Little Flock, Arkansas, may be a small, rural community, but it's making big strides in keeping residents informed and engaged. Through its branded mobile app, Little Flock Talk, the city uses GOGov to share timely updates, educate citizens about local regulations, and communicate during emergencies—all while maintaining a balance that keeps residents connected without overwhelming them. Mayor Jeff Van Sickler credits GOGov with helping Little Flock stay transparent, responsive, and closely connected to its community.

About the City of Little Flock

Little Flock, Arkansas, is a small but unique community nestled between the rapidly growing cities of Bentonville, Rogers, Bella Vista, and Pea Ridge. With a population of just over 3,000, it offers residents the best of both worlds: easy access to city amenities alongside the quiet charm of rural living.

The community is known for its wide-open spaces—most properties are at least an acre, with many stretching beyond three or even ten acres. Densely wooded and predominantly agricultural, Little Flock feels like an "oasis in the desert," where residents can enjoy peace, privacy, and a slower pace of life while still staying connected to everything Northwest Arkansas has to offer.

The Challenge: Keeping Residents Informed

When Mayor Jeff Van Sickler took office in 2021, one of his first priorities was figuring out how to deliver timely, accurate information to Little Flock residents. In the past, the city had relied on a quarterly newsletter—but by the time it was printed and mailed, much of the content was already outdated, and some residents could have discarded it as junk mail.

Social media became the next alternative, but it came with challenges. Old posts continued to circulate, with residents commenting on announcements that were years old, while important updates were often buried in busy feeds. It became clear that neither newsletters nor social media alone could provide the consistent, reliable communication the community needed.

Mayor Van Sickler found a solution after learning that a neighboring city, Pea Ridge, was preparing to launch a local government app powered by GOGov. He realized it was exactly the kind of tool Little Flock had been looking for.

How Little Flock is Using GOGov Today

Today, Little Flock keeps residents informed in real time through its branded mobile app, Little Flock Talk, using GOGov's Citizen Notifications. Mayor Van Sickler and key staff post critical updates, meeting notices, and day-to-day administrative information that keeps the community connected.

One of the city's most popular initiatives is the weekly "Think About It Thursday" post, which highlights parts of the municipal code in a way that's easy for residents to understand—covering topics from pool fencing requirements to noise ordinances. These posts educate citizens and help them stay compliant with local regulations.

Little Flock Talk is also used for timely updates, such as street closures, Planning Commission and City Council agendas, and other important notices. Staff appreciate the platform's ease of use, particularly its new features that allow direct posting to Facebook and Twitter without extra logins.

According to Mayor Van Sickler, feedback from residents has been overwhelmingly positive. Citizens appreciate frequent updates without feeling overwhelmed and value having a reliable, consistent source of information at their fingertips.

Little Flock Highlight: Meaningful Impact

A striking example of Little Flock Talk's value came during the Memorial Weekend 2024 tornado outbreak. The storm caused widespread damage, including hundreds of downed trees, one of which struck City Hall.

Mayor Van Sickler recalled:

"Our community and surrounding areas suffered widespread damages and hundreds of downed trees, including one that tore through our City Hall. The ability to update our citizens on community relief efforts, damages and so on were imperative. Information came fast and often changed faster. Without GOGov, our ability to keep our citizens informed would have been severely crippled."

GOGov allowed the city to communicate quickly and consistently during a time of crisis, keeping residents informed when it mattered most.

Results & Impact

Since launching Little Flock Talk, engagement among residents has been strong. Every post is shared through the app, as well as via the city's email, Facebook, and Twitter channels, ensuring information reaches citizens across multiple platforms.

App adoption has been a key measure of success. With a population of just over 3,000, Little Flock has already reached 787 downloads across iOS and Android devices. Compared against household estimates, this represents nearly full coverage of local households—a remarkable achievement for a small, rural community.

Mayor Van Sickler considers this a major win: for Little Flock, having so many residents actively engaged demonstrates that Little Flock Talk has become a trusted, reliable source of information.

Future Plans for Little Flock

Communication remains an ongoing priority for the city. From Planning Commission and City Council agendas to updates about street closures and water main breaks, staying connected is critical.

Mayor Van Sickler shared:

"Life is busy, and there's always something going on. If you want your community engaged, involved, and aware, then you've got to keep them informed. The only way I found to do that—without relying solely on social media, which has its faults—is through GOGov."

Looking ahead, Little Flock will continue using Little Flock Talk to share information about upcoming events such as Halloween celebrations, fall clean-ups, tree giveaways, and the groundbreaking of the new City Campus. GOGov remains the central tool for keeping residents informed about every aspect of daily life in the city.

Advice for Other Municipalities

Mayor Van Sickler emphasizes the importance of a reliable communication tool:

"It's hard to get information out to your citizens if you don't have a tool like GOGov. Social media has its faults—you don't always get notified, things pop up that are old and outdated, and commentary can stray from the original message. On the news, you're stuck trying to fit your message into someone else's narrative or a tight window. A tool like GOGov gives you the ability to express to your citizens quickly exactly what you want them to hear. It's quick, easy, informative, reliable, and I definitely recommend it."

He also notes:

"It is a challenge to place important, sometimes critical, information in the hands of our citizens. Social media platforms are only helpful if people purposefully search for newly posted information—and by then, it could be too late. GOGov notifications directly to people's mobile phone apps are a reliable, cost-effective way of achieving this goal, and I'd be happy to discuss my experience with anyone considering utilizing GOGov."

Your Municipality Powered by GOGov

GOGov is committed to helping municipalities and local governments enhance community engagement, streamline operations, and foster transparent communication. Our partnership with Little Flock demonstrates the potential of our solutions to make a meaningful impact on local governments and districts of all sizes, and our continued efforts to improve and innovate further.  

GOGov specializes in providing CRM, Code Enforcement, Citizen Notifications, Online Permitting and mobile software to local governments of all sizes. We built our software from the ground up working with the departments and staff that now use our products every single day.

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