Alabama Refreshes Official Web Site

The state of Alabama recently upgraded its Web portal, which offers a fresh design as well as new features to enhance the visitor experience.

"The primary focus of Governor Riley's administration has been to increase state accountability," said Rex McDowell, acting assistant finance director. By offering government services online, Alabama is functioning more efficiently and cost effectively while providing Alabamians with direct access to customer service and support."

New and redesigned features include:

Live online customer service -- Alabama.gov features online, real-time support to visitors via its Live Help feature. Dedicated support representatives are available during normal business hours to help visitors find information, answer questions, and offer immediate customer service for online applications.

State government news room -- Alabama state government news releases can be easily accessed via the Alabama news section. This section provides a one-stop repository for information about Alabama state government including news releases and information from the governor's office.

Online services -- Alabama.gov users can now complete more than 40 transactions with the state -- online, anytime. Services ranging from professional license renewal to subscribing to Outdoor Alabama magazine to ordering a tourism guide are available. Locating these services is easy by using the Featured Services menu.

Google search technology -- Searching for information on Alabama.gov is made easy through the use of Google search technology. By leveraging the search engine technology, information is quickly catalogued and organized so that the most relevant search results are displayed with top priority.

"From purchasing hunting and fishing licenses to researching upcoming legislation, our goal is to ensure that Alabama.gov provides citizens quick and convenient access to state government," said Winn McInnis, general manager of Alabama Interactive. "This new portal represents a significant step towards allowing citizens to be only a few clicks away from government information and services."

The Alabama.gov portal was designed by Alabama Interactive, the state's official e-government partner, to simplify and promote a visitor-friendly approach to state government.