Calvert County earned three 2026 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards for technology initiatives aimed at modernizing county government, strengthening employees’ digital skills, and making services more accessible to residents.

Building a Responsible Approach to AI

As artificial intelligence becomes more common in the workplace, Calvert County took a structured approach to introducing the technology across county government. The County’s AI Change Champion Network was created to guide the responsible adoption of ChatGPT Enterprise. Rather than allowing informal use to spread without oversight, the County paired early policy guardrails with department-level champions, in-house training, a SharePoint AI Resource Center, structured license governance, and tracking for custom GPTs.

The network now includes 127 ChatGPT Enterprise members, with 119 active users, and champions across 20 departments. Employees have also developed 173 GPTs and 141 projects, giving the County a framework for expanding AI use while monitoring how the technology is being deployed.

Closing Digital Skill Gaps

Calvert County’s Digital Readiness and Technology Proficiency Program also earned national recognition for its approach to strengthening employees’ everyday technology skills. Instead of relying solely on general technology training, the County developed a structured program that combines annual digital literacy training, standardized Microsoft 365 onboarding for new employees, and proficiency assessments for existing technology users. Employees are assessed on practical skills using tools including Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, and SharePoint. Those who do not meet proficiency thresholds receive targeted training in the specific areas where additional support is needed.

The approach gives the County a measurable way to identify and address technology skill gaps rather than relying on assumptions about employees’ digital proficiency.

Making Utility Payments Easier for Residents

The County’s third award recognized its Utility Billing Self-Service Modernization initiative, which expanded the ways residents can manage their accounts and make payments. The upgraded digital portal added guest payments, real-time water consumption tracking, improved account management, and additional payment technology for residents who prefer to pay in person.

The change quickly drove greater use of online services. Within the first three months, online payments increased from approximately 500 to more than 1,200 transactions. By the fourth quarter of 2025, Calvert County had processed 1,518 credit card payments, enrolled 856 ACH customers, and established 3,028 unique portal accounts.

These honors are part of 165 NACo Achievement Awards earned by Maryland counties this year, recognizing programs and services across nearly every area of local government.