TOP NEWS

Risks Overshadow Benefits with Online Voting, Experts Warn As governments struggle to adapt to the election challenges surrounding COVID-19, a number of states have launched Internet voting pilots. But many experts argue that these programs could easily be co-opted by malicious actors.

CivicPlus Moves Into Low-Code Software for Digital Services With the CivicOptimize suite and its centerpiece, Productivity, the Kansas-based integrated software provider is offering governments its first “low-code” software tool to speed up the adoption of digital services.

Stanford Nonprofit Focuses on Government for COVID-19 Tools A professional network of physicians, scientists and entrepreneurs has formed the StartX Med COVID-19 Task Force, a collaborative group focused on government outreach and fast-tracking urgent technology.

Real-Time Risk Assessment Tool Could Aid Reopening Measures An AI-driven program from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland aims to give individuals and governments a real-time picture of the risk of coronavirus transmission in a given area based on state and local data.

MARKET SPOTLIGHT

State, Local Gov Face New Reality for 2020 U.S. Census COVID-19 has thoroughly upended plans to support the Census that have been in the works for months or even years, and now stakeholders at all levels of government must stay flexible in finding creative ways to adapt.

EVENTS

>e.Republic COVID-19 State & Local Gov’t Market Briefing Update: As we watch the “new normal” unfold, state and local budgets are becoming more fluid than ever. Despite the federal stimulus funds provided by the CARES Act, states and localities will face significant fiscal pressures. Regardless of cutbacks, technology will play a key role in helping mitigate these losses through a variety of solutions such as automation, security, mobility and cloud. State and local government agencies will also leverage new federal funding streams, shoring up revenue to implement new technology. Join Dustin Haisler and Joe Morris on May 19 at 11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET where they will provide an update on the state and local government market, discuss key trends, explore potential opportunities and help guide your government sales and marketing strategies now and in the future. Register now!

WATCHLIST

GovTech companies on our radar this week:

Lease on the Block: An early-stage startup using blockchain to store information on rent-controlled apartments in New York City.

Run a GovTech company? Get on our radar here.

BIZ NOTES

>AppliedXL has won a $25,000 grant from Differential Ventures.

WHAT WE'RE READING

One Unexpected Effect of COVID-19: Renewables Surge Past Coal in Electricity Generation (Earther)

How Grubhub Squeezes Dollars from Restaurants Using Phone Numbers (Buzzfeed News)

GovTechBiz is our weekly newsletter covering the companies, deals and trends in the business of gov tech. Got a news tip? Other feedback? We’re listening. Send it to GovTechBiz Editor Ben Miller at [email protected].

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