*EPF312 02/27/2002
Text: U.S. Government Launches New Internet Portal
(Site links all levels of government for citizens, business) (460)

The U.S. government launched a new version of the Internet portal known as FirstGov.gov February 27, according to the General Services Administration, the agency operating the site.

First launched in September 2000, the site offers visitors links to government agencies at the national, state and local levels. The new version has been redesigned to connect visitors more quickly and more accurately with the information they're seeking.

The new site can be reached at http://www.FirstGov.gov

Following is the text of the GSA press release:

(begin text)

U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

GSA News Releases

Wednesday February 27, 2002

FirstGov's New Focus on Customers: Introduces Citizen, Business, and Government Gateways in Re-Design

FirstGov: Your first click to the U.S. Government

Washington, DC -- FirstGov (http://www.FirstGov.gov), the U.S. Government's official Internet portal to all government information, is launching a totally new look and feel today. The redesigned FirstGov.gov site is focusing on customer channels or gateways for citizens, business, and government, as well as online transactions. FirstGov is the "Front Door" to the Bush Administration's e-government initiative on connecting citizens with government.

The new FirstGov site is designed to connect visitors faster and more accurately with the transactions, services, and information that matter to them. Under the Citizens Gateway, visitors to the site can find helpful links under "Change Your Address", "Government Shopping", "E-File your Taxes", "Social Security OnLine", and much more. The Business Gateway offers links to information on "Business Opportunities", "Business Laws and Regulations," "Federal Auctions and Sales," and other helpful links. The Government Gateway links to important information resources for federal, state, local, and tribal governments and its employees, such as grants, travel, government jobs, government sales and auctions, and the very latest concerning information technology.

Since its launch in September 2000, visitors to FirstGov.gov have found that it's easy to find Web-based information, services, and transactions located in federal, state, and local government Web sites. More people have been finding it more efficient to go online than to waste valuable time standing in line to work with government. In response to feedback from customers, the FirstGov staff redesigned the Web site to meet the public's desire to conduct more transactions online and to have government services organized specifically for citizens, businesses, and government.

"GSA is proud to play a key role in moving E-Government to this new level of efficiency and effectiveness," said GSA Administrator Stephen A. Perry. "This redesign makes significant progress in harnessing the power of technology to improve citizen interaction with their government."

During 2001, FirstGov.gov received 50 million hits. FirstGov is an interagency initiative managed by the U.S. General Services Administration.

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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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