Cook County just bagged a notable accolade yesterday, landing third place in the 2024 Government Experience Awards by the Center for Digital Government, known also as the GovX Awards. This honor underscores the county's commitment to streamlining technology for its constituents, offering innovative services and transparent information access online.
The GovX Awards are all about applauding state and local governments that are front-liners in digital innovation and excellence, and Cook County made the cut with its strategies for engaging residents, providing data transparency, and curating user-friendly online services. "Cook County is committed to using technology to make government more accessible and responsive to the needs of our residents," said Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle, in a statement sourced from the Cook County news release.
Among the achievements that propelled Cook County into the spotlight include the new Tax Map Viewer app that affords free, straightforward access to tax maps. Also, the first-ever Digital Equity Action Plan lays out strategic measures to level the playing field for digital infrastructure access, ensuring every Cook County denizen has a fair shot at using technology in the digital age. Moreover, there's an interactive budget app now, that lays out the county's budget in a format that's much easier for the average Joe to digest.
"We are honored to be recognized by the Center for Digital Government for our efforts to improve digital experience," Cook County Chief Information Officer Tom Lynch articulated, showcasing the county's drive to innovate for more effective, open government. The county's win at the GovX Awards reflects a steadfast dedication to digital advancement, marked by active requests for resident feedback via surveys, focus groups, and direct user testing to polish off their digital service repertoire.
