Montco Creates New Big Data And Tech Office To Improve Efficiency

NORRISTOWN, PA — Montgomery County has announced the creation of a new office of county government focused on using data analytics and the latest technology to improve efficiency, grant administration, and other processes.

The new Office of Innovation, Strategy, and Performance (OISP) will be spun out of the county’s pandemic-era Recovery Office, which was originally created to oversee the distribution of federally granted COVID recovery funds.

"We’ll be proving that local government can lead in innovation, embrace advancements in technology, and ensure every dollar works harder for our residents," Montgomery County Commissioner Neil Makhija said in a statement. "By integrating data analytics, process improvements, and community engagement, OISP will drive meaningful change, fostering a more responsive and equitable government."

The new office will bring "expert" business analysis and project management across county departments.

"We’re taking what we learned from ARPA funded programs, where data-driven decision making led to more effective outcomes, and embedding those principles firmly in county government,” Stephanie Tipton, the county's Deputy Chief Operating Officer, added in a statement.

Tipton unveiled the plan for the new office at this month's Board of Commissioners meeting.

The now defunct Recovery Office accounted for $1.2 million in the 2024 budget and was earmarked for $1.3 million in 2025.