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
From Concept to Impact: How Counties are Successfully Evaluating the Use of AI
AI is transforming county government, but responsible adoption requires more than enthusiasm. In late 2025, the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) partnered with CAI to tackle a critical question: how can counties objectively evaluate AI tools for cost, security, data protection, and real-world fit? The answer became the GovAI Trustmark, a first-of-its-kind AI certification framework built by and for county government, launched in the spring of 2026. In this NACo webinar, the practitioners who were part of the workgroup will share the process in building this online evaluation dashboard and how it can work for counties nationwide.
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
USDA announces $44 million in rural broadband connectivity grant opportunities for FY 2026
On May 13, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced available grant funding under the Community Connect Grant Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. Earlier this month, USDA also released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program for FY 2026. In total, $44 million is available in financial assistance between these two programs.