Avondale Earns National Recognition for Digital Innovation and IT Governance

The City of Avondale has been nationally recognized for its leadership in government technology, earning two major distinctions in 2025: a Top Digital City ranking in the 2025 Digital Cities Survey Awards, and a Public Technology Institute (PTI) Solutions Award for advancements in IT Governance.

Avondale placed 4th in the nation in the 75,000–124,999 population category of the 2025 Digital Cities Survey, presented by the Center for Digital Government (CDG). The annual survey honors cities that excel in technology innovation, data-driven decision-making, cybersecurity, and resident-centered digital services. Avondale’s ranking highlights its investments in modernized public safety systems, improved online services, and robust cybersecurity practices that enhance efficiency and build community trust.

“This recognition reflects Avondale’s dedication to delivering efficient, secure, and easy-to-use digital services for our residents,” said Jeff Scheetz, Chief Information Officer for the City of Avondale. “Our team is committed to building technology solutions that make government more accessible, responsive, and resilient for the community we serve.”

Awardees were celebrated this week at the Digital Cities Awards event during the National League of Cities City Summit in Salt Lake City.

In addition, Avondale has been selected to receive a 2025 Public Technology Institute (PTI) Solutions Award for its achievements in Information Technology Governance. The award was presented this week during the PTI Awards event at the 2025 GOVIT Leadership Summit & Symposium in Minneapolis, Minneapolis.

Over the past year, Avondale strengthened its IT governance framework by refining its mid-year technology project intake process, ensuring thorough business case evaluation and financial impact analysis for all requests. This improved process now plays a significant role in planning for the Fiscal Year 2027 budget.

The City also established three specialized committees - AI, Web Governance, and Data Governance - which delivered major achievements, including Avondale’s first AI policy, enhanced ADA compliance efforts, strengthened content and intranet governance, the city’s first comprehensive data inventory, and a strategic data framework.

These initiatives support innovation, fiscal responsibility, and cohesive technology planning across all departments.

For more information about the Digital Cities Survey, visit www.govtech.com.

For details on the PTI Solutions Awards, visit fusionlp.org .