Calvert County has been recognized as the No. 1 Digital County in the United States for populations up to 150,000 by the Center for Digital Government (CDG) and the National Association of Counties (NACo).

This prestigious award marks the second consecutive year that Calvert County has earned this top ranking, reflecting its ongoing commitment to technological excellence and innovation in government services.

“This award acknowledges the hard work and dedication throughout county government to enhance our technology systems,” said Technology Services Director Stephen Pereira. “This year, the recognition particularly highlights our efforts to curtail spending and drive value through existing resources. It also shows our alignment with industry best practices, the goals of county leadership and our strength in cross-department collaboration. We are honored and thrilled to receive this recognition once again, as it reflects our ongoing commitment to leveraging technology for the benefit of our community.”

The Digital Counties Survey is an annual assessment that identifies the best technology practices among U.S. counties. The survey evaluates counties on their efforts to streamline the delivery of government services, leverage data analytics for informed decision-making, enhance cybersecurity, and apply innovative technologies to meet county priorities.

Calvert County’s continued leadership in digital innovation has been driven by several key initiatives. The CDG and NACo recognized the Department of Technology Services implementation of a comprehensive Data Classification Policy to organize and protect data, as well as the launch of several OpenAI-powered chatbots.

Read the full press release to see all the efforts that went into Calvert County receiving this prestigious award!