Cook County ranked fifth in nation for digital access
The Center for Digital Government has recognized Cook County as one of America's leading digital counties, ranking it fifth among counties with populations of 1 million or more in the 2024 Digital Counties Survey, officials announced.
It is the fifth consecutive year the county has placed in the top 10. The award was presented July 12 at the National Association of Counties annual conference in Tampa, Florida. It acknowledges counties that exemplify the best technology practices, including initiatives that streamline service delivery, encourage collaboration, enhance cybersecurity and promote digital equity.
“Being recognized as a top five digital county is a testament to the dedication and innovation of our entire technology team,” county Chief Information Officer Tom Lynch said in the announcement. “This achievement reflects our ongoing commitment to harnessing technology to better serve our residents and make Cook County government more efficient, transparent and accessible.”
One of the county's standout accomplishments this year was the launch of the Cook County Cloud program. Completed in February 2024, the private cloud environment consolidates the county's data center infrastructure from 13 locations to just five, reducing physical rack space by 85% while supporting 39% more virtual machines.
In October, the county released its first Digital Equity Action Plan, accompanied by an interactive Digital Equity Map. The comprehensive framework aims to ensure all county residents have equitable access to digital infrastructure, devices and tools necessary to thrive in today's digital economy and society. The map provides valuable insights into the relationship between socioeconomic conditions and access to broadband technology across different areas of the county.
In December, the county launched the Unincorporated Zoning Requirements Application. The app allows residents of unincorporated areas to easily access zoning information for their properties, eliminating the need for time-consuming phone inquiries and enabling 24/7 access to crucial information.
Transparency in government spending has been enhanced through the new Cook County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) website, launched in August 2023. The platform provides comprehensive information on how the county is allocating its $1 billion in American Rescue Plan Act funds, featuring interactive dashboards and detailed program spotlights.
For more information about Cook County's technology and data programs, visit the Bureau of Technology website at cookcountyil.gov/bot.