are also giving back to the Detroit community in a

charitable way. We’d like to thank Grand Circus Detroit for partnering with us

to make this event possible.”

Participants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Open Data Portal

and other community information sources prior to the event. The Open Data

Portal can be found athttps://data.detroitmi.gov/.

Sponsors include Comcast Business, Delphix, Digerati, Detroit Labs and New

Horizons Computer Learning Centers.

Grand Circus Detroit is located at 1570 Woodward Ave. Parking is available in

the Detroit Opera House parking structure next door.