The Center for Digital Government (CDG) and the National Association of Counties (NACo) have awarded Chester County Government with fourth place for best digital technology practices in the nation in the 500,000 to 999,999 population category. The County has consistently ranked as a top ten contender in the CDG and NACo Digital Counties Survey for its dedication to guaranteeing that its citizens and workforce have access to a wide variety of digital tools to expand opportunities and meet their evolving needs.
The winning counties in this year’s Digital Counties Survey were chosen based on improving the quality of life for citizens and staff – including how they adopted new technology to achieve local priorities and the ability to be resilient in times of unexpected crisis.
In a joint statement, Chester County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell, and Michelle Kichline said, “We are thrilled to be recognized as a 2023 Digital Counties Survey winner and to be recognized for the improvements we have made which moved us further up in the national ranking.
“Each year, we invest in programs, services, and tools to benefit our residents and staff who deliver those programs and services. This honor is reflective of that investment, and we congratulate the staff from our Department of Computing and Information Services, our digital communications personnel, and all other County employees who made this possible.”
Specifically, the survey’s judging panel highlighted Chester County’s digitization of judicial processes through e-filing and cloud-based case management systems for multiple offices. They commended a data-sharing initiative among human services agencies and law enforcement, which aims to reduce the incarceration of people with substance abuse disorders and mental illnesses.
The judges also lauded Chester County’s plans for future digital initiatives, such as automating processes and integrating generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). These plans would utilize different resources to streamline cremation requests and generate press releases and social media content. A renewed focus on combating cybersecurity attacks and the elimination of a paper dependency for forms were also noted in the judges’ comments.
The Digital Survey is conducted annually in the spring. All U.S. counties are invited to participate in the survey, which examines the overall technology programs and plans of counties, including initiatives that streamline the delivery of government services, enhance cybersecurity, and apply innovative technologies to county priorities. For more information, visit https://www.govtech.com/dc/articles/digital-counties-2023-500-000-to-999-999-population-category.
