The City of Sparks, Nevada, has long been known for its strong community spirit and forward-thinking leadership—and now, they’re taking resident engagement to the next level. Faced with the need for a more reliable and responsive communication platform, Sparks turned to GOGov to modernize how they connect with residents, manage service requests, and distribute important updates. Through their branded mobile app and powerful notification tools, Sparks has streamlined operations, empowered residents with real-time information, and strengthened internal workflows across departments. Discover how this vibrant city is using GOGov’s solutions to drive better communication, faster service, and a stronger connection with the community they serve.

About City of Sparks

Nestled just east of Reno, the City of Sparks, Nevada is known for its vibrant community spirit, rich history, and ongoing commitment to innovation. Originally established as a hub for the railroad, Sparks has grown into a thriving city with a population of about 120,000 residents. From family-friendly parks and recreational facilities to a bustling events calendar, Sparks balances its historic roots with a forward-thinking approach to community engagement.

The Challenge: Finding a Reliable Communication Solution

As the City of Sparks sought to improve how it connected with residents, facing challenges with a previous platform that no longer met the City’s needs and was unsupported. “We wanted a trustworthy platform where residents could report issues,” said Julie Duewel, Communications Manager. “We were using a different platform that we were not happy with, and it was no longer supported.”

After connecting with GOGov through an initial conversation with the team, Sparks found exactly what it was looking for.

“Based on our early conversations with Joe, we knew this was the platform for us. We are so happy with not only the platform, but the customer support—always! And we love the branded app!”

How Sparks Uses GOGov

Today, the City of Sparks relies on GOGov’s Citizen Requests Management Service Request Portal and GONotify Citizen Notifications to streamline communication and service delivery. The notifications platform has become an essential tool for distributing media releases and community updates. It allows staff to quickly share information with both residents and local media, often eliminating the need for full press releases—if an outlet is interested, they’ll reach out directly for more details or interviews. The branded mobile app gives residents the opportunity to access all Sparks information in one place. “Our police, fire and city all send out notifications to the app. It's a very concise, easy way for people to get all notifications without having to go to different places. They can find everything they need from one place.”

The Service Request Portal ensures that resident concerns are efficiently routed to the correct departments, helping city staff resolve issues quickly. GOGov’s team played a key role in the initial setup and continues to provide responsive, ongoing training and support, including onboarding sessions for new employees.

How is Sparks using GOGov today?

GOGov’s solutions have had a tangible impact on the community.

“It’s the functionality of the app that works for us,” Julie explained. “It’s made a big difference for our residents to be able to hop on the app, take pictures, and send us real-time information about what’s happening in their neighborhoods.”

The branded app has also become a go-to tool for city staff to distribute press releases and engage residents through timely updates.

The City of Sparks actively uses GOGov’s reporting tools to evaluate performance and improve services.

“We love that we can generate reports,” Julie said. “We track how quickly departments respond, how long it takes to close requests, and what kinds of issues we’re seeing. That insight helps us take a more proactive approach to recurring problems.”

Future Plans for Sparks

While Sparks is currently satisfied with how it’s using GOGov, the City is already looking to the future.

“We may consider adding the Code Enforcement module,” Julie noted.

Advice for Other Municipalities

Julie’s advice for other local governments considering GOGov:

“If you’re looking for a company that has great products and is ALWAYS responsive, absolutely look into utilizing GOGov.”

From improved response times to a more informed and engaged community, the City of Sparks has found a true partner in GOGov.

“We love the branded app. Love the way the products work. And love the customer service,” Julie emphasized. “Did we say ‘love’ too much?”

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 Sparks 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.

Interested in learning more? Sign up for a demo with the GOGov team today.

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