Harrisburg, PA – Today, Secretary of Administration Neil Weaver announced that two technology initiatives by the Office of Administration (OA) have been selected as finalists for the 2026 State IT Recognition Awards presented by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO). The two recognitions come after more than three years of focused technology investment and modernization work across OA’s Office for Information Technology (OIT) and the Commonwealth Office of Digital Experience (CODE PA).
“Modernizing technology to work better for Pennsylvanians is a top priority under the Shapiro Administration,” said Secretary of Administration Neil Weaver. “These recognitions highlight the progress we’ve made over the past three years, from building CODE PA into a national leader for digital experience to upgrading critical infrastructure like the statewide contact center platform. I’m incredibly proud of the teams behind this work and grateful that NASCIO is recognizing Pennsylvania for its technology leadership.”
Finalist: Continuing to improve PA.gov to better serve Pennsylvanians
Following a successful modernization in January 2025 to unify over 60 websites into a unified PA.gov experience, CODE PA partnered with digital and program teams across Commonwealth agencies to continue improving high-impact content through standardization while implementing best practices in human-centered design. These improvements are reflected in measurable outcomes including the improvement of readability across multiple agencies even as teams added more detailed guidance and the reduction of complex agency information through content consolidation. These changes improved clarity and navigation for users, helping to reduce repetitive inquiries and allowing staff to focus on higher-value work.
The project focused on the approximately 20 percent of pages that drive the majority of user traffic across agency websites, to deliver immediate and impactful improvements while creating a model that agencies can extend across their sites.
Finalist: Modernizing Commonwealth Contact Centers
The Commonwealth’s contact center platform supports mission critical programs including SNAP, unemployment compensation, child welfare services, healthcare, and other benefits. In 2024, OA insourced the transition of 63 agency contact centers and over 4,000 contact center staff from an outdated platform to a modern, reliable, cloud-based platform. They completed this work in just nine months, resulting in nearly $9 million cost avoidance.
The new platform supports more digital communications channels and callback options to offer greater flexibility in how and when residents connect with agency programs. These capabilities reduce unnecessary call volume and make it easier for residents to get accurate, real-time support on their first contact. Planned enhancements include intelligent virtual assistants to handle routine inquiries and advanced knowledge tools that provide real-time guidance based on caller needs.
“We are focused on modernizing where it matters most and keeping residents at the center of every technical decision,” said Commonwealth CIO Bry Pardoe. “We are building systems that are more secure, more reliable, and more responsive to the needs of the people we serve. These projects show what’s possible when we combine strategic investments with disciplined execution.”
Through three consecutive state budgets, the Shapiro Administration has expanded the Commonwealth’s cybersecurity capabilities, modernized decades old systems, and built one of the nation’s most effective digital service teams. The 2026-27 budget signed by Governor Shapiro invests an additional $10 million in cybersecurity infrastructure to protect critical data and services, bringing the total added investment in cybersecurity to $30 million over the past three years. The budget also includes $3.7 million for CODE PA to continue its work to modernize permitting processes with agencies, including the PA Department of Environmental Protection.
Over the past three years, OA and CODE PA have saved a combined $37 million on information technology spending during the Shapiro Administration by modernizing outdated systems, leveraging in-house staff and resources, and practicing sensible financial management.
This multiyear effort is creating measurable improvements in reliability, usability, and public trust and positions Pennsylvania among the leading states for government technology modernization and resident‑focused digital transformation. Pennsylvania’s recognition by NASCIO reflects not only the success of these two projects but the sustained, cumulative progress achieved through three consecutive state budgets that have prioritized digital services and security.
The NASCIO State IT Recognition Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in state government information technology. Award winners will be formally announced at the association’s annual conference in late September.
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