How to Deliver a County AI Idea Hackathon
Available On-Demand
This webinar is available on-demand. If you have issue accessing the recording, please email nacomeetings@naco.org.
One collaborative strategy in prioritizing and evaluating AI Use-Cases is to hold an AI Idea Hackathon. A hackathon is a day-long exercise that spends time educating employees on how AI and GenAI work, and then “brainstorming” with county employees to identify areas within their businesses where AI could improve productivity and service delivery.
As you will hear from our speakers, there is magic in this event. Join us as we unpack both the practical and magical elements of an AI idea hackathon and learn how to create a cross-collaborative experience to help build your county's AI strategy.
Watch Recording
Speakers
Shannon Smith
Sybil Gurney
Rita Reynolds
Upcoming Events
Modern Networks, Smarter Budgets: A County Leader's Perspective
Join us for a fireside chat with Orleans County, NY, as they share how their team successfully transitioned from a traditional capital expense (CapEx) model to an operational expense (OpEx) model for network services.
When faced with rising maintenance costs and an expiring carrier contract, the county seized the opportunity to modernize its network and lock in predictable monthly costs. By bundling connectivity services with unified communications, they achieved immediate savings of over $124,000, eliminated recurring charges such as long-distance fees and third-party integration costs, and gained access to operational upgrades like call analytics and auto-attendants.
This shift not only strengthened financial planning through fixed monthly expenses but also freed up IT staff to focus on strategic initiatives.
Key takeaway: Rethinking your budget model can be just as impactful as upgrading your technology — delivering fiscal stability and enhanced services for your community.
Featured Resource
County Tech Xchange
The NACo County Tech Xchange is an online portal designed to connect county CIOs, IT Directors, CISOs, and other county IT leadership. This portal provides valuable resources in a central location that counties can use to improve their overall technology infrastructure.
Related News
House committee passes local broadband permitting preemption bills
The American Broadband Deployment Act of 2025 would enact new restrictions on a variety of state and local land use and zoning authorities pertaining to the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure.
White House signs Executive Order on state AI lawmaking
President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) aimed at mobilizing federal agencies to challenge existing state laws on artificial intelligence.