Indiana to offer local governments free website hosting

The Indiana Office of Technology announced on Wednesday it will offer a free website hosting service for local governments in the state.

While the state’s technology office has offered low-cost website hosting service for local entities for the past four years, the new option is free, compliant with web accessibility requirements and mobile-friendly, a news release said. The offering to host local websites is part of the state’s new $22.7 million IN.gov contract with Tyler Indiana, a subsidiary of Tyler Technologies.

The deal was signed earlier this year, and is set to go into effect on Oct. 25.

According to the release, local governments can choose from three “award-winning” website designs, and manage them through a content management system, view analytics and access a calendar and events system. The sites are also protected by the same cybersecurity and privacy measures used by state government websites.

This announcement is part of an initiative from Indiana’s technology office, and led by Chief Information Officer Tracy Barnes, to work with local governments to improve their cybersecurity and digital services offerings. The initiative also seeks to ensure that all local governments in the state can offer their constituents a safe, trustworthy and user-friendly online experience.

“This strategic move continues to build trust and aims to significantly improve cybersecurity measures and overall user experience on government platforms,” Barnes said. “We’re seeking to empower local governments to better manage their digital front doors, and improve access to all levels of local government, be it a small township or for our larger communities. Hoosiers should expect to have secure, easy to use digital methods to get in touch with their government. By removing financial barriers, we are another step closer to providing an improved, consistent digital experience no matter what level of government a citizen is interacting with.”