LEXINGTON, KY — Eight exemplary initiatives were chosen as recipients for the National Association of State Chief Administrators’ (NASCA) 2021 Innovation in State Government Award to recognize state administrative department programs that exemplify best practices in operations and leadership.

Recipients were announced at NASCA’s Award Ceremony held during the 2021 Institute on Management and Leadership in Rochester, New York on October 27, 2021. This marks the seventh consecutive year NASCA has honored outstanding achievements in the public sector through the awards program. The nominations are reviewed by experienced state Chief Administrators and subject-matter experts from the private sector based on innovation, ability to transfer or replicate the initiatives to other states and local governments, and efficiencies created.

The 2021 Award Recipients are:

• Acquisition, Supply Chain and Stockpiles: State of Minnesota - Minnesota’s Public/Private Partnership for COVD-19 Critical Care Supplies

• Customer Service & Experience: Commonwealth of Virginia - Digital Transformation - Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Web Portal

• Digital Services, Data Management, Analytics and Visualization - State of California: DGS Telework Dashboard

• Diversity Equity and Inclusion in Procurement: State of Illinois - Transforming the Business Enterprise Program

• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workforce: State of Ohio - State of Ohio Workforce DEI Initiatives

• Employee Engagement and Experience: State of Tennessee - Culture Transformation

• Transformation: State of Michigan - Transformative Election Reform - Operationalizing Law & Process Improvement

• Workspace Optimization: State of Illinois - Chicago Real Estate Portfolio Optimization

 “The recipients of these awards continue to further the operations of state government in new and exemplary ways while producing new efficiencies,” said Pam Goins, executive director of NASCA. “The innovations are focused on providing the best services to state employees, front line workers, and citizens of their state.”