Our very own Go Code Colorado has been recognized by Harvard’s Kennedy School for Democratic Government and Innovation as a Bright Idea in this year’s Innovations in American Government Awards competition. Government and innovation aren’t always the most obviously synonymous terms, but projects like Go Code Colorado are changing that.

Go Code Colorado was awarded for its novel approach to procurement—a process that has historically been bogged down by byzantine processes and risk-averse government agencies. Go Code Colorado flips the process on its head, inviting anyone to participate and choosing “products” that have already been built and shown to work. By putting competitive processes in the hands of competition-savvy entrepreneurs, Go Code Colorado’s model “Yields multiple, beneficial outcomes including adding value to taxpayers, actively opening data sources, creating new business, and building a stronger business climate.”

The Bright Idea is awarded to organizations that “shine a light on government programs and practices so that government leaders, public servants and other individuals can learn about innovative efforts and adopt those initiatives that can work in their own communities.”

This year, the Go Code Colorado Apps Challenge will begin with a kickoff event on April 8th and challenge weekends happening in five different locations throughout the state on April 10th, click here for details.

Colorado continues down the pioneering path into an era of innovation and entrepreneurship.