Manatee County Launches “Cortez” – New Online Chatbot to Help Citizens Get Answers Faster
MANATEE COUNTY, FL – Manatee County Government has announced the launch of “Cortez,” a new interactive digital assistant designed to help residents and visitors quickly find answers to common questions on the County’s public website.
The chatbot, Cortez—named after Manatee County’s historic fishing village—serves as both a digital assistant and the County’s friendly mascot. Cortez brings a local identity to the latest in customer-service technology, available 24/7, to provide clear, conversational and accurate information on frequently asked topics, such as:
Garbage, recycling and storm-debris pickup schedules
Property taxes, permits and utility payments
Parks, libraries and recreational activities
County Commission meetings and agendas
Road closures, construction projects and transit updates
“Cortez represents a big step forward in making County services more accessible,” said Manatee County District 3 Commissioner Tal Siddique. “AI is changing the way we work, and in county government, it will revolutionize how we address the needs of our residents.”
Cortez will also offer links to more detailed resources and provide guidance on how to connect directly with County staff when a question requires a personal response. The tool is built to evolve over time, learning from citizen interactions to improve accuracy and expand the range of questions it can answer.
Residents can find Cortez beginning today by visitingmymanatee.org
For more information about Manatee County Government, visit mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @ManateeGov.