NASCA Recognizes 2020 Award Recipients

Tuesday, January  26, 2021

LEXINGTON, KY — Five exemplary initiatives were chosen as recipients for the National Association of State Chief Administrator (NASCA) 2020 Innovation in State Government Awards to recognize state administration department programs that exemplify best practices in operations and leadership.

Recipients were announced at NASCA’s Virtual Award Ceremony held during the Winter Thought Leadership Series. This marks the sixth 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 initiative to other state and local governments, and efficiencies created.

The 2020 Award Recipients are:

General Services:

  • State of Arkansas’ Government Transformation Initiative

Infrastructure:

  • State of California’s Hotel to Housing Conversion

Financial Management:

  • State of Colorado’s Procuring $1B in Goods and Services Through Invitations to Negotiate
  • State of Florida’s Shared Savings Program

Personnel:

  • Missouri’s Professional Development Transformation

In addition to the Innovation in State Government Awards, NASCA awarded its first recipient of a new award, Excellence Through Collaboration. This award recognizes corporate partner companies that have partnered with a state to implement a program, project or service that positively impacts its service to the state. The nominations are reviewed by experienced state Chief Administrators focusing on collaboration and value added to the state.

This year’s recipient, NEOGOV, partnered with the State of Michigan, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of Washington for their project, “Checkmate: Job Applicants.” NEOGOV was announced as the recipient at NASCA’s Virtual Award Ceremony held during the Winter Thought Leadership Series.

“Amidst a global health pandemic, these award recipients excelled in furthering the operations of state government in new and transformative ways,” said Pam Goins, Executive Director of NASCA. “These approaches center around the most innovative strategies to elevate state employees, front line workers, and citizens and can be replicated by many states across the country.”