The City of Bellevue is dedicated to fostering a sustainable culture of inclusive innovation to ensure that innovation works for everyone. The Information Technology Department supports many types of innovation across the city including pilots, events and community engagement. Learn more about these projects and volunteer to help advance innovation inside and outside of city hall.
Goals
Digital Equity
Digital Equity is to empower all individuals in the community to fully participate in the digital world, irrespective of their background, race, income, language, education or geographic location.
Short-Term Goals
The Innovation Forum's Digital Equity Sub-Team will focus on four key areas as short-term goal initiatives.
- Foundational Framework: Map local resources, establish partnerships, and collect data from target community groups.
- Volunteer Opportunities: Research and Data Support
- Connectivity: Use Bellevue’s Digital Equity Grant to offer affordable internet access, promoting digital inclusion for residents, businesses, and schools.
- Devices: Provide equitable access to free or low-cost devices so everyone can fully engage in digital life, education, and work.
- Volunteer Opportunities: Research and Program Development Support
- Support: Provide free, accessible tech support to help individuals confidently manage and resolve digital issues, promoting equal access to technology.
- Volunteer Opportunities: Research, Map Findings for Locations, and Work with Local Providers
Long-Term Goals
- Connectivity: Offer affordable internet access to ensure everyone can connect for education, work, and communication, bridging the digital divide.
- Volunteer Opportunities: Research, Work with Local Providers, Identify Grant Opportunities
- Education: Provide digital literacy classes to build essential tech skills for education, jobs, and personal growth, advancing digital inclusion.
- Volunteer Opportunities: Outreach to Local Organizations and Map Findings for Locations
Digital Equity Device Program
Bellevue’s 2026 Digital Equity Device Program will provide 60 free devices with connectivity to eligible households. This one‑per‑household pilot supports residents who meet income and residency criteria.
View a print-friendly version of the Digital Equity Sub-Team Overview.
Prioritization and Policy
The Innovation Forum's Prioritization and Policy Sub Team provides meaningful input to city staff on community innovation priorities through the development of a Bellevue innovation framework. This work will help advance inclusive innovation opportunities in government service delivery.
The future of Bellevue is multidimensional, and city government will keep the trust of its residents by focusing on:
- High performance government
- Vibrant economy
- Safe and efficient transportation system
- High quality built and natural environment
- Community safety and health
- Thriving people and communities
Short-Term Goals
The Policy and Prioritization Sub-team will discuss and shape potential innovation policies that staff may bring to council for consideration.
- Establish Innovation Policy Framework
- Review existing AI Policy (public-facing)
- Review existing Privacy Policy (public-facing)
Volunteer Opportunities: Review Policy and Provide Input
Long-Term Goals
- Virtual Community Idea Lab
Volunteer Opportunities: Communications, Youth Engagement, Programming Ideas and Brainstorming
View a print-friendly version of the Prioritization and Policy Sub-Team Overview.
Innovation Ecosystem
Innovation Ecosystems intends to grow collaboration and beneficial relationships between startups, nonprofits, corporations, investors, academia and residents—to foster innovation that impacts the entire community and drives digital equity and economic growth.
Short-Term Goals
- Establish Community Partnerships
- Increase Forum Participation
Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteer to Mentor, Event Planning, Organizing, and Communications, Sponsorship Introductions, Volunteer for Talks and Demos, Youth Engagement, Programming Ideas and Brainstorming
Long-Term Goals
- Create a self-sustaining innovation hub, including small business support, digital learning, and field testing, where all community members can participate and benefit from innovation.
Volunteer Opportunities: Sponsorship Introductions, Thought Leadership and Advice, Programming Ideas
View a print-friendly version of the Innovation Partnerships Sub-Team Overview.
Accomplishments
Thanks to strong partnerships both within City Hall and with external collaborators, the Innovation Programs are gaining incredible momentum! Participation in our quarterly events continues to grow, doubling in size in less than a year. Our dedicated sub-teams have already made significant progress, successfully ticking off items on their workplans. The energy and excitement are palpable as we continue to drive innovation for everyone forward. We're also thrilled to announce that the regional Civic Innovation Day held in October was a huge success.
2026
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April
- 1st Civic Challenge Pilots Conclude
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March
- 1st Civic Challenge Milestone 3
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January
- 1st Civic Challenge Milestone 2
2025
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December
- 1st Civic Challenge Milestone 1
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October
- 1st Civic Challenge selects 4 participants
- Selected Civic Challenge participants showcased their solutions at the Innovation Exchange in City Hall on Thursday, Oct. 16
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July
- 1st Civic Challenge closes with 23 applicants
- City Council Adopts an Innovation Resolution and Framework
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June
- Bellevue College Trustees Adopt Resolution in support of an Innovative Partnership with the City
- 1st Civic Innovation Challenge Announced
- Held second Innovation Forum with sub-team work plans adopted
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March
- First Innovation Forum held, with sub team formed and beginning to develop work plans
2024
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November
- Council adopts the 2025/26 Budget with a CIP in support of innovation work
- Hosted an Innovation Forum preview, to get broad public input on concepts and priorities
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September
- Launched a public survey for initial feedback on forum concepts
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August
- Held stakeholder interviews to help shape the concept
Join a Sub-Team
If you're interested in joining a volunteer sub-team, please complete the form below.