The City of Sherman, Texas (population 50,000) successfully modernized its citizen communication and service delivery by implementing GOGov's digital platform. Within months of launch, the city replaced a decades-old request management system, introduced push notifications for the first time, and launched a customizable mobile app that has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from residents and staff. This case study explores Sherman's journey from initial consideration to successful implementation, highlighting the measurable improvements in transparency, efficiency, and resident satisfaction.

About Sherman, TX

Sherman, Texas, is a historic community with a population of approximately 50,000 residents. Located about 60 miles north of Dallas, Sherman offers the perfect balance between small-town charm and access to big-city amenities.

"You still drive through some cornfields to get here," said Nate Strauch, Communications Manager, "but the city provides tremendous access to the Metroplex while maintaining its own unique identity. It really is the best of both worlds."

The Challenge That Led Sherman to GOGov

For years, Sherman had considered the idea of implementing a city app, but it never quite fit into the city's plans or budget. That changed with new city leadership.

"We had a new city manager and a new mayor who wanted to rethink how we interact with citizens," said Nate Strauch, Communications Manager.

Nate had received an email from GOGov years earlier and was impressed during the initial sales call. He kept the information on hand until the timing was right. When presented to leadership, GOGov was viewed as an affordable and effective way to improve residents' quality of life.

"It was a great opportunity for us to enhance communication with citizens in a small but meaningful way, at a very pleasant cost," Nate said. As someone frequently approached by companies offering products for local governments, Nate emphasized that GOGov stood out. "Typically, I don't even take sales calls, but GOGov intrigued me from the start," he said. The platform's combination of simplicity and functionality made it an easy fit once Sherman was ready to move forward."

Implementation Process

Sherman's onboarding experience with GOGov was described by Nate as "highly, highly impressive." From day one, the city felt supported by a responsive and proactive implementation team. Deadlines were clearly set, communication was consistent, and GOGov's structured process kept the project moving—something especially appreciated in a government environment where projects can easily slow down.

Nate noted that GOGov handled much of the heavy lifting, simplifying what could have been a long, complex rollout. The onboarding, he said, "couldn't have been better," adding that the staff's responsiveness and project management made getting started smooth, efficient, and far easier than expected.

How Sherman Is Using GOGov Today

Sherman is actively using several GOGov tools to support communication, citizen engagement, and service delivery. Their current setup includes:

Citizen Request Management

A major upgrade from their previous system. Staff use it daily to streamline intake, tracking, and resolution of resident concerns. Sherman replaced a legacy system that hadn't meaningfully changed "since the '90s" with GOGov's modern CRM platform, bringing the city into the 21st century with easier reporting for residents and more efficient workflows for staff.

Citizen Notifications

A feature the city had never used before. They can now quickly send updates, alerts, and community information directly to residents using GOGov's notification system.

SMS Texting & Voice Call Alerts

These channels give residents an additional way to receive important notifications even if they do not download or use the mobile app. This ensures critical updates reach people through whichever channel they prefer—app alerts, text messages, or automated voice calls.

Customized Mobile App – "ShermanTexas"

While GOGov categorizes features by product, Nate views the mobile app as its own essential tool.

He described it as their "killer app" because of how easily it can be customized. The city updates the app frequently, often on the fly, and especially loves the flexibility of adding new applets.

For example, they now publish a monthly "What's Happening in Sherman" applet that updates on residents' devices instantly.

Sherman also incorporates suggestions from residents, adding new links and features through quick backend updates—no lengthy development cycles required.

Overall, the combination of request management, flexible notification options, and a dynamic, customizable mobile app has helped Sherman centralize communication, increase transparency, and keep information updated in real time.

Real-World Impact & Looking Ahead

Even though Sherman is still early in its journey with GOGov, the city is already seeing strong adoption and enthusiastic feedback.

Nate shared that the response to the ShermanTexas app has been far more universally positive than expected. While they anticipated that realtors and local businesses would benefit from having centralized information, what surprised them most was how excited everyday residents and staff have been about the app.

"In government, there's usually at least a small group of people ready to be mad about anything," Nate said. "But this time, it just never materialized. It has been a fantastic, fantastic win for the city."

Sherman is also seeing immediate operational improvements:

Proactive communication with Citizen Notifications

When a council member asked for better updates on major TxDOT road construction affecting the community, the city was able to respond instantly.

In the past, their tools were limited to posting on Facebook. Today, Nate and his team can push timely, relevant updates directly into residents' pockets through app notifications, SMS, and voice calls—and do so immediately.

Modernized citizen request management

Before GOGov, Sherman relied on a legacy system that felt like it hadn't meaningfully changed "since the '90s," according to Nate. Upgrading to GOGov's modern request management tools has brought the city into the 21st century with easier reporting for residents and more efficient workflows for staff.

He described the shift as an "easy win" and a clear improvement over their previous setup.

Looking forward, Sherman plans to continue expanding how they use the app and applets—especially as resident-driven ideas continue to roll in. With a flexible platform already in place, the city is well-positioned to evolve its digital services and deepen engagement over time.

Advice for Other Local Governments Considering GOGov

When asked what he would tell other municipalities thinking about adopting GOGov, Nate offered a strong endorsement:

"I have absolutely no reason to be this rah-rah about GOGov," he said, "other than that I was just really impressed with the whole process."

From his perspective, implementing GOGov was easy, straightforward, and highly effective, a rare experience when building a new digital service from scratch. The result is a tool that provides tremendous value to the city council, staff, and residents.

Nate also emphasized the affordability:

"For the city of Sherman, it was a wonderful process and a wonderful product at the end of that process."

His recommendation to peers: While every city must make decisions based on its own needs and budget, Sherman would confidently suggest GOGov to municipalities looking to modernize communication, improve service delivery, and launch user-friendly digital tools without added complexity.

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