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How Ohio Municipalities Are Modernizing Citizen Engagement with GOGov
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Across Ohio, municipalities are stepping up to meet that demand with help from GOGov, a trusted provider of local government software that powers municipality-branded mobile apps, citizen notifications, and resident request management solutions.

Communities like Minerva, OH, and Commercial Point, OH have turned to GOGov to bridge communication gaps, reduce resident confusion, and strengthen public trust. The result? Streamlined operations, engaged citizens, and mobile-first government services that make it easier for residents to stay informed and connected.

Let’s take a closer look at how these two Ohio communities are leading the way—and how your municipality can do the same.

Meeting the Needs of Modern Residents

Both Minerva and Commercial Point faced a challenge familiar to many Ohio local governments: keeping residents informed in a world where newspapers are fading, social media algorithms are unpredictable, and staff capacity is limited.

  • Minerva (population ~3,700) needed a way to reach residents directly after the loss of its local newspaper.
  • Commercial Point (population ~3,000) wanted to reduce the volume of phone calls about events, trash pickup, and local updates.

Both villages realized that outdated methods—like Facebook posts and flyers—were no longer enough. They needed a centralized, mobile-first platform to send alerts, manage requests, and keep their communities engaged.

Why They Chose GOGov

✅ Citizen Notifications with Multi-Channel Reach

Both Minerva and Commercial Point implemented GOGov’s Citizen Notifications—a tool that lets municipalities send real-time alerts via:

  • Mobile app push notifications
  • SMS text messages
  • Voice calls
  • Email

This ensures that residents receive critical updates in the format they prefer—whether it's a boil water alert, a road closure notice, or information about a summer festival.

“People are excited that it exists—they're thrilled once they find out they can get updates and even pay their bills through the app.”
Greg Mytinger, Village Administrator, Minerva, OH

✅ Branded Mobile Apps That Residents Actually Use

Both communities also launched GOGov-branded mobile apps:

These mobile apps serve as central hubs for community news, event calendars, bill payment links, and more—creating a one-stop shop for residents and reducing the strain on municipal staff.

“This makes it easy for us to get the word out quickly and cut down on calls to the village offices.”
Lori Sutherland, Fiscal Officer, Commercial Point, OH

✅ Fast and Easy Implementation

Small Ohio municipalities often hesitate to adopt new software, thinking it’s too complex or costly. But both Minerva and Commercial Point praised GOGov for its affordability, ease of use, and quick setup.

“It was a smooth transition. GOGov did most of the work for us.”
Patti Willoughby, Finance Director, Minerva, OH

Real-World Examples of Citizen Engagement in Action

🚧 Road Closures and Construction Updates

During a major street project, Minerva used GOGov to send updates and traffic detours, keeping residents informed and reducing confusion.

🧊 Water Usage and Storm Notifications

Following a major storm, Minerva quickly pushed out alerts about water usage restrictions—right from their mobile app.

📆 Community Event Reminders

Commercial Point uses their GOGov app to send updates about community events like Music in the Park and National Night Out, boosting turnout and building community spirit.

🗑️ Trash & Recycling Alerts

Commercial Point has streamlined communication about trash and recycling schedule changes, avoiding missed pickups and unnecessary calls to town hall.

Why It Works for Ohio Municipalities

Ohio is home to hundreds of small and mid-sized municipalities, each with unique needs—but many share similar challenges:

  • Small staff managing multiple departments
  • Limited budget for software or marketing
  • Residents expecting modern, digital-first experiences

GOGov's local government mobile apps are built with these realities in mind. The platform is affordable, customizable, and scalable for communities of all sizes. It offers:

  • Unlimited user accounts and departments
  • Geo-targeted messaging
  • Easy content management
  • Integration with websites and social media

And best of all—no IT team required.

Ready to See It in Action?

Minerva and Commercial Point are proving that size doesn’t limit impact. With the right tools in place, even small municipalities can offer modern, effective citizen engagement—and residents will thank you for it.

If you’re a city manager, clerk, mayor, or communications officer in Ohio local government, now’s the time to explore how GOGov can help your community.

Want to modernize your communication? Schedule a demo.

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