9/30/2026 11:58:11 AM
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Sept. 30, 2026) — The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) recognized four Minnesota initiatives in its 2026 State IT Recognition Awards, which honor excellence in state government technology.
Minnesota’s Technology Modernization Fund received a State CIO Office Special Recognition Award for its entry, “The engine of modernization: Minnesota’s Technology Modernization Fund.”
NASCIO also named three Minnesota initiatives as finalists:
NASCIO selected 31 finalists across 10 categories from more than 130 entries nationwide. The organization honored 11 projects as award recipients.
“These recognitions show what Minnesota can accomplish when we pair smart technology investments with strong partnerships and a clear focus on the people we serve,” said Minnesota IT Services Commissioner and State Chief Information Officer Jon Eichten. “Each initiative addresses a different need, but they share the same goal: using technology to improve services, reduce risk and deliver better experiences for Minnesotans. I’m proud of the teams whose expertise and commitment made this work possible.”
The Minnesota Legislature established the Technology Modernization Fund in 2023 with a $40 million investment to accelerate high-priority technology projects across state government. Minnesota IT Services (MNIT) administers the fund through a transparent, enterprise-wide process that evaluates proposed projects based on their expected benefits, risks, readiness and alignment with statewide priorities.
The fund has helped agencies improve Minnesotans’ experiences with government, strengthen cybersecurity, reduce operational risks and modernize outdated processes. It also provides a repeatable model for identifying promising projects and directing resources where they can deliver the greatest public value.
The Minnesota Office of Higher Education developed Direct Admissions in partnership with MNIT and participating high schools and colleges. The platform uses students’ academic records to show high school seniors which participating Minnesota colleges and universities are ready to admit them—before students complete a traditional application.
The initiative simplifies the college search, removes uncertainty from the admissions process and helps more students see higher education as an attainable option. It also reduces manual work for school staff, giving them more time to help students plan for life after graduation.
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development in partnership with MNIT built the digital services supporting Minnesota Paid Leave, which launched Jan. 1, 2026. The program provides payments and job protections when Minnesotans need time away from work to care for themselves or their families.
The project brought together more than 350 employees to design, build and launch a secure, accessible and user-centered digital service. The team incorporated extensive research and testing to help workers, employers and health care providers navigate the new program.
MNIT developed CloudRAMP as a secure, reusable foundation for state agencies moving services and systems to the cloud. The enterprise platform gives agencies a consistent approach to cloud adoption, while reducing duplicated work and helping teams build on the state’s existing technology investments.
CloudRAMP strengthens security, supports faster delivery and allows agencies to focus more of their resources on the services Minnesotans use. Its shared tools, standards and processes also help the state manage cloud environments more consistently across agencies.
“National recognition from NASCIO affirms Minnesota’s commitment to using technology thoughtfully to solve real problems,” Eichten said. “These initiatives offer models we can build on as we continue creating secure, accessible and responsive services for Minnesotans.”
Minnesota IT Services, led by the state’s Chief Information Officer, is the Information Technology agency for Minnesota’s executive branch, providing enterprise and local IT services to over 70 agencies, boards, and commissions. MNIT employs more than 2,800 people. Together, we build, maintain, and secure the State’s IT infrastructure, applications, projects, and services. MNIT sets IT strategy, direction, policies, and standards for enterprise IT leadership and planning. We also serve Minnesotans by connecting all 87 counties, 300 cities, and 200 public higher education campuses across the state on the MNET network. Through public-private partnerships, our team proactively protects the state’s information systems and the private data of 5.7 million Minnesotans.
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