Home to Chicago, Cook County has a population of 5.3 million people, making it the second largest county by population in the U.S. The County's Bureau of Information Technology provides technology support to Cook County offices and employees, with its wide area network providing service to more than 120 municipalities. As a result of the project, the County will be able to offer its 26,400 employees and millions of constituents secure online access to government information and the ability to conduct routine transactions -- such as applying for permits and paying fees -- online.
CIBER, which has created sites for cities of Philadelphia, San Francisco and Denver, will provide Cook County with an open enterprise portal platform that incorporates SOA technologies for easily integrating applications and building comprehensive online services to benefit the county's residents. The new portal will offer a search function, global information system (GIS) mapping to locate county facilities and other addresses, online payment features, and electronic notification services.
"CIBER impressed us with their understanding of local government challenges and concerns," said Chief Information Officer for Cook County Catherine Maras O'Leary. "Not only does the CIBER team bring to the table significant technological expertise, but a solid understanding of local government processes and issues as well."
The Web portal will have templates and a centralized content area, so various agencies within the county can easily create or reuse existing content while maintaining a consistent look and feel to the site. CIBER will also implement tools to manage Web page content, monitor Web traffic, interface with legacy computing systems, and ensure system security while accommodating the accessibility needs of Cook County employees and constituents.
"This project will expand the range and depth of web services that the County is able to provide the public, allowing for more 24-7 customer services to our citizens," said Cook County Board President Bobbie L. Steele. "It will also provide greater transparency in County government by allowing departments to easily provide more information and data online."
