As government continues to find new ways to unite and serve constituents, technology has the power to help. Agencies have found clever ways to get more for the public dollar by replacing disparate phone systems with IP networks, enabling government agencies to simplify management processes, support effective law enforcement, enable mobile workers, control costs and improve citizen service.

Agencies will continue to face real challenges. Shrinking budgets, rising expectations and problematic forecasts complicate their operations. But the entrepreneurial spirit of government is increasingly evident as leaders at all levels come to grips with this new normal. From New England to the Gulf, through the Midwest to the West Coast, it’s clear that transformation goes a long way toward helping governments thrive. Perhaps when the going gets tough, the tough … get innovating and the results are profound.