CHANDLER, Ariz. – The City of Chandler was recognized as one of the top ten Digital Cities Survey award recipients by the Center for Digital Government (CDG). The annual survey recognizes cities using technology to tackle social challenges, enhance services, strengthen cybersecurity and more. Chandler placed second nationally in the category for cities with a population of 250,000-499,999. Chandler’s population was estimated at 287,024 as of Nov. 1, 2023.
Chandler has a long-held commitment to innovation and technology, and looks for opportunities for smart, sustainable solutions and innovative ideas that promote efficiency, productivity and connectivity.
“It is an honor for Chandler to be recognized with a Digital Cities award this year. A second place finish truly recognizes the tremendous innovative efforts of all of our staff to advance digital services for the residents and businesses of Chandler,” said City of Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke.
Some of the highlights of Chandler’s top ranking include the Information Technology department’s careful planning to ensure that initiatives align with the overall city strategic framework. Some of the projects include:
- To make progress on the digital divide, the city partnered with the Digital Inclusion and Acceleration (IDIA), Chandler Unified School District and AZCEND, a local non-profit, to set up and staff a community technology center where underserved people can get access to devices and the internet.
- Customer service at more than 30 locations were improved when the city piloted a real-time language translation technology to enhance in-person services. The pilot resulted in 560 face-to-face conversations with residents that were unencumbered by language or disability.
- The city began working with the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative to begin the process to evaluate integrating a 3-1-1 customer call service center.
- A self-service portal was launched providing residents with immediate access to retrieve archived records.
- Chander’s engagement efforts resulted in a 12 percent increase in visitors to its website and a five percent increase in online utility payments.
“The City of Chandler’s recognition as the second-place winner in the 2024 Digital Cities Awards is a testament to the power of collaboration between our Information Technology Department and all city departments. This achievement reflects the innovative spirit and dedication of our teams, who work tirelessly to implement creative solutions that enhance city operations and services. By fostering strong partnerships and leveraging cutting-edge technology, we continue to position Chandler as a leader in digital transformation and a community where innovation thrives,” said City of Chandler, Chief Information Officer Sandip Dholakia.
“Cities of every size are redefining what’s possible using technology to elevate public service and improve government,” said John Matelski, Executive Director of the Center for Digital Government. “The Digital Cities Survey is proud to honor these visionary leaders and cities setting bold new benchmarks in digital governance.”
Media contact:
Jennifer Honea
Public Information Officer
480-782-2228