City of Long Beach
Public Information Office
411 W. Ocean Blvd,
Long Beach, CA 90802
www.longbeach.gov
Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach has been recognized as the first-place Top Digital City for its population size in the Center for Digital Government’s (CDG) 2024 Digital Cities Survey. The survey is conducted annually and evaluates how cities nationwide use technology to advance city goals, operations and services to the community. This is the first time since the creation of the survey in 2001 that any city in any population category nationwide has ranked first for four consecutive years, and the 14th consecutive year that Long Beach has been recognized as a Top 10 Digital City.
"It is an honor to be the first city named as a top digital city for four consecutive years," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "These awards exemplify our City’s consistent leadership in developing and implementing trailblazing technology services and programs that prioritize the needs of Long Beach residents and strive to advance equity and inclusion in an increasingly digital world."
Now in its 24th year, the annual Digital Cities Survey recognizes cities nationwide that utilize technology to tackle social challenges, enhance services and strengthen cyber security, among other initiatives. It honors cities in five population classifications, with Long Beach assigned to the 250,000 to 499,999 population category.
The City continues to be an industry leader in government technology because of its forward-thinking and strategic technology vision, emphasis on making technology accessible to all residents, and its fundamental role in enhancing how Long Beach functions.
This year’s Top Digital City designation was based on the City’s progress through the following key initiatives, which prioritize innovation, equity and security in service delivery:
"I am incredibly proud of our team and the diverse, innovative technology projects and initiatives we undertake each year,” said Technology and Innovation Department Director Lea Eriksen. “These accomplishments reflect our commitment to advancing digital equity, strengthening community trust and ensuring that our City is prepared for the future with responsible, cutting-edge solutions."
Additionally, Eriksen received this year’s SoCal CIO Large Enterprise ORBIE Award, which honors technology leadership in organizations with over $1.5 billion annual revenue.
The ORBIE Awards is the premier recognition program for technology executives in the U.S., honoring outstanding chief information officers and chief information security officers since 1998. Winners are chosen by an independent peer review process led by former ORBIE recipients based on criteria such as leadership effectiveness, business value from technology innovation, and engagement in industry and community initiatives.
“Cities of every size are redefining what’s possible using technology to elevate public service and improve government,” said John Matelski, Executive Director of the Center for Digital Government. “The Digital Cities Survey is proud to honor these visionary leaders and cities setting bold new benchmarks in digital governance. Congratulations to all those driving impactful change and pioneering the future of local government with innovation and steadfast commitment.”
The CDG is a national research and advisory institute focused on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government. The CDG is a division of e.Republic, a national publishing, event, and research company focused on smart media for public sector innovation. The complete list of this year’s winners is available on the CDG website.
About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.
For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. To learn more about Technology and Innovation, visit: longbeach.gov/ti.