Hello, We’re Public Works Digital
January 2024
Every year, cities across America spend millions on software that doesn’t work. Software they can’t fix. Software they don’t own. Software that holds their data hostage and leaves citizens in the dark about how their government actually operates.
We’ve all seen it happen. A parking violation app that charges $24,000 annually for “cloud storage” while remaining perpetually broken. Critical municipal systems controlled by a single developer who may or may not answer the phone. Cities trapped in contracts they can’t escape, paying ever-increasing fees for software that never quite delivers what was promised.
Meanwhile, citizens—the people these systems are supposed to serve—have no visibility into the technology making decisions about their daily lives. They can’t report bugs. They can’t suggest improvements. They can’t even see what their tax dollars are buying.
We knew there had to be a better way.
A Different Approach to Government Technology
We’re Public Works Digital, and we’re building something different. We create software for governments that is open source by default, professionally supported, and truly owned by the communities it serves.
This isn’t some radical experiment. It’s a proven model that’s already transforming governments worldwide:
- Barcelona’s Decidim platform has engaged over 40,000 citizens in direct democratic participation, and it’s now used by more than 400 cities globally
- Boston became the first major US city to open source its entire municipal website, partnering with hundreds of volunteer developers
- The French Gendarmerie achieved 40% cost savings through their open source strategy
These aren’t isolated success stories. They’re proof that there’s a better way to build government technology.
Our Three Core Principles
1. Open Source by Default
Every line of code we write is public. Not hidden behind corporate walls. Not locked in proprietary systems. Public.
This means citizens can see exactly how their government’s technology works. Security researchers can identify vulnerabilities before they become problems. Other cities can learn from and build upon successful solutions. And your city maintains complete control over its digital infrastructure.
2. Professional Support, Not Vendor Lock-in
Open source doesn’t mean you’re on your own. We provide enterprise-grade support, implementation, training, and maintenance. The difference? You’re paying for our expertise and service, not for permission to use your own software.
If we don’t deliver, you can take your code and work with someone else. Or bring it in-house. Or modify it however you need. That’s not a bug in our business model—it’s the whole point.
3. Community-Driven Development
Government technology shouldn’t be a black box. Our platforms enable real civic engagement: citizens can report issues, request features, and even contribute improvements.
Imagine a world where a local developer could fix that annoying bug in the city’s permit system. Where university students could learn by working on real government code. Where citizens could actually see and influence the technology that governs their lives.
Why This Matters Now
The federal government loses between $233 and $521 billion annually to procurement waste and fraud. A significant portion of that is in technology. At the local level, cities are hemorrhaging money on systems that don’t serve their needs while citizens grow increasingly frustrated with outdated, opaque government services.
The traditional vendor model is broken. It incentivizes lock-in over innovation, secrecy over transparency, and extraction over service. Cities need a partner, not a captor.
What We’re Building
We’re starting with the basics—the everyday systems cities need to serve their residents. Think citizen reporting platforms, permit systems, and public data portals. But built right: transparent, maintainable, and designed for the long term.
Each project we undertake becomes a foundation others can build upon. When we solve a problem for one city, we’re solving it for every city. When one community improves the code, every community benefits.
This is how we believe government technology should work: collaboratively, transparently, and always in service of the public good.
Join Us
Whether you’re a city official tired of vendor lock-in, a developer who wants to contribute to civic technology, or a citizen who believes government should be transparent—we want to hear from you.
We’re not just building software. We’re building a movement toward more open, accountable, and effective government. A movement that proves transparency and professionalism aren’t mutually exclusive. That shows how aligning incentives with the public good creates better outcomes for everyone.
The cities of the future will run on open source. They’ll engage their citizens as partners, not just users. They’ll own their technology destiny instead of renting it from vendors who don’t share their values.
We’re Public Works Digital, and we’re here to help make that future a reality.
One commit at a time.
Ready to transform your city’s technology? Get in touch at info@publicworks.digital