Company Website: http://www.ms.gov/Pages/default.aspx
JACKSON, Miss. -- (Business Wire)

For the second consecutive year, ms.gov has placed among the top five best websites in country in the Center for Digital Government’s "Best of the Web" competition. The awards program is the original and most respected state and local government digital technology competition in the United States, recognizing the best government digital innovations across the country. The Center for Digital Government has repeatedly recognized Mississippi as having one of the best state websites in the country, placing top ten in 2012 and 2013, fourth in 2015, and now third in 2016.

“We are appreciative to be recognized again by the Center for Digital Government. The Best of the Web is a renowned competition, recognizing the very best state websites nationally,” said Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant. “Mississippi strives to provide the very best technology for the residents of our state, and seeing those efforts rewarded supports the hard work of all parties.”

The cornerstone of the 2016 ms.gov redesign is the integration with the popular digital assistant, Amazon Echo’s Alexa. The “Ask Mississippi” Alexa skill, available to myMS users, enhances the citizen to government relationship in Mississippi, allowing residents to connect hands-free with state government. Without having to access a computer or pick up their phone, citizens can just ask to stay on top of important dates (“Alexa, ask Mississippi when my driver’s license expires”), contact the state (“Hey Alexa, ask Mississippi, what the phone number to the Department of Revenue is”), authenticate elected officials and facts (“Alexa, ask Mississippi who the current governor is”), or learn more about our state (“Alexa, ask Mississippi what the state mammal is”). Mississippi was one of the first states to introduce digital assistant technology to citizens and has been featured in several national news outlets.

"We are proud to be on the cutting edge of hand-free, voice controlled technology integration,” said Bryant. “To be honored on a national scale for transforming the relationship between government and citizens is an honor.”

Mississippians can load the Ask Mississippi skill to their Alexa App for free on any mobile device.

Ms.gov is a joint effort between the state of Mississippi and Mississippi’s digital government partner, Mississippi Interactive (MSI). Under a self-funded model, ms.gov’s design is completed at no cost to the state or citizens. To date, the design, maintenance, and customer support efforts of ms.gov are valued at over $1.1 million.

To learn more, visit ms.gov.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/msdotgov
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/msdotgov
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/165044051

About Mississippi Interactive

Mississippi Interactive is the official digital government solutions provider for the state of Mississippi. The company builds and manages interactive government services, including Mississippi’s official website, ms.gov, on behalf of the state. Mississippi Interactive is a wholly owned subsidiary of eGovernment firm NIC (NASDAQ: EGOV).

The state’s official website was redesigned at no cost to the state or citizens utilizing a self-funded model with Mississippi’s eGovernment partner, Mississippi Interactive (MSI), a subsidiary of NIC (NASDAQ: EGOV), and the state of Mississippi. Under the self-funded model, the ms.gov designs and enhancements are developed at no cost to the state or the citizens. For a full listing of all awards won by ms.gov, click here.

About NIC

Founded in 1992, NIC (NASDAQ: EGOV) is the nation's leading provider of innovative digital government solutions and secure payment processing, which help make government more accessible to everyone through technology. The family of NIC companies provides digital government solutions for more than 4,500 federal, state, and local agencies in the United States. Forbes has named NIC as one of the “100 Best Small Companies in America” six times and the company has been included four times on the Barron’s 400 Index. Additional information is available at http://www.egov.com.

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Contacts:

Mississippi Interactive, LLC
Dana Wilson, 601-351-5023

Source: Mississippi Interactive