March 31, 2009 Data Feeds Claim Finalist Spot in Prestigious Harvard Government Award On March 31, 2009, the Government of the District of Columbia was named one of 50 semi-finalists for the prestigious Innovations in American Government Award. Sponsored annually by The Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, the competition showcases programs and integrated technologies that provide dynamic solutions to challenges facing the public sector. OCTO's entry, "Data Feeds: Democratization of Government Data", highlights the CityDW program and its use of near real-time operational data to provide government transparency and accountability. CityDW's Data Catalog and its live data feeds provide residents and businesses of the District of Columbia with information that keeps them informed and empowered to make decisions that directly affect their quality of life. In response to increasing mistrust regarding government's ability to be effective, the Innovations in American Government Award was established by the Ford Foundation in 1985. The awards program seeks to restore public faith in government through the creativity and excellence highlighted throughout the competition by the solutions presented by the participants. As a semi-finalist from a pool of over 600 applicants, OCTO's submission has undergone a rigorous screening process by leaders in the fields of public policy and technology. Finalists for the 2009 Innovations Award will be announced on May 18. On May 27, finalists will have an opportunity to present before the National Selection Committee, chaired by Harvard Kennedy School Professor of Public Service, David Gergen. Winners will be announced in September.