Leading Digital Counties Recognized for Programs that Encourage Government Innovation, Collaboration

SACRAMENTO, CA--(Marketwired - July 20, 2017) - The Center for Digital Government (CDG) and the National Association of Counties (NACo) announced the winners of the 15^th annual Digital Counties Survey. The survey, conducted by CDG, partnership with NACo, identifies the best technology practices among U.S. counties, including initiatives that streamline delivery of government services, encourage collaboration and shared services, enhance cybersecurity and even reduce carbon emissions.

"Digital counties are leveraging technology to improve the ways they conduct business and engage with citizens in increasingly innovative and exciting ways," said Todd Sander, executive director, CDG. "The Center for Digital Government congratulates this year's winners for their work to reduce costs, encourage citizen engagement, increase efficiencies and proactively address citizen expectations."

"As technology continues to grow in all facets of our lives, county governments are adapting and innovating," said NACo Executive Director Matthew Chase. "The Digital Counties Survey spotlights how counties deploy technology to enhance services and benefit residents while being responsible stewards of taxpayer resources."

This year's first-place winners include:

• King County, Wash. (1,000,000 or more population category): King County leverages the cloud for cost savings and reduced carbon emissions. The county cut its data center footprint in half by eliminating its mainframe and virtualizing servers. The county's innovative conversion process uses Internet-of-Things sensors to convert carbon dioxide and methane gas from waste into clean energy, generating revenues of $1 to $2 million per year.

• Westchester County, N.Y. (500,000 - 999,999 population category): Westchester County is using technology to provide new and improved citizen services. Strategic investments include the Westchester Telecom network, advanced applications and solutions to streamline the delivery of government services, and collaboration with local municipalities to share services and increase efficiencies.

• Douglas County, Colo. (250,000-499,999 population category): The Douglas County Innovation League -- a county-wide training program which instills "lean" thinking in every department, team and employee - was launched last year. The training program is based on Lean/Agile and ITIL/ITSM best practices. To date, over 75 county employees have received training and implemented several dozen process-improvement and cost-saving measures.

• Arlington County, Va. (150,000-249,999 population category): Arlington County's primary goals are transparency, open government and economic development. Initiatives such as the Open Data Portal and a webcast program are helping the county achieve those goals. County board meetings, work sessions and commission meetings, including online real-time discussions, are streamed live over the internet and are increasing citizen participation exponentially.

• Albemarle County, Va. (up to 150,000 population category): Albemarle County launched numerous cybersecurity programs following an extensive security audit. In addition, SANS security training is provided for all employees. The county also recently completed the first community telecommunications plan using nearly $200,000 in grant awards, partnering with broadband providers, public safety, fire, schools and the courthouse.

The Center for Digital Government thanks the underwriters for this year's survey: Accela, CivicPlus, Dell EMC, ForeScout Technologies, Laserfiche, Microsoft, NetApp/ Cisco, Nutanix, Pure Storage and SHI.

For the full list of winners, CLICK HERE.

The Center for Digital Government is a national research and advisory institute focused on technology policy and best practices in state and local government. CDG is a division of e.Republic, the nation's only media and research company focused exclusively on state and local government and education.

The National Association of Counties (NACo) unites America's 3,069 county governments. Founded in 1935, NACo brings county officials together to advocate with a collective voice on national policy, exchange ideas and build new leadership skills, pursue transformational county solutions, enrich the public's understanding of county government and exercise exemplary leadership in public service.