The results are in, and Maine's official Web site has been named best in the nation. The state's Internet portal (www.Maine.gov) has been ranked number one in the 2004 Best of the Web national competition for eGovernment excellence. Maine placed first among a field of more than 300 public sector Web sites, marking the fifth consecutive year the state has been ranked among the top four finishers. 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," said Governor John Baldacci. "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 eGovernment portal receives approximately one million page hits per month. Maine.gov features more than 300 interactive services that help constituents interact more efficiently with government, including vanity plate availability checks, annual report filings, driver's license and vehicle registration renewals, public criminal history record searches, the Business Answers online business start up assistant, and a sportsmen suite of more than 50 hunting and fishing license services.
"Maine's commitment to its citizens, businesses and visitors through the delivery of services that are robust, accessible and easy to navigate are exemplified in the Maine.gov portal," said Cathilea Robinett, Executive Director of the Center for Digital Government. "Maine's success in winning this year's Best of the Web rankings reflects the state's true commitment to serving its citizens and businesses."
Maine has built one of the nation's most robust official Web portals through its innovative use of Internet technology. The portal is overseen by the InforME board, which provides direction and prioritization of Maine's eGovernment initiatives.
"Quality and customer satisfaction are top priorities for the many online services delivered by the Department of the Secretary of State," said Secretary of State Dan A. Gwadosky, who also serves as Chairman of the InforME Board. "We are honored that Maine has won Best of the Web and pleased that the Center for Digital Government has recognized the hard work of people throughout state government to bring meaningful services to the citizens of Maine."
Local government content and services from more than 500 municipalities are available through the Maine.gov local portal section, which provides online access to local government services, brief descriptions of cities and towns, and local points of contact.
Maine.gov's new eDemocracy portal offers content and services from across a variety of government resources in a single Web site. From the Maine.gov eDemocracy page, citizens and residents have easy and convenient access to democratic services such as election calendars, voter registration information, and interactive communication tools to help citizens communicate with elected officials.
"The Internet has drastically changed the way people interact with their government," said Richard B. Thompson, Jr., Maine's Chief Information Officer. "This is the fourth upgrade to the state's Web site in the last four years. Customer service is at the heart of what we do."
About Maine.gov
Maine.gov is the official Web site of the state of Maine (www.Maine.gov) and a service of the Information Resource of Maine (InforME). InforME is a collaborative effort between the state of Maine and New England Interactive, LLC, which helps Maine government entities Web-enable their information services. Maine.gov was built and is marketed, operated and maintained by New England Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of eGovernment firm NIC (Nasdaq:EGOV).
Quelle: Business Wire, 21.10.2004
