Transforming Dearborn’s digital services and giving every citizen a voice

The spirit of innovation thrives in Dearborn, Michigan, which is why Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, local residents, and representatives are collaborating with Google Cloud to modernize its IT and data infrastructure and provide digital services.

Dearborn is an entrepreneurial city with deep roots in industry. Its legacy is one of spirited determination. Bordering Detroit, the city is home to approximately 110,000 residents and hosts a diverse population. More than half the people in Dearborn speak a language other than English at home.

To better serve Dearborn’s linguistically diverse population, the city provides access to core citizen-services in multiple languages online – 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Previously, residents would interact with the city during business hours Monday through Friday, taking time off work to physically go to a city building and wait in line. Now, residents can operate and process critical requests (such as applying for permits and licenses) fast and online. Virtual agents on the website deliver personalized information and interactions in Arabic, English, and Spanish, and the city has translated websites and documents to help expand the reach and delivery of vital government information and services.

The city’s workforce of 1,600 manages critical operations and services for the community. Through this partnership, every one of these workers now has access to Google Workspace’s secure and cloud-native productivity tools to collaborate and operate more efficiently. For 300 frontline workers, this will be the first time they have a work email address. The city’s workers are enabled to move beyond paper-based processes to digitize information and optimize their workflows with flexible, real-time, and integrated collaboration. This also unlocks data and analytics, which significantly helps city leaders make more informed decisions. Dearborn can transform with confidence and peace of mind with an improved security posture across the implementation.

Dearborn is a hub of automotive, steel manufacturing and healthcare innovation. The emerging workforce in Dearborn needs the technical skills required to thrive in this workplace. Google has provided certification opportunities to support upskilling Dearborn residents. The city is administering training, education, and certifications through a local nonprofit, ACCESS.