Top Government Websites Recognized for Improving Transparency, Citizen Engagement

SACRAMENTO, CA--(Marketwired - September 01, 2016) - The Center for Digital Government today announced the winners of the 2016 Best of the Web and Digital Government Achievement Awards.

Now in its 20^th anniversary year, the annual Best of the Web Awards recognize city, county and state governments for their work to engage citizens online while also providing them with cutting-edge Web services.

"Government websites have changed a lot over the past 20 years and so have citizen expectations," said Todd Sander, executive director of the Center for Digital Government. "This year's Best of the Web winners are well positioned to take up the challenge of a new era and lead the impending transformation toward more integrated, anticipatory and personalized electronic services."

While each of the winning websites is unique, this year's winners generally embrace designs that are responsive, personalized, transparent, data-driven and offer a variety of ways to connect with citizens.

The 2016 Best of the Web winners include:

State Portal Category:
1st State of Maryland
2nd State of Utah
3rd State of Mississippi
4th State of Texas
5th State of Indiana
5th State of Nebraska

Finalists:
State of California
State of Iowa
State of Michigan
State of Rhode Island

County Portal Category:
1st Baltimore County, Md.
2nd Stanislaus County, Calif.
3rd Anne Arundel County, Md.
4th Oakland County, Mich.
5th City and County of San Francisco, Calif.

Finalists:
Bexar County, Texas
County of San Diego, Calif.
Hamilton County, Ind.
James City-County, Va.
Travis County, Texas

City Portal Category:
1st City and County of Denver, Colo.
2nd City of San Diego, Calif.
3rd City of Hayward, Calif.
4th City of Tampa, Fla.
5th City of Louisville, Ky.

Finalists:
City of Anaheim, Calif.
City of Durham, N.C.
City of Fort Collins, Colo.
City of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
City of Long Beach, Calif.

The Digital Government Achievement Awards (DGAA), which are presented along with the Best of the Web Awards, highlight outstanding agency and department websites and apps. More than 30 DGAA awards were presented in seven categories this year and included Tamarac, Fla.'s Gift Card Program, which raises awareness and funds for city services, as well as the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Aero App, which provides safety-of-flight data and tools to U.S. military pilots, crews and mission planners.

View the complete list of Best of the Web and DGAA awardees here.

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. The Center is a division of e.Republic, the nation's only media and research company focused exclusively on state and local government and education.