From transforming emergency response to bridging the digital divide and modernizing decades-old systems with AI, three NCDIT projects have been named finalists in the 2025 NC TECH Awards, which recognize the most innovative and impactful technology initiatives in the state.
The winners will be revealed at the NC TECH Awards Gala in Raleigh on Dec. 9.
AI-Powered Modernization of the Marine Fisheries Biological Database
Finalist: Core Innovation Award – AI, ML + Data Innovation
To modernize the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ 40-year-old legacy biological database critical to marine species management, NCDIT-Environmental Quality staff used generative AI to recode more than 25,000 lines of outdated code and build a secure, modern web interface. The project cut development time by 90%, saved an estimated $340,000 in consulting costs and dramatically improved system performance and user satisfaction.
A custom AI assistant now helps staff navigate the system, making data access faster, more accurate and more collaborative. The approach is now being shared across other state agencies as a model for responsible AI use in government.
Next Generation 911
Finalist: Public Sector Innovation Award
The N.C. 911 Board has spearheaded the statewide rollout of Next Generation 911, which ensures 911 calls are answered under any circumstances, regardless of the caller’s location or communication technology used.
Completed in early 2024, this network proved vital last fall when Hurricane Helene devastated North Carolina. Nineteen public safety answering points (commonly called 911 centers) in western North Carolina rerouted 911 calls to 23 unaffected PSAPs across the state.
From Sept. 26 through Sept. 28, 2024, 911 telecommunicators throughout the state answered nearly 90,000 calls, a 55% increase in call volume over the same timeframe the previous year.
Next Generation 911 also supported geospatial call routing during the 2025 NASCAR race in Richmond County, allowing event-specific emergency teams to prioritize calls from within the venue.
Tech Resource Finder and NC 211
Finalist: Use of Technology Award – Public Sector
To help close the digital divide, NCDIT’s Division of Broadband and Digital Opportunity launched the nation’s first statewide digital support program in late 2024. At its core is the Tech Resource Finder, a searchable tool that connects users to more than 2,171 local resources for internet access, public Wi-Fi, computer labs and digital skills training.
In partnership with NC 211, the program also offers 24/7 multilingual phone support, helping residents set up email accounts, find digital literacy classes and more. Since its launch, more than 3,500 users have accessed the Tech Resource Finder. Nearly 26,000 North Carolinians have called NC 211 for digital support in 2025.