In what can be considered a nod to the significant strides in technological innovation within local government, Carroll County Government has been honored by Esri, a foremost authority in location intelligence, with the Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award. Acknowledged during the annual Esri User Conference on July 17, Carroll County was celebrated for its adept use of mapping and analytics tools, notably in projects like their Homelessness Point-in-Time Count and the Carroll County Broadband Map which identifies areas lacking in service coverage. "It has been an honor to be recognized by ESRI and bestowed the SAG Award for all of our outstanding work and achievements," said Farrah Solomon, Enterprise GIS Analyst, as reported by Carroll County Government news release.

Esri's SAG Award, established in 1998, is more than a mere pat on the back for organizations, it's a testament to the power of GIS as an enabler for addressing real-world problems this recognition coincides with the year marking Esri's 55th anniversary highlighting the technological evolution and continued relevance of GIS. Esri's president Jack Dangermond sees the widespread application of GIS as an innovative means to a geographic approach to solving complex problems and global issues.

Carroll County isn't resting on its laurels with this recent accolade, there's an ongoing initiative to further permeate GIS technology throughout various county departments, bolstering public services in the process. Emphasizing this commitment, Tom Dowd, GIS Division Manager, took pride in the county's endeavors, expressing, "I’m proud of the efforts by staff throughout our organization who are leveraging GIS technology to help deliver services to our community.” Dowd also looks to the future, relishing the ongoing collaboration with Esri to continue ushering in waves of innovation and bolstering community engagement, as cited from Carroll County Government's announcement.