News Release: Integraged Web-Enabled Public Parcel Application

Integrated Web-Enabled Public Parcel Application

Grand Rapids , MI - January 9, 2004   accessKent and REGIS have developed and released an integrated web-enabled parcel application that is available to the general public. This joint venture demonstrates a significant collaboration between the two organizations and captures the essence of Governor Granholm's message of "Acting as One".  The application takes advantage of the collective expertise and infrastructure of accessKent and REGIS and eliminates any systematic redundancy.

Through the "Property / Parcel Lookup" application on the accessKent web site, a customer may use the provided tools to search for a parcel in Kent County.  The application provides parcel summary information for the requested parcel and a button for accessing the related map on REGIS.  One click on the "Get Map" button opens a window displaying the mapped requested parcel.

Through the REGIS Public Internet Mapping Service ParcelFinder, a customer may use the provided tools to search for a parcel in Kent County.  The application displays the map of the requested parcel and a button for accessing the parcel summary information on accessKent.  One click on the "Parcel Info" button opens a window displaying the parcel summary page from accessKent.     

The web based application provides advantages for customers and providers of property related information.   Quick 24/7 world-wide access for customers of this type of information, such as realtors, mortgage companies, and developers provides convenience for them.  Municipalities, in turn, realize a time savings in handling fewer informational requests.

The Web Enabled Public Parcel Application is available via the accessKent Online Services Property Parcel Lookup at http://www.accesskent.com or through the REGIS IMS Public Internet Mapping Services ParcelFinder at http://www.gvmc-regis.org .

About REGIS

REGIS is an Agency of the Grand Valley Metropolitan Council (GVMC).  REGIS, an acronym for Regional Geographic Information System, provides a common database, infrastructure, and suite of applications used for spatial data management by our members. To facilitate a more informed decision making process, twenty cities, townships, and quasi-governmental organizations have joined together to develop REGIS, one of the largest local government multi-participant Geographic Information System (GIS) projects.

About Michigan Local Interactive

Michigan Local Interactive built, markets, operates, and maintains the official Web site for Kent County, Michigan (www.accessKent.com ). Michigan Local Interactive is a wholly owned subsidiary of eGovernment firm NIC Inc. NIC Inc. (www.nicusa.com) delivers more online government solutions than any provider in the world. The company is helping transform the relationship between government and the communities it serves by providing convenient eGovernment services that make life easier for businesses and citizens. Through partnership at all levels of government, NIC manages transactions for over 1,400 state and local agencies that serve more than 67 million people in the United States.

About the Grand Valley Metropolitan Council

The Grand Valley Metro Council (GVMC) is a regional organization dedicated to promoting cooperation and coordination among local governments in the metropolitan Grand Rapids area.  Created in 1990, its membership now includes 32 local governments, representing nearly 665,000 people.  For more information on GVMC go to www.gvmc.org

REGIS is an agency of the Grand Valley Metropolitan Council