Alabama's official Web portal is attracting national attention. The state of Alabama's Web site, www.alabama.gov, has been ranked among the top ten state portals by the Center for Digital Government. 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. More than 300 public sector Web sites were evaluated in this year's competition.
"My administration is using technology to make state government more efficient and more accessible than it has ever been before," said Governor Bob Riley. "Being ranked in the Top Ten is a sure sign that we've made real progress in our efforts."
A variety of state of Alabama services and information is available on alabama.gov 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Alabamians can find everything from judicial and legislative information to the status of individual tax refunds to online hunting and fishing license applications. Also offered on alabama.gov are more than 50 interactive services that allow users to complete entire business transactions online.
"I want to congratulate Alabama on their new site," said Cathilea Robinett, Executive Director of the Center for Digital Government. "This state has really come to the digital government party in a big way."
"We are very proud that the state of Alabama is being honored as one of the nation's ten best Web sites," said Rex McDowell, Acting Assistant Finance Director and Director of Information Technology. "The state's Web portal is an important service to the state of Alabama, improving how our citizens and businesses interact with the state."
The alabama.gov portal is developed and managed at no cost to the state and is the result of a unique public-private partnership between the Alabama Department of Finance and Alabama Interactive, the state of Alabama's partner for online government services.
Representatives from the Center for Digital Government, Government Technology magazine, and officials from the 2003 Best of the Web-winning state and local governments in Utah, Washington, D.C., and Montgomery County, Maryland, served as judges for the 2004 Best of the Web contest.
About Alabama Interactive
Alabama Interactive is the official eGovernment solutions provider for the state of Alabama. The company builds and manages interactive government services on behalf of the state and is a wholly owned subsidiary of eGovernment firm NIC (Nasdaq:EGOV).
Quelle: Business Wire, 03.11.2004
