JEFFERSON CITY - The State of Missouri is one of only three states in the nation to receive an A grade from the Center for Digital Government in its annual Digital State Survey. Every two years, the Center for Digital Government assesses state governments’ ability to improve IT systems for better operational outcomes and services to citizens. In its report, the Center cited Gov. Nixon’s 100 Missouri Mile Challenge as an example of the state achieving a ‘successful marriage of civic engagement, data, and modern technologies.’ In the Center’s survey two years ago, Missouri received a B+.
“We appreciate the commitment Gov. Nixon and the General Assembly have made to supporting IT system improvements to make them more effective and secure,” said Tim Robyn, Missouri’s Chief Information Officer. “Our team of dedicated state IT professionals and private sector partners will continue to work together and change the way government operates, making it more efficient while improving citizen access to services.”
According to the Center for Digital Government: ‘the states that scored A grades did the best job of making their strategies consistent with their state’s priorities and policies; proving a quantifiable return on investment through IT; demonstrating progress over the past two years; using creative and innovative solutions; collaborating between departments and jurisdictions; and using successful approaches to transparency, privacy and security.’
This past May, Robyn was also named State Executive of the Year by StateScoop, a national organization which focuses on achievements in the government technology sector. The StateScoop 50 Awards honor the best and brightest for their contributions to the state and local government IT community.
Missouri’s Information Technology Services Division (ITSD) has an operating budget of more than $273 million and is compiled of 1,035 employees. ITSD provides direct IT support to nearly all of the state agencies within Missouri’s 14 consolidated executive departments and works to provide those agencies with the systems, networks and technical support they need in order to provide services to Missouri’s citizens, businesses and other government entities.
In recent years, ITSD has developed and implemented a series of strategic plans to modernize network resources, develop and implement strong security resources, and put Missouri on a path to move off of outdated legacy systems to current technology which allows the state to operate government in a more efficient and effective manner.