Nestled along the scenic shores of Lake Monroe and just a short drive from downtown Orlando, the City of Sanford, Florida, is a growing hub of history, culture, and innovation. Known for its picturesque Riverwalk, thriving arts scene, and commitment to community, Sanford continues to evolve as one of Central Florida’s most vibrant cities. As the population grows and resident expectations rise, the city’s leadership recognized the need for a more efficient, mobile-first approach to communication. That’s why Sanford turned to GOGov—to enhance engagement, streamline service delivery, and ensure residents stay informed with real-time updates right on their phones.

About Sanford, FL

The City of Sanford, FL, is a vibrant and historic community located just 20–30 minutes northeast of downtown Orlando and about 40 minutes from the Atlantic Coast. Nestled along the picturesque shores of Lake Monroe and the St. Johns River, Sanford blends natural beauty, rich history, and modern amenities—making it one of Florida’s most charming cities.

“Sanford, FL is an amazing city for several reasons, and we always like to brag about that,” said Lisa Holder, Communications and Marketing Manager at Sanford

Founded in 1877, Sanford is steeped in architectural character, with several districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The city’s downtown showcases historic architecture, while over 100 public art installations add color and creativity to its streets throughout the city.

Sanford’s scenic Riverwalk, a five-mile linear park along Lake Monroe, offers stunning waterfront views, for walking and biking, and relaxing spaces with swing benches. It also connects to the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens, offering recreational and educational fun for families. With easy access to I-4, 417, SunRail, the Amtrak Auto Train, and the Orlando Sanford International Airport, the city is a well-connected hub for residents, businesses, and visitors.

Sanford continues to grow with a population of over 65,000 and ongoing redevelopment efforts, including the revitalization of its former mall site. As one of the few Florida cities with buildable commercial land, it attracts major commercial investments. The city also hosts over 200 community events annually and offers robust youth programs, strong school partnerships, and a city-run podcast to keep residents informed and engaged.

What was the Challenge that led Sanford to GOGov?

The City of Sanford adopted GOGov as part of a broader effort to expand its communications toolkit and provide residents with a more direct, mobile-friendly way to stay informed. Recognizing the importance of mobile connectivity—especially given how

central smartphones have become in everyday life—city staff saw the GOGov city-branded mobile app as a valuable way to meet residents where they already are: on their phones.

Beyond the convenience of features like utility bill payments, Sanford appreciated the ability to send timely updates and notifications with ease. The mobile app became a key touchpoint alongside existing tools like Facebook and Nextdoor, helping the city reach a broader, more diverse audience.

Ultimately, what sealed the deal was GOGov’s seamless integration with Sanford’s existing work order system, Lucity. This integration enabled the city to streamline internal processes while improving external communication with the public.

“What sealed the deal for the city of Sanford choosing GOGov was the fact that we could integrate it with our work order system Lucity. That was a huge plus for us” – Lisa Holder Communications and Marketing Manager at Sanford

How is Sanford using GOGov today?

The City of Sanford, Florida, is a shining example of how municipalities can leverage GOGov to keep residents informed, engaged, and connected. Through their custom-branded app, Sanford Connects, the city has seamlessly integrated GOGov’s Citizen Notifications and Citizen Requests Management tools into their day-to-day operations—making it easier than ever to reach residents where they are.

“We want to reach everyone. Not everybody’s on social media, but like I said earlier, everybody has a phone.”– Lisa Holder Communications and Marketing Manager at Sanford

Real-Time Notifications When It Matters Most

From urgent updates to community events, Sanford Connects is the go-to platform for the city’s communications team. During widespread water pressure issues and precautionary boil water notices, the app was used to quickly alert residents—ensuring public safety. Similarly, the app has been essential during hurricanes and major weather events, allowing the city to share road closures, safety tips, and real-time updates as situations unfold.

Keeping Residents Informed About City Services

Sanford regularly uses the app to share non-emergency updates such as traffic advisories, board application opportunities, and event registration reminders. For instance, during holidays, the city sends alerts letting residents know that trash and recycling schedules remain unchanged—an update residents have come to appreciate.

Additional ways Sanford Connects is being used:

· Sharing progress on a city-wide water meter replacement project (25,000 meters)

· Distributing parking maps for major events like the 4th of July celebration

· Promoting applications for the Citizens Academy

· Streaming major events like the State of the City Luncheon

· Highlighting community mental health initiatives during Mental Health Awareness Month

· Encouraging participation in the City of Sanford Community Survey

Empowering Residents with Citizen Requests Tools

On the inbound side, Sanford Connects enables residents to report issues like potholes or other non-emergency service needs with just a few taps. A standout feature that city staff appreciate is the automatic notification to residents when a service request has been completed—providing transparency and closing the loop on communication.

Future Plans for Sanford, FL

Looking ahead, Sanford plans to continue leveraging GOGov as a central part of its communications strategy. As the city grows, so does the importance of using modern technology to stay connected with residents. Sanford intends to broaden its messaging and use Sanford Connects to reach people in the most impactful and efficient ways possible.

The city sees GOGov not just as a communications tool, but as an essential piece of its smart city strategy—helping foster transparency, engagement, and real-time connection.

“First and foremost, it’s innovative. While apps have been around for a long time, it’s exciting to see governments embracing technology like this. For the private sector, it’s a no-brainer, but for local governments, it’s a game-changer.

Consider the diverse range of people—with varying languages and backgrounds—who need access to the same information. An app like this makes it easy to reach everyone in a way that’s both efficient and effective. I would definitely recommend other cities adopt it. It’s like keeping up with the Joneses. After all, everyone has a phone, and people are already familiar with how to use apps.” — Lisa Holder, Communications and Marketing Manager at Sanford

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 Sanford 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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