Top > Webmaster > 2006 > October > 2006-10-17

Improved Web Site Gets Some Independence

Independence, a city in the state of Missouri, has recently received the 2006 Pinnacle Award for its website. The award was given as a tribute to the excellence in design and usability from the National Association of Government Webmasters. The NAGW annually hands out awards in three different categories: strategic innovation, programming, and design/usability. There is a lot that can be learned from looking closely at this site and the way it was designed and built.

NAGW is a national association of county and city government Webmasters working together to improve government Internet and intranet services. Community population was the main judging criteria in the three groups. Cities and counties are grouped together. The city of Independence was in the medium or the 100,000 to 400,000 population group. Entries in the design/usability category were judged on structure and navigation, content, and visual design. Only the top city or county in each category receives an award.

Recently, the city recently added streaming video, redesigning its Web site. Webmasters who would like to study and learn from an award-winning Web site can look to this city?s successful site. Other new features for the Web site include maps and a ?quick links?section, which viewers and webmasters will find convenient and helpful. These new sections provides access to services such as parks activities and programs, utility bills, business licensing services, building permits and inspections, tourism, and even economic development.