Honolulu

Challenge: Honolulu CFA whizzes are working on Honolulu Answers, which will streamline information sourcing on the city’s website. They’re also experimenting with three mobile and web apps aimed Honolulu's bus riders.

YEAR: 2012

Santa Cruz

Challenge: Santa Cruz wants to streamline its small business licensing process, which currently involves obtaining up to ten separate permits. They’re also toying with a bike registration app.

YEAR: 2012

Seattle

Challenge: The key creation of CFA 2011 in Seattle was CityGroups, a public directory that allows community organizers, residents and government officials to band together through local groups to improve services.

YEAR: 2011

Austin

Challenge: Right now, coders in Austin are working on Prepared.ly, which will help Austinites keep their community fire-safe by providing real time information on wildfire threats in the area.

YEAR: 2012

New Orleans

Challenge: Developers in New Orleans are experimenting with several rad apps to revitalize their community: OpenTreeMap, a crowd-sourced platform that allows the community to document the city's tree population; OpenBlock, a hyperlocal news site; and Blightstat.us, to help residents index blighted properties.

YEAR: 2012

Macon

Challenge: Macon fellows are working on Transit.me, a web and mobile app that will help residents navigate the Macon public transit system.

YEAR: 2012

Chicago

Challenge: This past winter Chicago CFA fellows rolled out ChicagoShovels.org, which allows Windy City residents to track snow plows, adopt a sidewalk to shovel, and lend hand to hard-up neighbors. Another app, Open 311 Dashboard, aims to translate the flood of 311 info into a clean, interactive dashboard.

YEAR: 2012

Detroit

Challenge: CFA wants to help Detroit promote redevelopment by organizing its data on vacant properties and involving citizens in the use of space. The fellows are also working on a Bus Tracker, which will provide real-time arrival and departure info to residents.

YEAR: 2012

Philadelphia

Challenge: Philadelphia created loads of apps last year, including Change by Us Philly, an open software platform that helps citizens and government crowdsource volunteers, ideas and funds for city improvement projects. This year, Philly fellows are working on Text Your City, which will allow residents to conveniently obtain city info via text.

YEAR: 2011 & 2012

Boston

Challenge: Last year, Boston fellows created a bunch of apps, like Adopt-a-Hydrant, which lets Bostonians sign up to dig out fire hydrants when they're packed in snow, and two apps for parents: DiscoverBPS. org, which helps them figure out which school is best for their kid, and Where's My School Bus, which provides real-time information on bus locations.

YEAR: 2011