NIC's State Partners Receive 18 National Awards as Best eGovernment Web Sites and Online Services

OLATHE, Kan. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - NIC's state government partners received 18 top eGovernment awards as selected by the Center for Digital Government, an international research and advisory institute on the use of information technology in government.

Nine state partners took the top 11 honors in the Best of the Web competition, with Utah winning first place for the third time since 2003. Nine state partners also received Digital Government Achievement Awards, which recognize excellence in electronic government services. Both programs are overseen by the Center for Digital Government.

"The Center for Digital Government recognizes state and local governments that continue to deliver new ways to interact with those they serve," said Cathilea Robinett, Executive Vice President of the Center for Digital Government. "The NIC state partners that have won these awards are identified as eGovernment leaders and on the forefront of bringing innovative services to their constituents."

"As a leading authority on the evolution of technology use in government, we want to thank the Center for Digital Government for identifying and awarding best practices in eGovernment. But it is truly the vision of our state partners that make it possible to create these new and award-winning government services," said Harry Herington, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of NIC. "We applaud our partners' dedication to continuing to improve upon the ways in which they interact with the businesses and citizens they serve."

Now in its 13th year, Best of the Web evaluates government Web sites based on their innovation, Web-based delivery of public services, efficiency, economy, and functionality. Representatives from the Center for Digital Government and officials from the 2008 Best of the Web-winning state and local governments served as judges for the 2009 competition.

First place: Utah (http://www.Utah.gov)

Third place: Arkansas (http://www.Arkansas.gov)

Fourth place: Maine (http://www.Maine.gov)

Fifth place: Colorado (http://www.Colorado.gov)

NIC's partners also won five of the six finalist honors, including:

• Alabama (http://www.Alabama.gov)
• Nebraska (http://www.Nebraska.gov)
• Oklahoma (http://www.Oklahoma.gov)
• Rhode Island (http://www.RI.gov)
• Vermont (http://www.Vermont.gov)

The Digital Government Achievement program recognizes outstanding agency and department Web sites and applications that enhance information interactions, transactions, or services.

Winners of the 2009 Digital Government Achievement Awards included:

In the government to business category, the Utah Department of Public Safety won for its information portal that serves the news industry. This first-of-its-kind site provides a real-time view of current statewide law enforcement activities and includes sections for news releases and multimedia downloads. The portal is available as a secure login for authorized members of the press only. publicsafety.utah.gov/dps/pio.html.

The Arkansas Commercial Driver Alcohol and Drug Testing Results Database, was also awarded an honorable mention in the government-to-business category. The online database provides access to a central repository of alcohol and drug test results for commercial drivers that can be accessed in real-time by employers. www.Arkansas.gov.

In the government-to-government category, Utah.gov won for it Utah Public Meeting Notice service, which integrates emerging geographical detection technology to estimate the location of the user and display relevant location-specific information, including local meetings, government Web sites, school and library information, park information, and available online services in the user's community.

Four NIC state partners were recognized in the government-to-citizen state government. Winners include:

• Arkansas, for the Arkansas Recovery Portal URL which is available online and via an iPhone application www.Recovery.Arkansas.gov;
• Maine.gov for the DataShare, that provides easy access to public data, increases government transparency, and encourages public participation and collaboration in government http://www.Maine.gov;
• The Commonwealth of Virginia for providing transparency and accountability at www.Stimulus.Virginia.gov;
• The Montana Department of Livestock Market Permits and Sheep Transportation Permits received honorable mention. Market permits and sheep transportation permits, which are required when moving cattle or sheep from ranch to market, and can be obtained online at marketpermit.mt.gov and sheeppermit.mt.gov.

In the government-to-citizen local government category, Lewis and Clark County, Montana, received honorable mention for its burn permits application. http://www.BurnPermits.mt.gov.

Maine also received honorable mention for its Public Improvement Project Request Online Service in the government internal category. This online service allows Maine state agencies to submit public improvement project request applications with the Maine Bureau of General Services. www.Maine.gov.

About NIC

NIC Inc. (NASDAQ: EGOV) is the nation's leading provider of official government portals, online services, and secure payment processing solutions. The company's innovative eGovernment services help reduce costs and increase efficiencies for government agencies, citizens, and businesses across the country. The NIC family of companies provides eGovernment solutions for more than 3,000 federal, state, and local agencies that serve 97 million people in the United States. Additional information is available at http://www.nicusa.com.

NIC Inc.
Nancy Beaton, 913-754-7054
nbeaton@nicusa.com