DENVER - Today, the National Association of Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) announced the finalists for their 2021 State IT Recognition Awards. These prestigious annual awards honor transformational projects and initiatives that address critical business problems, improve business processes and elevate customer experience. More than 100 nominations were submitted and Colorado was recognized in three of ten categories, the most honors any state can receive.
“Colorado is a leader in making government services more efficient and easy to navigate,” said Governor Polis. “I’m proud that our state has been recognized for its hard work in delivering solutions that make the lives of Coloradans easier and information more accessible.”
"Colorado’s continued success in IT transformation is largely attributed to strong agency partnerships and collaboration to achieve better outcomes for all Coloradans," Anthony Neal-Graves, Chief Information Officer & Executive Director added.
Award winners will be announced on Oct. 12, 2021 during the NASCIO 2021 Annual Conference. One recipient will be honored in each of the ten award categories. Listed below are descriptions of the State of Colorado's three 2021 State IT Recognition Awards contenders:
- Emerging & Innovative Technologies Finalist: Bolstering Law Enforcement Safety with Colorado Digital IDTM
“The Colorado Department of Public Safety continuously seeks ways to improve and reimagine how we serve and safeguard the public. We are honored to be considered for recognition for the state’s digital ID program,” said Stan Hilkey, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Safety.
myColorado™, State of Colorado's Official Mobile App™, is an example of how digital technology can transform the way residents engage with their state government. Within the app is the Colorado Digital ID™, which is a legal form of identification within the state. As of May 2021, fifteen Colorado law enforcement agencies plus the Colorado State Patrol accept Colorado Digital ID. Colorado's Digital ID initiative and its integration with law enforcement is the largest in the United States. Colorado Digital ID provides residents with convenience, security, innovation and conveniently stores copies of their driver's license, vehicle registration and insurance card in one place. For officers, the Digital ID can potentially reduce time spent on the roadside processing an interaction, which keeps them safer and gets the driver on their way more quickly. Because no physical ID cards are exchanged, it's safer for everyone during the pandemic. Read the full nomination here.
- Digital Services: Government to Business Finalist: Simplifying Colorado's Sales & Use Tax Filings
“This recognition reflects the Colorado Department of Revenue’s mission to meet customers where they are,” said Executive Director Mark Ferrandino. “This project engaged stakeholders with a focus on delivering a solution that simplified sales and use tax filings while serving the needs of local jurisdictions and the business community. We are honored by the nomination and owe many thanks to our partners.”
Colorado is a home rule state, which means that county, city and town governments and municipalities and special districts can set sales and use taxes independently from the state. Out-of-state sellers and those who work for direct sales companies (e.g., companies selling homewares, skincare products, etc.) were often challenged when determining what taxes must be collected and the amount. The Department of Revenue’s Sales and Use Tax System (SUTS) is a one-stop portal that makes it easier to collect and remit sales tax through a robust remittance service. Among other things, It includes a GIS component that allows businesses to accurately look up tax rates by address and it has the ability to calculate tax rates on items with differing tax rates in the same jurisdiction. New Business Registration continues to grow - as of April 4, 2021, more than 7,000 businesses have registered in SUTS. Read the full nomination here.
- Information Communications Technology (ICT) Innovations Finalist: Transforming Raw Data into Actionable Insight with Location Intelligence
“As we build out a robust fiber network along our transportation system, it is imperative to use the flood of incoming data to better manage this system--especially in difficult situations,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “The GeoHub helps us manage snowstorms, identify needs, and make smarter decisions about how we invest in infrastructure.”
Departments of transportation are now operating in a growing and complex data landscape, and big data, artificial intelligence and machine learning have become a core part of the Colorado Department of Transportations (CDOT) data and digital strategy. The CDOT GeoHub is a geospatial web platform that harnesses the power of next generation location intelligence to proactively better understand the transportation network. GeoHub includes more than 50 apps that turn raw data into actionable information, map-based dashboards and more. It is creating significant time and cost savings, improved business workflows, heightened situational awareness, and enhanced insight into asset conditions. Read the full nomination here.