At the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) annual meeting in Orlando, Fla. last week, the organization backed an action
plan to promote technology, entrepreneurship, open government, and innovation. The Technology and Innovation Task Force, which was created in the beginning of this year, passed a resolution which aims to promote open data at all levels of government; they believe this will encourage entrepreneurship, creating jobs and economic growth.
US Mayors Tout Open Government Innovation
A USCM Open Government Innovation Partnership was created by the action plan, which aims to: increase innovation and collaboration; highlight city leadership that is increasing opportunities with private sector companies; embrace open government innovation; and create public-private partnerships to better serve residents.
The USCM is actively seeking leaders in city government to join in the partnership. I think this is a step in the right direction, having seen first-hand the importance of local government supporting start-up hi-tech companies.
What do you think? Will this make a difference in encouraging city leadership to be more open and spur entrepreneurship?
Maybe not immediately, but over time, yes.