LANSING – The state of Michigan received two awards for excellence in information technology at the annual awards ceremony for the National Association of State Chief Information Officers in San Diego, Calif.
The Michigan Education and Career Pathfinder tool took the top spot in the Digital Government: Government to Citizen category, and Mi Bridges: Helping Michigan Citizens Every Step of the Way took first place in the Information Communications Technology Innovations category.
“These award-winning technology initiatives connect Michigan residents with resources that affect their lives and well-being,” said Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder. “Giving residents the ability to manage their own benefits is just another way we are using technology to promote innovation and efficiency, which results in better services for taxpayers.”
Pathfinder allows the public to explore in-demand career fields, educational preparation, occupational outlooks and current openings, especially for jobs in the professional trades. The site offers students, parents, school counselors and job seekers targeted links to current occupational information.
Pathfinder supports Gov. Snyder’s Marshall Plan for Talent as well as his work to promote education in the professional trades. The plan partners educators, employers and other stakeholders to transform Michigan’s talent pipeline and redesign how Michigan invests, develops and attracts talent to the state. Pathfinder is a collaboration between the Department of Technology, Management and Budget and the Michigan Talent Investment Agency.
Mi Bridges is an online digital platform that offers self-service capabilities to residents who receive public benefits. Mi Bridges allows users to apply for assistance, view benefit information, report changes and upload documents. Mi Bridges also allows any resident to explore more than 30,000 state and local services that are available throughout Michigan.
Mi Bridges was completed through the collaborative work of DTMB and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Through Mi Bridges, these departments deliver focused services and identify local resources that address the needs of each person.
Michigan’s award-winning entries were chosen from more than 120 submissions in 10 categories. A third Michigan project, which outlined the benefits of the successful Michigan Investment Reporting Tool, was named a finalist in the Cross-Boundary Collaborations and Partnerships category.
