MDIA, an organization helping local governments adopt new technologies and improve public services, has received a $3 million investment from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to expand its public innovation model to more communities across the United States.
The investment will help MDIA bring its Public Innovation Challenge program to new cities, allowing local governments to work with startups and technology companies to solve public service problems.
Founded in Miami-Dade County in 2023, MDIA developed a model that helps government departments identify challenges, test new technologies, and move successful solutions toward procurement. The approach is designed to make it easier for governments to adopt innovative products and services without relying entirely on traditional procurement processes.
“Each local Public Innovation Challenge will open the door to structured collaboration between local government and entrepreneurs and tech-enabled small businesses in that community — a chance for local innovators to solve public problems in their own backyard,” said Leigh-Ann Buchanan, President & CEO of MDIA. “Technology innovation is far outpacing the ability of cities and municipalities to drive the changes they want to see. Our approach works alongside existing procurement rules to break down the barriers cities often face – slow procurement cycles, heavy requirements and specifications in prescribing solutions, and a lack of capacity in back-end integration. We work hand-in-hand with cities to test solutions in real-world settings before committing substantial funding, and build capacity for replicating solutions.”
Through eight Public Innovation Challenges, MDIA has supported projects involving airport passenger experiences, seaport cargo visibility, and emergency management. Its model has reduced the time from issuing a solicitation to launching a pilot by as much as 67%, cutting the process from an average of 18–24 months to as little as seven months.
The organization also reports that its open challenges receive an average of more than 70 applications, compared with approximately five to 15 responses for a typical government request for proposals. This gives local governments access to a broader range of potential solutions from startups and technology-enabled small businesses.
“MDIA started with a simple idea: bring innovators closer to the problems local governments face,” said Francesca de Quesada Covey, vice president of community impact at Knight Foundation. “In Miami-Dade, we’ve seen how much more is possible when we do that. MDIA’s pilots have saved time and money while improving resident services. I’m delighted to see this proven model scale to other Knight communities.”
MDIA works in areas that matter most to residents. These include waste management, transportation, water utilities, digital services, housing and emergency management. The organization helps local authorities try out technologies. This support helps cut down waiting times makes permitting and leads to better public service delivery.
The latest investment also supports MDIA’s expansion from a Miami-Dade-focused organization into a national network of partner communities. Miami-Dade Innovation Authority will continue operating as the flagship organization and serve as the model for other cities.
The initial expansion will include communities in Knight Foundation markets, including Akron, Ohio, and Macon, Georgia. Local governments will contribute leadership, staff time, and matching resources to run their own Public Innovation Challenges using MDIA’s established processes, technology, and technical support.
MDIA plans to begin launching challenges in its founding communities over the coming months, with Akron expected to start in late 2026. The organization will also develop city-specific case studies and shared tools for data management, governance and program evaluation.
The expansion aims to create a repeatable model that helps cities work more effectively with startups and adopt technology that improves residents’ daily lives.
With support from the Knight Foundation, MDIA plans to extend its approach to more communities across the country and build a broader network connecting public institutions with private-sector innovators.
