Finance

One of the nation’s largest libraries has nearly doubled its collection spending in the last five years in an attempt to keep up with patrons’ digital demands. But the push has introduced new headaches.

The state published the 2023-2024 Budget Act earlier this week and, if approved by lawmakers, it will fund IT projects at the Department of Social Services, the Department of Motor Vehicles and other state entities.

Centre County Commissioners have voted to advance broadband expansion project proposals from two Internet service providers. The county will apply for part of $200 million in state funding for the final proposals.

The $20 million contract meant to connect every Cleveland resident to high-speed Internet was put on hold this week when concerns were raised about whether the nonprofit DigitalC has the capabilities to see the work through.

Progress continues for the state of Illinois’ multiple-year digital transformation undertaking, which aims to simplify processes and positively impact state employees across the state’s agencies.

A recent audit of six IT projects within the past two years found many were over budget or delayed. The state’s CIO, Shawn Nailor, acknowledged the findings, tempering them with the progress his relatively young agency has made in recent years.

Sen. Joe Manchin announced the addition of some 86,000 unserved locations to West Virginia’s portion of the FCC broadband map. The map will be used to distribute funding to areas in need of Internet expansion.

The industry’s latest financial reports and other information show the ongoing rise of cloud computing and payments. But amid the growth lurk worries about real and potential hurdles for gov tech.

With staffing issues and few resources, rural counties are most likely to have missed the deadline for correcting the broadband map, meaning they will miss out on millions of dollars in federal funding meant to bring the Internet to rural America.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Thursday signed an agriculture and broadband spending bill into law. The new law earmarks $100 million in funding for rural Internet expansion.

Yakima County, Wash., has been awarded more than $11.3 million by the state's Broadband Office as part of $121 million in grants awarded to 19 projects in underserved communities statewide.

Repowering older, internal combustion school buses as battery-electric versions can extend the life of bus fleets and save districts a lot of money as they transition to EVs.

The Dunn County Broadband Task Force is conducting a regional survey of residents to establish a plan to improve broadband access and grab a portion of federal funding earmarked for state broadband efforts.

The infusion of fresh capital marks the latest private equity investment in gov tech, a growing trend. Michigan-based BS&A sells ERP software to cities for financial management, utility billing and other jobs.

Plus, a new report continues to emphasize the value of a unified approach to broadband, Cleveland finds a nonprofit partner for a citywide broadband network and more.

The Butte County Association of Governments has approved its annual budget for transit, which includes the purchase of four electric buses that are estimated to be on the road by the end of 2025.

A $10 million grant from Google.org is expanding digital navigator programs in 18 rural or tribal communities nationwide, and advocates say the lessons could inform work for years to come.

The COVID-19 pandemic reshuffled commutes, economies and the daily life of cities. Now, city planners and transportation officials and others are having to rethink the future of urban spaces.