Connected Colorado (C²) Challenge

We received 80 applications for the 2024 Challenge!

Thank you for your patience as our participating jurisdictions deliberate. We will be announcing winners soon!

In 2024, we were excited to have received a total of 80 applications, with 7 in Missing Middle Affordable Housing, 34 in Infrastructure Asset Analysis, 26 in Public Park and Open Space Usage, and 13 in Crime Prevention.

What is the C² Challenge?

The C² Challenge provides an open-ended innovation process for government procurement that removes the need to meet specific requirements and provides an open door to business and academic innovators to propose new ways of solving a problem. The goal is to provide communities with innovative solutions to specific issues that they are facing. The challenge enables urban and rural communities to leverage a collaborative approach to explore, vet, and implement regionally applicable solutions. 

After surveying our member jurisdictions about issues currently facing Colorado communities, the 2024 C² Challenge seeks actionable solutions that address four specific problems:

  • Missing Middle Affordable Housing: What sustainable, innovative, and affordable construction options are available that reduce the risks imposed by construction defect litigation? This problem area is looking to attract proposals using innovative housing technologies, methods, or data that reduce the cost of housing through public-private partnerships with local jurisdictions.
  • Infrastructure Asset Analysis: How do we better understand the location, condition, or usage of infrastructure so we can better plan, manage and maintain it? This could include, but is not limited to pedestrian infrastructure (sidewalks, curb cuts, etc), bike infrastructure, trails, roads, signage, streetlights, stormwater, or even tree canopies.
  • Public Park and Open Space Usage: How do we better measure how our public parks and open spaces are utilized? This could include the number and types of people using different facilities, digital tools for increasing accessibility of parks, proactively identifying needed maintenance, or detecting and responding to security issues.
  • Crime Prevention: Cities are looking for new ways to both address violent crime, proactively prevent crime, and increase feelings of safety and security in their boundaries. How can cities use innovative technologies to better prevent or respond to community resilience and feelings of safety.

To stay informed about the Challenge and other Alliance efforts, click here to be added to our distribution list.

Submit a Solution

The 2024 C² Challenge application is now CLOSED! Thank you to everyone who submitted. Stay tuned to follow the Challenge process.

Applicant expectations:

  • Submit proposal no later than July 26th
  • Submit a proposal that requests no more than $25,000
  • Attach a 5 slide overview of your solution
  • Review what it means to be a good partner in “Elements of Smart Government”
  • Be willing to co-develop the project and be patient

Purpose

To identify and test innovative solutions to the challenges threatening Colorado’s quality of life through an open, collaborative process.

Benefits

This is a unique opportunity to collaborate directly with smart cities in Colorado to develop and test solutions in real world environments while also gaining exposure within the Alliance network of more than 70 public, private, academic and allied members.

Participating Jurisdictions

Confirmed public sector participants thus far include the following jurisdictions: Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), City and County of Denver, Arapahoe County, Jefferson County, City of Aspen, City of Centennial, City of Colorado Springs, Commerce City, City of Greeley, City of Lakewood, and Arapahoe Libraries. Additional governments may be announced as the challenge progresses.

How does the C² Challenge work?

The C² Challenge process is divided into three separate stages:

  • Intake
    • Proposals are submitted via provided intake form
    • Deployment Board (made up of participating government employees) evaluates solutions
    • Deployment Board members choose solutions to implement in their communities
  • Execution
    • Cities partner with providers to implement solutions in their communities
  • Assessment
    • Assess results for outcomes

Timeline

Resources

In 2023, the Alliance’s C² Challenge received 75 solutions!

The 2023 Challenge resulted in eight solutions being selected as Winners for scoping and demonstration in Colorado communities (Press Release: Innovative Technologies Selected as Winners for Deployment by Local Governments Across Colorado).

 

Testimonials:

“I really love that [the Revive! Challenge] is saving time for the private sector through a single application process, and that it increases the efficiency of government employees, who can now work together implementing a joint solution.” – Melanie Ward, City of Centennial

“At Qwally, we have a big vision to make entrepreneurship and small business ownership more accessible than ever. Colorado Smart Cities Alliance built the challenge statement, assembled the audience, and gave us the opportunity to win. If you talk to any entrepreneur, that’s all they need—opportunity. Because of CSCA, we have an amazing new customer that helps turn our vision into a reality. We can only hope for more opportunities like these.” – Brandon Gumm, Qwally

“We’re honored to have the opportunity to work with at least one Colorado municipality [and potentially more] to redefine how our cities are being developed. The process of the Revive! Challenge was a truly great experience. The Alliance team was open, clear, responsive and informative and it made it a very positive experience for us as a solution provider.” – Dana Chermesh-Reshef, inCitu