BIC was launched in 2013 as a pilot project with funding from the legislature. In 2016, the legislature codified the program in statute and noted that "public data is a valuable resource that can assist businesses with strategic planning and decision-making" [1] and that "the private sector can be an important partner in creating tools that analyze the data for greater insight." [2]

BIC works with state and local government agencies to publish data to the state’s open data platform - the Colorado Information Marketplace. Previously, the program hosted a competition called Go Code Colorado, later reimagined as InnovateCO, to highlight the value of public data when placed in the hands of smart, creative, end-users but now focuses its energy in publishing and maintaining public datasets aggregated from many agency partners. The program also offers data tool workshops, provided in partnership with CU Leeds School of Business wherein it provides real life applications of data queries and teaches its participants how to navigate and derive the most value from using CIM and other data query tools available to business owners. The program will travel to interested parties’ locations and the course is free of charge.

[1] | Section 24-21-116(1)(a)(I), C.R.S.
[2] | Section 24-21-116(1)(a)(V), C.R.S.