From the desk of the County Manager,

Savvy users of our online resources may have noticed a change on July 21^st.

That’s when our updated website at DCONC.GOV went live!

This endeavor is the culmination of a multi-year Website Modernization Initiative led by our Information Services and Technology Department and Public Information Office in seeing all of our departments come together to overhaul and improve the content provided to residents seeking our programs and services.

Why was an update needed?

Our old website served its purpose; however, it had been nearly a decade since major changes were made. An update was vital to modernize its features and effectively differentiate the County from other local governments. The goal of the project was to create a website that operates seamlessly and offers cutting-edge online services – all while creating an appealing visual experience. This project allows Durham County Government to showcase our dedication to being at the forefront of technological innovation while continuing to position Durham County as a great place to live, grow, and thrive.

We accomplished this, by using web design and development best practices to give our site an updated look and feel. It also is filled with up-to-date and improved content, gives a focus on accessibility to make the site usable by all, and uses new underlying technology.

Durham County Government believes that our website serves as a crucial element of the organization's public persona and is a significant means of engaging with our residents. Our home on the Web seeks to establish a connection with the community, motivate and involve visitors; while highlighting the services and programs we deliver on a daily basis.

The goal of the modernization initiative is to develop a website that reflects Durham County's lively and dynamic community, showcasing our limitless prospects for development and satisfaction, while delivering our services with ease of access to all.

A large piece of this was taking resident and user feedback and using it to enhance all aspects of the user experience by providing a more comprehensive, functional, and engaging site.

Durham County collaborated with Northwoods as the website designer for the project. The new site features the latest tools, a much-improved functionality on desktop and mobile devices, and useful online services – all while showcasing Durham County. Titan CMS, a modern, extensible, secure, and highly adaptable content management platform, was selected on which to build the new website. It will allow the site to grow seamlessly with the County’s needs.

Here's what to expect from Durham County Government’s new website:

• Enhanced user experience
• Improved functionality
• Stronger search feature
• Better security
• ChatBot
• Removal of outdated information

“This website redesign reflects our commitment to delivering responsive, modern services that meet the needs of our growing and diverse community,” said Greg Marrow, Chief Information Officer for Durham County. “From mobile-friendly features to enhanced accessibility and a 24/7 AI chatbot, we’re proud to offer a digital experience that matches the innovation and inclusivity Durham County stands for.”

This effort could not have happened without the hard work of Durham County Departments across the organization, who inspected and updated information on their respective pages. For all their hard work over the months, including a sprint to the finish line the last few weeks, I say “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”

Users of DCONC.GOV should be on the lookout for a survey in the near future as we will need to know what you like about the redesign, and its performance capabilities. Your input will once again help us find the little hiccups that come with a vast undertaking such as this.

We hope our updated website provides everyone with what they need when they need it. I hope you will take a moment to surf our site and check it out!

Until next week,

Claudia Hager | County Manager