We’ve seen some great mashups combining public data with other Web services, such as Postacrime, the service that plots public surveillance cameras on Google Maps. A new contest is encouraging the development of dozens of such apps - specifically those that utilize Washington DC’s data catalog, which includes items like building permits, service requests, and juvenile arrests.
The Apps for Democracy contest, being run in conjunction with the DC Government’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer, is offering $20,000 in prizes to be distributed to up to 60 different application creators. Developers are encouraged to build a wide variety of mashups, including Web apps, widgets, map maships, iPhone apps, and Facebook/OpenSocial apps. The goal of the contest is “to reward technology developers with cash prizes and public recognition for creating applications that are useful for the DC government and the citizens, visitors and businesses of Washington, DC.”