06-01-12 CO Governor’s Office of Information Technology announces the Colorado Information Marketplace

DENVER – Friday, June 1, 2012 – The Governor’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) today debuted the Colorado Information Marketplace, a comprehensive data-sharing website of statewide information.   The Colorado Information Marketplace can be found at data.colorado.gov.

OIT launched this platform to enhance productivity and collaboration between state agencies, local government, the private sector and the public.  Through this service, users can locate a wide variety of public data including a common directory for all state and local government agencies, locations of healthcare service providers, and access to a comparison of Colorado’s schools, to name just a few.  The data mining function of the Colorado Information Marketplace will increase government transparency and provide critical information that can easily be searched, sorted and downloaded.

“The Colorado Information Marketplace is an innovative way to connect businesses, academics, families, and visitors with the information they need, when and how they need it,” said Gov. John Hickenlooper. “  This program continues our efforts to ensure that government is working in a transparent, effective and efficient manner.”

The Colorado Information Marketplace is an innovative approach to access the state’s information that will: 

·         Provide the public data in one easily accessible site.
·         Increase government transparency of public information.
·         Reduce research efforts and time through using customizable data searches and interactive online resources at one location.
·         Provide entrepreneurs the opportunities to develop mobile and web applications.
·         Encourage user feedback for development of the site and dataset offerings.

Another aspect of the Colorado Information Marketplace is the platform it provides for state agencies to connect with one another other and share data.  This sharing of information will make government more efficient and result in more streamlined and effective services.  For example, by leveraging state data across certain agencies, Colorado will be able to create more effective education programs that increase workforce preparedness of graduating seniors.

“The Colorado Information Marketplace can save taxpayer dollars by giving policymakers another tool to evaluate and improve existing programs, reduce waste and increase government efficiency,” said Kristin D. Russell, Colorado’s Secretary of Technology and Chief Information Officer.

With each instance of public participation, the website becomes more robust, relevant and valuable.  “We are excited that Colorado is joining a growing number of states and cities utilizing a data marketplace to provide better services and increase government transparency,” said Russell.

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