Town of Cary Initiative Shines as Harvard Announces 111 Bright Ideas in Government
Town of Cary Initiative Shines as Harvard Announces 111 Bright Ideas in Government
Cambridge, Mass., – September 25, 2012 - Today the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University recognized 111 innovative government initiatives as Bright Ideas, including the Town of Cary’s Virtual Interactive Planner (VIP). The internet-based tool presents citizens and customers of Cary with an online tutorial to the Town of Cary’s comprehensive planning and development processes; it is accessible at http://vip.townofcary.org or by mobile device at http://mvip.townofcary.org.
“Our pride in receiving this honor is only outshined by the difference we know the tool is making for our citizens every day,” said Town of Cary Planning Director Jeff Ulma. “VIP is a great example of what can happen when several departments within an organization work together with the private sector to come up with a bright idea for the community we serve.”
“Government innovation does not require endless resources and generous budgets,” said Stephen Goldsmith, director of the Innovations in Government Program at the Ash Center. “As exemplified by this year’s Bright Ideas, some of our country’s smartest innovations can in fact reduce government’s size while serving our citizens more efficiently and effectively.”
The Town of Cary launched VIP in 2010; since then, it has been accessed by all 50 states plus 73 countries worldwide. The tool has garnered national attention, winning awards from the North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association (NCAPA) for Planning, the North Carolina City & County Communicators (NC3C) for Excellence In Communication, Pitney-Bowes for GIS Integration, the Government Innovation Grant Award (GIGA) from the University of North Carolina’s School of Governement, and now the Harvard Kennedy School Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. In addition, VIP has been featured in State, National and International Publications and has been featured at NCAPA State Conference (New Bern, North Carolina), the Florida City & County Managers Association/Alliance For Innovation Joint National Conference (Clearwater, Florida) and the National League of Cities City Showcase (Phoenix, Arizona).
Bright Idea initiatives this year hail from all levels of government—including school districts, county, city, state, and federal agencies as well as public-private partnerships—and demonstrate a creative range of solutions to issues such as urban and rural degradation, environmental problems, and the academic achievement of students. Programs were evaluated and selected by a team of policy experts from academic and public sectors.
This is the third cohort recognized through the Bright Ideas program, an initiative of the broader Innovations in American Government Awards program. Applications are accepted year round for consideration as a Bright Idea; programs must currently be in operation or in the process of launching and have sufficient operational resources. In addition, programs must be administered by one or more governmental entities; nonprofit, private sector, and union initiatives are eligible if operating in partnership with a governmental organization. Bright Ideas are showcased on the Ash Center’s Government Innovators Network, an online platform for practitioners and policymakers to share innovative public policy solutions.
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PRIMARY CONTACTS:
Jeff Ulma, Planning Director, (919) 469-4082
Kate Hoagland, Ash Center, (617) 495-4347
Deanna Boone, Deputy Public Information Officer, (919) 462-3908
Susan Moran, Public Information Director, (919) 380-4240
