Commercial Point, nestled in Pickaway County, Ohio, is a fast-growing historic village south of Columbus, home to around 3,800 residents, many of whom are multi-generational families. Known for its close-knit community feel, the village is evolving while preserving its traditions. Facing challenges of modern communication, village leaders sought an alternative to traditional social media platforms. After discovering GOGov’s Citizen Notifications, they found the ideal way to communicate directly with residents, launching “Commercial Point Connect” to keep everyone updated on council meetings, road closures, and events. Mayor Allan Goldhardt emphasizes the app’s effectiveness in delivering essential information while bypassing social media noise, allowing residents to stay informed through timely, relevant updates. Future plans include adding pages for key officials and enhancing the app’s resources for even stronger resident connections.

About Commercial Point Village, OH

Nestled in the heart of Pickaway County, Ohio, Commercial Point is a historic community established in 1850. Despite its small population of around 3,800 residents, Commercial Point is one of the fastest-growing communities in central Ohio due to its strategic location just south of Columbus. This village is home to many multi-generational families, some stretching back as far as four generations, who have remained deeply rooted in the community. This close-knit character makes Commercial Point unique, as residents have a strong connection to their hometown and its traditions. However, with growth and modernization, the village also faces the challenge of balancing new initiatives with long-standing customs.

The Challenge: Need for a Direct and Manageable Communication Tool

The leadership at Commercial Point was seeking a way to communicate effectively with residents without relying on traditional social media platforms. The village wanted to avoid the "noise" often associated with Facebook and similar channels and instead sought a direct method to reach residents for important updates. After receiving an email from GOGov, the team discovered that GOGov’s Citizen Notifications software could be the solution they were looking for—offering a straightforward and efficient way to keep residents informed.

“We wanted to have a social media presence, but not necessarily through Facebook. GOGov provided an ideal solution, and after a demonstration, we knew it was exactly what we needed,”
Nancy Geiger, President of Council

How Commercial Point Uses GOGov Notify

Since implementing GOGov’s Citizen Notifications platform, Commercial Point has been able to streamline resident communications for a range of local updates. Their village branded mobile app, “Commercial Point Connect” is currently used for:

• Public Announcements: Updates such as council meeting notifications, road closures, and event updates like trick-or-treating schedules.
• Utility and Service Information: Links within the app allow residents to pay water bills and access important community calendar dates.
• Live Streaming Access: Residents can access links to live streams and archives of council meetings, giving them the flexibility to stay informed on village matters even if they can’t attend in person.
• Event Reminders and Updates: The village uses Citizen Notifications to keep residents informed about community events, sending reminders and any necessary updates in real-time, ensuring high attendance and community involvement in local activities.

The Commercial Point Connect app has proven particularly valuable during emergency situations. Recently, when a water main broke, village officials were prepared with pre-made templates for emergency alerts. Although a boil alert wasn’t ultimately necessary, having templates ready allowed for quick communication in urgent situations.

Real-World Impact

Although still new to GOGov’s Citizen Notifications platform, Commercial Point has already experienced measurable benefits. Residents now receive timely updates about village meetings and can easily access resources like the live stream of council sessions. The leadership team noted that they’re building community engagement by providing reminders both a few days prior and on the day of meetings.

Commercial Point's officials appreciate that the Commercial Point Connect allows them to bypass social media’s potential downsides, delivering important information directly to subscribed residents. "The app is excellent for public relations, helping us keep our residents informed without dealing with unnecessary comments or distractions. Even if some residents still share updates on Facebook, they are aware the information comes straight from the village itself." Mayor, Allan Goldhardt

Future Plans and Goals

Looking forward, Commercial Point intends to expand its use of the Notify platform. They are considering adding dedicated pages for the mayor, police chief, and other key figures to foster more direct community engagement. Other enhancements, such as adding non-emergency contact numbers and additional local information, are also on the horizon. As they continue exploring the platform, the village leaders expect to discover even more features that will enhance their interactions with residents.

Advice for Other Municipalities considering GOGov

For other municipalities considering GOGov, Commercial Point has a clear message: GOGov’s Notifications platform is a valuable tool for improving communication and building a stronger connection with residents.

"It’s a powerful tool for getting essential information out to the community. We can be confident that our updates reach those who genuinely want to stay informed." Mayor, Allan Goldhardt
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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 Commercial Point, OH demonstrates the potential of our solutions to make a meaningful impact on cities 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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