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Durham County is a 2023 Digital Counties Survey Winner
Durham County, N.C. - The Center for Digital Government (CDG) and the National Association of Counties (NACo) have announced the winners of the 20th Anniversary Digital Counties Survey. The survey, developed in partnership with NACo and conducted by CDG, identifies the best technology practices among counties in the United States, including initiatives that streamline the delivery of government services; provide data analytics to allow decisions based on performance and outcomes; enhance cybersecurity; and apply innovative and emerging technologies to county priorities. Durham County Government is among this year’s winners.
“It is an honor to be recognized as one of the Top 10 Digital Counties in the nation, “said Chief Information Officer for Information Services and Technology Greg Marrow. “The award is a testament to Durham County’s investments in technology to better serve our residents. Our IT organization is continuously challenged to solve problems through creativity and innovation using technology to help our departments achieve their business goals. This 2023 Digital County Survey Award shows our workforce is meeting these challenges head-on and I am proud to see the great work they do each day recognized on the national stage.”
Durham County demonstrated a commitment this year to both bridging the digital divide and modernizing its legacy technologies. An example of its success in modernizing its legacy technologies is the county’s recent automation of public records requests. Upon implementation, the new system has allowed the county to collaborate remotely and asynchronously while managing records requests.
Among its efforts to bridge the digital divide is its partnership with the City of Durham. This enhancement involved hiring a digital inclusion program manager who works to ensure that all residents have access to digital skills training and technology. Durham County has committed resources and developed funding initiatives to bring efforts to fruition through partnerships with local internet service providers, local governments, and other community organizations.
One of the main challenges the County faced in the last year was recruiting IT talent and filling new and vacant positions. With 18 percent of the County workforce eligible to retire within the next five years and a 20 percent vacancy rate, the County responded by officially sanctioning remote work and establishing hiring bonuses for hard-to-fill positions, while putting into place governance for hybrid work. Now, about 73 percent of the County workforce is working remotely.
“This year’s survey results highlight how counties continue to use digital tools to respond to top priorities by providing comprehensive access to services, expanding opportunities for economic development, and ensuring the ability to be resilient in the face of unexpected crisis,” said Todd Sander, vice-president, CDG. “The Center for Digital Government is excited to recognize and congratulate this year’s winners for their accomplishments and continuing efforts to use technology to make government better.”
“Counties are using technology to pursue bold, cutting-edge approaches to serving our residents,” said NACo Executive Director Matthew Chase. “Whether improving disaster resiliency, enhancing transportation, or exploring the potential of artificial intelligence, counties are leveraging technology to achieve local priorities. We applaud the Digital Counties Survey winners for deploying technological solutions that improve our residents’ quality of life.”
For the full list of the top 10 winners in each of the five population categories, visit http://www.govtech.com/dc/digital-counties/digital-counties-survey-2023-20th-anniversary-winners-announced.
To view the article on the top 10 winners who were honored at a special awards event during the National Association of Counties Annual Conference, held July 21-24, in Travis County, Texas, visit http://www.govtech.com/digital-counties-2023-survey-results.
About the Center for Digital Government:
The Center for Digital Government is a national research and advisory institute focused on technology policy and best practices in state and local government. CDG is a division of Republic, the nation’s only media and research company focused exclusively on state and local government and education.
About NACo:
The National Association of Counties http://www.naco.org/ strengthens America’s counties, including nearly 40,000 county elected officials and 3.6 million county employees. Founded in 1935, NACo unites county officials to advocate for county government priorities in federal policymaking; promote exemplary county policies and practices; nurture leadership skills and expand knowledge networks; optimize county and taxpayer resources and cost savings; and enrich the public’s understanding of county government.