New Recovery.gov Recipient Mapping Feature

[1]Hot on the heels of the newly-announced [2] redesign [3], Recovery.gov today unveiled a new recipient mapping feature [1]. The new map lets users zoom in and out on a map of the country, with each Recovery Act project represented as a dot on the map, and dot size varying based on the number of projects per location. The map also allows users to sort by state (or associated regions, as even the Federated States of Micronesia is on here for some reason), size of contract, grant, or loan, and agency.

The map uses data from USASpending.gov [4], via the Federal Procurement Data System [5]. For a while now, we here at OMB Watch have been asking why the Recovery Act information on USAspending.gov is not available on Recovery.gov, and this map seems to be a response to these critiques. Ideally, though, the data source citation would be more prominent, since, as the reporting cycle isn't supposed to start until October, users could be confused as to the source of this data.

Unfortunately, the map isn't quite as functional as one would like. Users can't search by address or by recipient, features which would make this map a very powerful tool for the "citizen IGs" everyone keeps talking about. Also, the map is a little buggy (sometimes windows don't close, and some projects seem to be mislabeled location-wise), which limits its overall usefulness.

That said, all of these problems are easily fixed, and do not constitute serious issues. One thing is clear, however: despite its little flaws, this new mapping feature is a huge step in the right direction. We are very encouraged by it, and it gives us hope for the upcoming Recovery.gov redesign.