News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 9, 2002
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke applauds three state agencies vying for prestigious digital service award

OLYMPIA — Innovative Internet sites created by three state agencies to make their services more accessible and convenient for Washington residents are competing for a prestigious achievement award, Gov. Gary Locke announced today.

The WSA (formerly Washington Software Alliance) will announce the Outstanding Contribution to Digital Government Award at its seventh annual industry achievement awards event on Feb. 7 in Seattle. In addition, it will honor a number of private technology companies.

The state government finalists are the departments of Social and Health Services, Licensing and Retirement Systems.

“These agencies are at the forefront of my campaign to bring essential government services to Washington’s citizens in a convenient and cost-effective way using the Internet,” Locke said. “I’m proud these services are being recognized by this industry group with members who have helped make Washington a major force in the global economy.”

The finalists for the Outstanding Contribution to Digital Government Award are:
  • Department of Social and Health Services’ Online Community Services Office
    Washington is the first state to accept applications for medical, child care, food stamp and other benefits via the Internet at its Online Community Services Office website. The site also allows people to check their eligibility electronically using a trial calculator to see if their income, expenses and family circumstances qualify for DSHS programs. The Online CSO receives an average of 6,000 hits per day and can easily be accessed through the main DSHS Internet site (www.wa.gov/dshs) or at its own web address (www.onlinecso.dshs.wa.gov).

  • Department of Licensing’s Internet Master Business Application
    Approximately 80,000 new businesses each year are eligible to use the Internet Master Business Application, which immediately issues a tax identification number and registers them with the departments of Revenue, Labor and Industries, Employment Security, Licensing and the Secretary of State. By completing one online form and paying with a credit card, most of the Internet applicants are considered to be fully registered. A paper business license is supplied within several days of the Internet application. The license application can be accessed from the main DOL website at: www.wa.gov/dol.

  • Department of Retirement Systems’ Online Retirement Benefit Estimators
    This flexible, user-friendly retirement planning tool allows some 300,000 state employees to present a variety of possible retirement scenarios and obtain immediate benefit estimates. The retirement tool is the most popular feature on the agency’s website, providing an average of more than 62,000 estimates annually. The address is: www.wa.gov/DRS/estimate-unix/index.htm.

    (Editor’s note: The WSA banquet, featuring remarks by Locke and Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos, is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Westin Hotel, 1900 Fifth Ave., Seattle.)
    Related Links:
    - WSA's 2002 Industry Achievement Awards
    - Department of Licensing Master Application
    - DSHS Online Community Services Office
    - Retirement Benefit Estimator, Department of Retirement Systems


    » Return to this month's News Releases
    » View News Release Archive

Access Washington