BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) — A new startup that aims to connect local governments with residents more efficiently has won the Binghamton Business Plan Competition.
Civic Alert Systems is this year's winner.
The company allows local governments and cities to keep residents informed directly through text message, and in the event of an emergency like a weather event or burst water pipe, messages can be sent immediately to notify residents in real time or scheduled for a later time.
Co-owner Ryan Crist says the company will officially incorporate in January and hopes to have the PILOT program up and running by the end of the summer.
“It's about being able to communicate more reliably and more directly with our residents. If you think about the options that are available today, you can send things through the mail, which may get thrown away, you can post things on social media, which may get ignored, and many of them are not direct, effective or timely enough to reach people when they need them,” Crist said.
The contest winner will receive $5,000 plus services from local businesses, including accounting from Davidson Fox, legal counsel from Coughlin and Gerhart, website design from Freshy, sign creation from 3-i Graphics and Signs, branding services from Idea-Kraft and a three-month membership to the Koffman Incubator.
Second place winner UMAHARI won $2,000 and third place winner 2nd Heaven won $500.
