Buffalo, NY, September 7, 2001 -- The City of Buffalo's brand new e-government initiative became reality this morning with the launch of a brand new citizen-oriented web site. Created with the end user in mind and oriented toward customer satisfaction the new site allows users to access information in two ways. Information on the city and its services is presented both by City Department and by type of service so that users not familiar with the City's structure can get what they need quickly and easily. The new site also includes a section allowing for the payment of City parking tickets and User Fees via a secure connection to the City's data center. People interested in the new on-line services can begin using the web sites e-payments applications starting Monday, September 10.

With the goal of creating more efficient government service and allowing all citizens access to equal information the City of Buffalo is embarking on a cutting edge approach to on-line public service. Traditionally, the citizens' perspective of government has been busy phones, long lines and complicated paper work. The City of Buffalo has made improvements to this notion through the New Citizens Services Department and the streamlining of the Permit Office. This is where we have used the "E" in E-Government to mean enabler. We will enable the citizen to make payments on the Internet, to access procedures for acquiring licenses, to access assessment information, to file a complaint, to see city trash schedules, to search on the GIS Mapping System for property use and a host of other applications available.

In the near future the city will add other payment types and include the application and payment for city permits and licenses, Common Council Agenda items, snow emergency maps and street closings and are exploring video streaming of city meetings. This plan to enable the citizens and businesses to interact with our more streamlined, service oriented government is a high priority for the City of Buffalo.

The new site developed by the City of Buffalo Information Systems Department and Algonquin Studios uses QuantumCMS, brand new web content management technology developed in Buffalo by Algonquin Studios. The content management tool allows authorized employees in an organization the ability to make changes to the web site content. Geared toward the least computer savvy user, QuantumCMS allows anyone familiar with office productivity software to make changes and additions to a web site without fear of ruining the site deign or functionality. This makes the new City site less expensive to maintain and frees up valuable City resources for other projects.

This announcement of the new web site is the first installment of multiple plan tiers during the next year and a half. Although our vision of the future is clear, the City's effort to become customer centric, more efficient and cutting edge is in constant evolution.

About Algonquin Studios, Inc.

Algonquin Studios, Inc. is a Buffalo-based organization that unites the complementary talents of business, creative and technical professionals to bring businesses on-line. Algonquin Studios can offer businesses the competitive advantage they need to prosper in today's changing marketplace through Internet Business Development, Custom Enterprise Application Software, Content Management Systems Implementation, Web Design Services, Business & Technology Consulting and Technical Project Advising and Training. Founded in March 1998, Algonquin Studios is headquartered in downtown Buffalo, NY. For additional information, please call (716) 842-1439, or visit our Web site at http://www.algonquinstudios.com (you're here now).