The Maine State Web Portal, www.Maine.gov, has received national recognition from the Center for Digital Government (CDG) as one of the best state government web portals of 2012. Additionally, CDG gave Maine.gov a prestigious award for its Regulatory Licensing and Permitting service, noting its innovation and efficiency in serving both government and business.
Maine.gov was named as a finalist by the Center for Digital Government in its annual “Best of the Web” competition for government websites. This places Maine.gov as one of the Top 10 state government websites in the country. Government websites are evaluated based on their innovation, web-based delivery of public services, efficiency, economy, and functionality. This award marks 11 Top 10 placements for Maine.gov in the past 12 years of competition.
“Technology has changed and enhanced the way citizens interact with their government. The public demand for online information and services by Maine citizens is at an all-time high,” stated Governor Paul LePage. “The people of Maine can be proud that Maine’s website has once again been recognized as one of the best in the country.”
Maine.gov is the portal to more than 300,000 pages of state government content and over 1,400 online services. In 2011, Maine.gov received 55 million page views. Maine.gov helps users find information, complete tasks, and stay informed with tools such as multimedia, mobile services, email and text alerts,Facebook, Twitter, and RSS.
“It is an honor for Maine to receive such a high placement for Best of the Web,” said Maine Secretary of State Charles Summers, who serves as the Chair of Maine’s InforME Board overseeing Maine.gov. “The level of competition for these awards is elevated every year. The Board looks forward to the challenges that lie ahead in the coming year and will continue to innovate and enhance this important resource for businesses and citizens.”
Maine also received a CDG Achievement Award in the Government-to-Business category. The award was given for the online Regulatory Licensing and Permitting service, a cross-agency framework developed by the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation in partnership with InforME, the state’s eGovernment portal, integrating with Maine’s Agency Licensing Management System.
The licensing service allows online renewal of more than 100 professional license types and includes functions to apply for a new license, apply for an examination, or apply for a permit, depending on your regulatory authority. The service will be expanded to include more agencies and license types in the future, and is compatible with mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.
“The new licensing service is an efficient tool for both the public and the regulating agencies,” said Professional and Financial Regulation Commissioner Anne L. Head. “The online service, developed by our capable partners at Sauper Associates and InforME, significantly reduces the time and paperwork involved in issuing a license. It also simplifies the process to renew or obtain a license by guiding the applicant through a step by step process specifically tailored to their profession.”