An improved search capacity for the Secretary of the State’s online business formation data web portal makes information filed with the state more accessible to the public, according to Secretary of the State Denise Merrill.
The enhanced website allows searches by town and address for the first time, and can handle partial names or name variations. This launch of a new search engine is being done in collaboration with the Connecticut Data Collaborative (CT Data).
Michelle Riordan-Nold, executive director of CT Data, said the more robust search capabilities make the data easier to get to, which in turn makes it more useful to policymakers and the public.
“Our online system was initially designed for transactions, not to provide data to the public. So this is a major shift in how we present the information contained in our office,” said Merrill.
With the expanded capacity, individuals can download the results from searches they initiate, allowing the data to be input into Excel spreadsheets, for example, that would provide additional opportunities to manipulate and use the data. In addition, the business formation data is now being updated monthly on the site.
This is the second release of upgrades in the ongoing collaboration between CT Data and the Secretary of the State’s Office.
