The City of Newport News was named the winner of the Trust & Transparency category at the 15th Annual North American Granicus Digital Government Awards, according to an April 14 announcement. The award recognizes the city’s efforts in open government and innovative public service delivery.
The recognition highlights how digital solutions can improve transparency, build trust, and make local government more accessible for residents. The city was honored for its collaborative work in implementing a new Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request Archive and expanding Open Data pages.
Mayor Phillip Jones said, “Transparency builds trust. By investing in digital solutions like our FOIA Request Archive and Open Data portal, we are making it easier for residents to access information, engage with their local government, and see firsthand how their city operates. This award reflects our commitment to openness and service.”
The city’s initiatives included launching Granicus GovQA, a cloud-based workflow platform that automates responses to public records requests. This system standardized FOIA processing across departments, ensured legal compliance, improved security for sensitive information, and introduced a new archive making completed non-exempt requests publicly available. Additionally, councilmembers’ Statements of Economic Interest, travel logs, and employee salary information were added to frequently asked questions.
In January 2025, a full-time FOIA Coordinator was hired by the Office of the City Attorney to create uniform protocols for handling requests. These protocols included updated redaction standards and staff training. At the same time, GeoHub Newport News was launched as an online platform where users can explore location-based datasets such as Crime Reports or Budget & Evaluation statistics.
“Awards like this affirm that transparency is not a one-time initiative but an ongoing commitment,” said City Manager Alan K. Archer. “By investing in modern digital infrastructure and empowering our staff with the right tools and training, we are building a government that is responsive, accountable, and worthy of our community’s trust.”
According to the historical site, the City of Newport News has a rich heritage tied to African-American history, exemplified by landmarks such as the Newsome House Museum which served as a hub for social justice advocacy. The city also features notable facilities including Lee Hall Mansion—a Confederate headquarters during the Civil War—and hosts institutions like the Virginia War Museum highlighting military history according to historical records.
According to its official city code, Newport News designates its mayor—currently Phillip D. Jones—to preside over council meetings and serve as head for ceremonial purposes.
Geographically,the official website notes that Newport News covers areas along both James River and Hampton Roads Harbor in Virginia while encompassing diverse sectors such as shipbuilding industry activities,technological research,and international commerce.
Looking ahead,the city’s approach integrates reactive public records access with proactive data publishing.Newport News’ model has influenced similar initiatives across Virginia,and officials hope it will continue setting standards on transparency.For more information or access,the public can visit https://www.nnva.gov/2214/Freedom-of-Information-Act.
