Data Sharing Initiative

About the Program

Category: Information Technology (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

Alameda County launched its Data Sharing Initiative in 2011 to provide easy public access to records and information about County business and operations. At the direction of the Board of Supervisors, the County Administrator’s Office and the Information Technology Department lead the Initiative to enhance the County’s commitment to transparent government and civic engagement. The centerpiece of the Data Sharing Initiative is the County’s online data portal, which showcases more than 100 datasets with a vast selection of information - data about County restaurant inspections, crime reports, local parks and transit districts, and more. In 2012 and 2013, Alameda County hosted two public hackathons, called AC Apps Challenges, and an employees-only hackathon called Rethink AC, generating creative contributions from more than 300 people. These collaborative events (more are scheduled for this year) resulted in the creation of many innovative mobile/web apps – all using County data – designed for the community by the community. The Data Sharing Initiative not only has generated great new tools to enhance public access to government and community services, it continues to educate residents about the vital role the County plays in community life and to strengthen local government’s ties to the people it serves.