Tactical Objectives and Milestones

By mid-2025 the state aims to convene the new coordinating council, and by 2026 to begin publishing data governance guidelines and formalizing channels for communication and collaboration, among other milestones. Sanborn not only helped develop these recommendations but was also tasked with creating a business plan to implement the first strategic goal, a critical dependency of the objectives to follow. This approach – including defined milestones and periodic check-ins to adjust course – helps translate strategic vision into an integrated, long-term project that survives beyond initial enthusiasm. In short, Massachusetts now has a living roadmap to guide coordinated geospatial investments and policy changes throughout the coming years.

Collaborative Governance and Interagency Coordination

Establishing MaGICC – A Statewide GIS Council: At the heart of the strategy is a recommendation to formalize collaborative governance via the Massachusetts Geospatial Information Coordinating Council (MaGICC). This new council, composed of stakeholders across state agencies, regional and local governments, academia, nonprofits, and the private sector, will provide statewide coordination and shared decision-making for geospatial data and the Massachusetts Spatial Data Infrastructure (MSDI). MaGICC’s charter empowers it to make recommendations on geospatial policies, prioritize data investments, and champion standards – effectively giving the broader GIS community a voice in steering state data resources. With all key players at the table, this collaborative governance structure is expected to break down traditional agency silos and ensure decisions have cross-agency buy-in.

Data Governance Standards and Policies for Authoritative Data

The strategy emphasizes that high-quality, authoritative geospatial data doesn’t happen by accident – it requires intentional data governance policies and standards. A major actionable insight is the call to create a statewide geospatial data governance framework under the guidance of MaGICC and in consultation with the state’s Chief Data Officer and Chief Information Officer.

Once in place, consistent data standards and governance will yield far-reaching benefits. Agencies will be able to more easily integrate datasets that previously existed in isolation, enhancing the power of enterprise analytics and enabling one-stop digital services for citizens. By tightening data governance, the Commonwealth ensures that its data is not only accurate and up to date, but also interoperable across systems and jurisdictions. This yields tangible improvements in data discoverability and usability for all stakeholders. The strategic plan moves data governance from an ad-hoc, agency-specific practice to a coordinated, enterprise-level policy priority – one that will improve the consistency of authoritative data and trust in its use statewide.

Empowering Stakeholders with Resources and Capacity

A key theme throughout the plan is that great strategies require great support. Massachusetts recognizes that empowering stakeholders – especially municipalities and regional agencies who often create and maintain critical data – means lowering barriers to participation. This includes pursuing stable funding mechanisms for maintaining the MSDI.

The strategy encourages creative resource pooling: cost-sharing arrangements, interagency agreements, and public-private partnerships that allow multiple beneficiaries to co-fund data development and technology upgrades. By identifying overlapping needs (for instance, several towns needing updated maps) and funding them collaboratively, the Commonwealth can stretch dollars and avoid duplicate expenditures.