Savings Times 2

Step up and be recognized

It’s time to gear up for the 2nd Annual Arkansas Digital Government Transformation Awards

Arkansans are resourceful people. Displays of Arkansas ingenuity are all over the state. Those who work in local government are resourceful and innovative people, especially in the use of technology. Counties in Arkansas have used technology to better serve their constituents by driving down costs, making more efficient use of agency resources, and developing new service channels. Much of this innovative work went unnoticed for far too long. Then in September 2017, the inaugural Arkansas Digital Government Transformation Awards (ADGTA) recognized the achievements of Arkansas government offices and public servants at the state and local level. Faulkner, Pulaski, Saline, and Washington Counties were among the award recipients honored for using technology to make positive, measurable changes in the state. They were also recognized in the fall 2017 issue of County Lines magazine. These counties along with more than 20 agencies entered 31 projects in award categories that included: Citizen Service Award, Business Service Award, Digital Pioneer Award, Efficiency Award, Lawmaker Award, and Governor’s Digital Transformation Award.

It is now time for the Second Annual ADGTA program sponsored by the Arkansas Information Consortium (AIC), the Association of Arkansas Counties (AAC), and others in partnership with the Information Network of Arkansas (INA) board, the Department of Information Systems, the Office of Transformation, and the Governor’s Office. This year’s submission period begins in June — and it is open exclusively to county and city government offices. Winners will be honored for demonstrating how their use of technology has created efficiencies or service improvements — or had any positive impact on their county or city. A panel of judges will evaluate all entries, and winners will be selected in August.

Details about award categories, nomination criteria, sponsors, judges, and the awards event itself will be coming soon. All winners, finalists and honorable mentions will be recognized at an awards luncheon in September in Little Rock. It will be a free event.

At last year’s awards ceremony, Arkansas Secretary of State and INA Board Chairman Mark Martin, “We’re here tonight to honor the work that you all have done in moving our state forward to bring the best possible service to our citizens and make the best possible use of their valuable tax dollars. The work you have done has saved the state millions of dollars, eliminated countless sheets of paper, and multiplied the capacity of our workforce — all while providing better and faster service to citizens.”

A lot of counties have done amazing work to improve their office operations. So step up and share your creative advances. Let the people of Arkansas know about the things you have done to better serve them.

Becky Comet AAC Member Benefits Manager

Contact Christy Williams at christy.williams@ark.org for more information and to receive updates about the Arkansas Digital Government Transformation Awards.