The Drive to Excellence initiative began in the spring of 2004 with a call to action. A Transformation Roadmap for the state was created between August, 2004 and January, 2005. The implementation of the roadmap was to take place in stages over the next few years.
An official press release launching the "Drive to Excellence" was distributed September 9, 2004. On April 4, 2005, the governor signed and announced the executive orders setting the first six project initiatives into motion.
The Drive to Excellence Summary Report (2010) outlines the development of the Drive to Excellence program and summarizes program outcomes.