National Innovation Showcase.
Recognizing & showcasing innovations and best practices from around the country.
The Districts Awards Program recognizes and shares bright ideas across transit, transportation, libraries, fire districts, parks and recreation, airports, ports and more! For 2021 we recognized the top 10 submissions which are listed below.
For any questions regarding the awards program or submission process please contact Janet Grenslitt.
This category recognizes districts that have utilized tech to improve service delivery to citizens – for example, making physical services available online, deploying new citizen engagement solutions, enhancing user experience, et al.
This category recognizes districts that have utilized tech to improve internal operations with employees – for example reengineering business processes, enhancing security measures, et al.
This category recognizes district leaders who have led innovative tech initiatives. The nomination should highlight vision, leadership and the use of information technology.
Midwest
Citizen Category: Forest Preserves of Cook County - Interactive Map
The Forest Preserves partnered with Smart Chicago to build a custom interactive, open-source web map for computer and mobile devices that helps visitors plan trips and navigate forest preserves and trails. In 2020, more than 250,000 people used the web map to plan a visit to the Preserves.
Citizens Category: Laketran, EZfare App and Contactless Validators
Citizens Category: Metroparks Toledo - Virtual Camps, Stay-Cations and Virtualized Resources
Operations Category: Great Lakes Water Authority - IT Security Risk Reduction Program
Operations Category: McHenry County Conservation District - Pandemic Preparedness Response and Recovery Team
Operations Category: Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District - Service Catalog and Self-Service Portal
Leadership Category: John H. Sudduth, Chief Information Officer - Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Leadership Category: Brian D. Kelley, Chief Technology Officer - Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission
Leadership Category: Brian Grubbs, Local History and Genealogy Manager - Springfield-Greene County Library District
Southwest
Citizens Category: BiblioTech Public Library - Bridging the Digital Divide
BiblioTech focuses on digital collections and providing internet/technology access. Branches are strategically placed in high-need areas and provide digital literacy classes for all ages, computer access, a device-lending program with hotspots and free internet access, and tablets patrons can take home.
Citizens Category: Denco Area 9-1-1 District - Indoor Mapping for 911 Calls
Citizens Category: DHA - Housing Solutions for North Texas - Technology Innovations - InspectionMate
Operations Category: Central Arkansas Water - GIS Innovative Crisis Response
Operations Category: North Texas Municipal Water District - Automated Accounts Payable Workflow
Operations Category: Gulf Coast Authority - Virtual Meeting and Collaboration Tools
Leadership Category: District Team - Brushy Creek Municipal Utility District
Leadership Category: Jonathan Tanzer, PMP, Technology Systems Program Manager - Capital Metro
Leadership Category: Peggy Brady, Director, Workforce Digital Services - Lower Colorado River Authority
Southeast
Citizens Category: Anastasia Mosquito Control District - Service Request Mobile App
The free mobile app for service requests and tracking can be downloaded from any App Store. More than 50 percent of service requests received by AMCD in 2020 were through the new app; telephone service requests were reduced by 50 percent; and repeated requests were reduced by 40 percent.
Citizens Category: Clearwater Public Library System - Memvelope Digitized Memories Service
Citizens Category: Lake Apopka Natural Gas District - Helping Hand Fund
Operations Category: Hillsborough County Aviation Authority - Real-Time Inventory Using Mobile Devices
Operations Category: Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission - Digital Transformation for the Modern Workplace
Operations Category: North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District - Pre-Hospital Care Wireless Monitor and Defibrillator Technology
Leadership Category: Bob Walker, Executive Director - Brunswick Regional Water and Sewer H2GO
Leadership Category: Tricia Kilgore, P.E., Director of Technology and Innovation - Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority
Leadership Category: Dana Smith, Chief Pilot and Aviation Manager - Anastasia Mosquito Control District
Northeast
Citizens Category: Quincy Housing Authority - On-site Video Displays, Kiosks and Touch-View Monitors
To keep residents informed, engaged and safe during the pandemic, QHA installed stand up video displays in lobbies with current information on vaccination schedules, meals on wheels and the farmers’ market. Touch-view monitors were installed for tenant and staff video meetings and kiosks allowed residents to scan and email, access the internet, and contact the staff.
Citizens Category: Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority - Virtual Customer Service
Citizens Category: Greater Portland METRO, Biddeford Saco Old Orchard Beach Transit, South Portland Bus Service - DiriGo Pass
Operations Category: New York Power Authority - Data Governance, Quality and Analytics Platform
Operations Category: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey - Airline Data Entry Portal
Operations Category: Vermont Public Power Supply Authority - Transition to Virtual Operation
Leadership Category: Jeremy Peterson, Chief Executive Officer - Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority
Leadership Category: Jacqueline Harris,
Chief Information Technology Officer - Philadelphia Parking Authority
Leadership Category: Marla Martin,
Teen Librarian - Woodbury Public Library
West
Citizens Category: Oxnard Harbor District/Port of Hueneme - Fathomwerx On-Site Makerspace and STEM Education
The FATHOMWERX collaboration, located onsite at the port, is a technological test and build site for first responders, UAV and drones, and community businesses. Donations from the Navy of more than $3.5 million contribute to the lab and makerspace. Over 300 local high school STEM students attend the annual Expo.
Citizens Category: King County Library System - Leveraging Technology to Bridge the Digital Divide
Citizens Category: Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District - Wildland Fire Web Map
Operations Category: Costa Mesa Sanitary District - Artificial Intelligence Sewer Manhole Detection Model
Operations Category: East Bay Regional Park District - Information Systems – COVID-19 Safety/Operating Innovations
Operations Category: Inland Empire Regional Composting Authority - Operations Innovation
Leadership Category: Timothy Haile, PE, Executive Director - Contra Costa Transportation Authority
Leadership Category: Dan Durkee, MS, EFO, CFO, Fire Chief - Platteville-Gilcrest Fire Protection District
Leaderbship Category: Gloria G. Salazar, Chief Executive Officer -
San Joaquin Regional Transit District
Special Districts
Technology Innovation Award: District of the Year - San Joaquin Regional Transit District
The San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) – which provides bus service to the city of Stockton, Calif., and surrounding communities -- is the Special District Program’s 2021 District of the Year. RTD embraces innovation and experimentation as part of a holistic strategy to meet the changing needs of the community it serves. Even during the uncertainty of the past 18 months, RTD has continued to focus on innovation by reimagining its operations for a new hybrid workforce, launching sustainable fuel technologies for its fleet, and undertaking a first-of-its-type Next-Generation Study to better understand current and future transportation needs in its community.
