The state's Internet portal is No. 1 in the 2004 Best of the Web national competition for e-government excellence. Maine placed first among more than 300 public-sector Web sites, marking the fifth consecutive year the state has been ranked among the top four. The 2004 Best of the Web competition was conducted by the Center for Digital Government, an international research and advisory institute on the use of information technology in government. Now in its ninth year, Best of the Web evaluates government Web sites based on their innovation, Web-based delivery of public services, efficiency, economy and functionality.
“Maine.gov provides an essential service to Maine citizens, businesses and visitors,” Gov. John Baldacci said. “The site makes state government more accessible and efficient. We seek to continually improve the portal by offering the best quality source of information to the public.”
Launched in August 1999, Maine's e-government portal receives about 1 million page hits a month and features more than 300 interactive services.
Maine.gov is a service of the Information Resource of Maine, a collaborative effort of the state and NIC subsidiary New England Interactive LLC.
NIC provides e-government solutions for 1,500 state and local agencies that serve more than 51 million people in the United States.
Quelle: Kansas City Star, 21.10.2004
