Mayor Bowser makes investment, data policy announcements at InnoMAYtion kickoff

Mayor Muriel Bowser and Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Brian Kenner gathered at Carnegie Library to kick off InnoMAYtion 2017 last Thursday night. The monthlong celebration, now in its third year, is devoted to celebrating entrepreneurship and innovation in D.C.

This year the month is focused around four key themes: impact economy, smart cities and civic solutions, youth in STEM and entrepreneurship and women in STEM and entrepreneurship.

As in years past, Mayor Bowser used the opportunity of the kickoff party to announce some new initiatives. First up, a new “DC Inclusive Innovation Program” that, according to a press release, “will invest millions in capital over the coming year, with a focus on supporting underserved entrepreneurs.” This has the sound of another piece of the Mayor’s ongoing commitment to fostering inclusive innovation, and we look forward to hearing more specifics on the program.

Bowser also unveiled the District’s new Data Policy — one the government is describing as “one of most progressive and comprehensive data policies in the nation.” The new policy is the result of more than a year of both internal and public discussion with partners like the revived Open Government Advisory Group, Code for D.C., the Sunlight Foundation and others. Importantly, it makes enterprise datasets open by default.

“The greatest value from the District’s investment in data can only be realized when the data is freely shared,” D.C. Chief Technology Officer Archana Vemulapalli said in a statement. “This policy reflects our DC values, to be good stewards of information, promote honesty, and continuously collaborate with our civic community.”

D.C. trying to get back in the open gov game was a key trend we noticed in 2016, and we’re pleased to see the latest development. Local open data activists seem excited about it too:

The new order, linked within, is unlike anything I've seen. I hope other cities study it and watch @OCTODC's progress. #opendata https://t.co/Oc8jAwMJPI

— Joshua Tauberer (@JoshData) May 5, 2017

I thanked @MayorBowser for setting DC's default to open for public access to information https://t.co/Rrg4jAPsuw Next step: data inventories pic.twitter.com/JgV7Ek8VbY

— Alex Howard (@digiphile) May 4, 2017

InnoMAYtion continues with more events all month — see what’s happening here.