In a bid to increase access to state services, as well as save residents time and money, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has launched the Colorado Digital Government Strategic Plan.
The strategic plan, which will be managed by the Office of Information Technology (OIT), is intended to “modernize and increase access to online state services to provide the best constituent experience in the country.” Polis’ office said OIT will collaborate with state partners to connect more residents to high-speed internet and digital government services.
“Colorado has long been a leader in providing modern digital solutions for our residents, such as the myColorado app and myVaccine Record,” said Anthony Neal-Graves, state chief information officer and OIT executive director. “We must continue to meet the needs of Coloradans by thinking differently about the delivery of digital government services through equitable, accessible and user-friendly technology.”
The strategic plan identifies three “North Star” aspirations for the state to deliver on:
- Connect all Coloradans – The state is looking to “bolster economic opportunity” by connecting 99 percent of residents, especially those in rural communities, to high-speed internet.
- Expand opportunity and reduce poverty – The state will ensure all residents understand and have easy access to eligible programs and services that will help improve their income security, health outcomes, and overall wellness.
- Make government easy – Colorado will make interacting with the state government “simple, less time consuming, and more digital,” especially for essential services and programs.
To achieve the North Star aspirations, the plan offers six recommendations:
- Ensure all Coloradans can adopt and access high-speed internet,
- Design around the life experiences of Coloradans,
- Use technology to improve service for residents,
- Harness data to securely improve resident journeys and outcomes,
- Cultivate analytics, business intelligence, and product leadership,
- Prioritize modern and high-quality enterprise services.
The plan also lays out three waves for “actionable initiatives” over the next six months, 12 months, and 1+ years.
In a press release, the governor’s office and OIT said that strategic plan was developed based off of surveys and interviews with more than 2,000 Coloradans. The surveys and interviews found that Coloradans are most interested in modern, innovative, responsive, and digital government services. While the press release acknowledged that the state already ranks in the top 10 nationally for customer experience, it stressed that there is more work to be done.
