Alabama’s Web Sites Ranked Among Nation’s Top Ten

MONTGOMERY - Alabama’s network of state government web sites has again received national recognition, receiving a top ten ranking in the 2009 Brookings Institution’s report on state and federal government websites.

The Brookings study assesses about 30 websites for each state, analyzing all types of government services and information. Websites are evaluated for the presence of a number of technical features including multimedia, privacy and security policies, online publications, disability access, language translation, automatic email updates, website personalization, PDA accessibility and readability level.

“Alabama has made huge strides toward making state government more accessible and helpful to our citizens by increasing and enhancing our presence on the Internet,” said Governor Riley. “We have also utilized the Internet to make government more transparent and accountable by making public information easier to find. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made and the recognition Alabama is receiving as one of the nation’s best.”  

During the last year IT professionals at the Department of Finance’s Information Services Division have added many features to the state’s websites and designed new sites, all of which contributed to the state’s high ranking.  The state’s doorstep web portal, www.alabama.gov, now offers more than 130 online services for Alabama’s citizens.  New sites such as www.open.alabama.gov, which serves as a government transparency tool, and www.media.alabama.gov, which features videos, press releases, images and training tools, both helped Alabama stand out as a leader in web innovation.

“A top ten ranking in the nation confirms that Alabama has become a leader in providing state services through technology,” said Jim Burns, the State’s Chief Information Officer. “We are committed to providing information that is easily accessible and useful to our citizens and this national ranking shows that we’re on the right track.”

Alabama is in good company with corporations such as Home Depot, American Express, Microsoft, and Google as top private sector honorees. USA.gov, the Library of Congress, and the Treasury Department made the list for top federal government sites.

Top Ten Public and Private Sector websites:

Top Corporations                          Top State Governments                 Top Federal  

To download the full report, visit http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/rc/papers/2009/06_technology_west/06_technology_west.pdf.

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For more information, contact the Governor’s Press Office at 334-242-7150.