The city of Federal Way’s website has a new and more user-friendly look, thanks to a grant it secured earlier this year.

Federal Way launched its newly-designed site earlier this month in partnership with CivicPlus, a leading developer of local government websites. The new design replaces the city’s original website, which was introduced in 2003.

Federal Way secured the $32,320 grant in web design services through the 2010 CivicPlus Extreme Web Makeover Contest.

The city’s website can be accessed at www.cityoffederalway.com.

Federal Way’s old website won the makeover contest mostly because it was cluttered with too many pages, which made it difficult to find the needed information, according to a press release.

The site has several new features, including easier navigation, larger search function, news alerts to highlight current events, happenings and emergencies, a date-driven calendar to display important events and meetings, and email and text message subscription service, among other things.

“The new website makes it easier for residents to find city information and resources and that’s essential for a healthy civic society,” said Chris Carrel, communications and grant coordinator for the city. “And doing this through the web makeover contest saved considerable resources.”

The new site also features powerful new email and text subscription services for things such as notification of city council meeting updates and public notices to emergency alerts and road updates.

“Our goal is for the web site to put the city at citizen’s fingertips,” said Carrel. “Whether it’s filing an online police report, reporting a pothole or finding out how to contact the mayor or city council, the website is a tool to engage citizens and make government services easier to use.”

CivicPlus was founded in 2001 and serves more than 700 cities and counties throughout North America.