Nestled along the Vermont-New Hampshire border, Fairlee, Vermont, is a charming rural town that transforms into a bustling hub during the summer months. With just over 1,000 year-round residents, Fairlee experiences a seasonal influx of tourists and second homeowners drawn to its picturesque lake, vibrant events, and unique small-town charm. This dual identity presents both opportunities and challenges for local government, especially when it comes to keeping residents and visitors informed.

To address gaps in communication and transparency, Fairlee turned to GOGov—a modern, user-friendly platform designed to meet the needs of tech-savvy citizens while fostering deeper community engagement. By leveraging GOGov’s Citizen Notifications tool and branded mobile app, Fairlee has streamlined communication, enhanced outreach, and prepared for future growth, demonstrating how even the smallest towns can benefit from innovative technology.

About Fairlee

Fairlee, Vermont, is a small rural community with approximately 1,000 full-time residents, located on the Vermont-New Hampshire border. Despite its modest size, the town experiences significant seasonal population growth due to its scenic lake, which attracts visitors and second homeowners. During the summer months, Fairlee transforms, as its lake resorts, golf course, and surrounding homes draw tourists and seasonal residents, creating a vibrant and bustling atmosphere. This dual identity—quiet rural town in the off-season and lively destination in the summer—reflects Fairlee's unique charm and evolving growth as more people explore relocating to smaller communities.

What was the challenge that led Fairlee to GOGov?

Fairlee, Vermont, sought GOGov to address challenges with government transparency and communication. Historically, residents had limited ways to stay informed about local government activities beyond attending select board meetings or checking posts on the town website, billboards, or local newspapers—methods that often didn't align with the needs or habits of younger, tech-savvy residents. Recognizing that most people rely on their cell phones for updates, Fairlee identified the need for an app to streamline communication and keep residents informed about town events, government decisions, and community changes. After some research, Fairlee chose GOGov due to its responsiveness and user-friendly platform, which was effectively demonstrated in a live presentation that addressed the town's specific needs and future goals.

“Since everybody has cell phones, we thought that finding some sort of app to keep people updated would be a great solution to soft of clear the hurdle of letting people what's know what's going on in town, the local government, and changes that are happening that might affect them.”- Ryan Lockwood, Town Administrator

How is Fairlee Using GOGov today?

Fairlee, Vermont, has integrated GOGov into its community communication strategy to enhance transparency, improve outreach, and streamline the flow of information. By leveraging the municipality branded app, Fairlee Focus, the town has been able to address key challenges and provide residents with timely, accessible updates. Here are the primary ways Fairlee is utilizing GOGov Citizen Notifications:

Event Promotion:

• Promotes local events such as concerts at the lake resort and town hall, as well as school-related activities like piano recitals.

• Supports local businesses by sharing promotional updates through the app.

Emergency Alerts:

• Notifies residents about urgent situations, such as water main breaks, with real-time updates.

• Provides advance alerts for planned maintenance, helping residents prepare and reducing confusion.

Voting Reminders:

• Sends reminders for voting events, including out-of-cycle votes, to encourage civic participation.

Community Updates:

• Keeps residents informed about important changes or events that could impact their daily lives.

Improved Communication:

• Reduces the volume of calls to the town hall by proactively providing information.

• Encourages app downloads through conversations with residents, increasing adoption.

Resident-Friendly Features:

• Free to use with no required personal information, though residents can customize alerts if desired.

Future Plans for Fairlee, VT

Fairlee is planning to leverage GOGov to navigate a significant challenge in the upcoming summer: major construction projects on the state highway that doubles as the town’s Main Street, as well as on the nearby Interstate. These projects are expected to bring unusually high traffic levels and temporary road closures, creating potential frustration for residents and visitors alike.

To address this, Fairlee intends to use GOGov to share real-time updates from the state’s project managers, including details on road closures, paving schedules, and alternative routes. By keeping residents informed throughout the construction period, the town aims to minimize confusion and disruptions while fostering better communication during what is anticipated to be a challenging time.

Advice for those considering GOGov

For those considering GOGov, Fairlee, Vermont, emphasizes the platform’s responsiveness and excellent customer support. The town has found the GOGov team quick to address requests, often completing customizations, such as menu adjustments, within a day. Regular check-ins every few months provide an opportunity to discuss performance and explore improvements, making users feel consistently supported. Fairlee also appreciates the platform's flexibility, which allows for ongoing tweaks to enhance usability. Looking ahead, the town plans to explore additional add-ons once residents are fully accustomed to the core features, demonstrating the potential for GOGov to grow alongside the community’s needs.

“Since starting with the app we have been tweaking things here and there and it’s usually done like next day, and I like the fact that there’s a check in every couple of months-- somebody reaches out and asks if we want to take 5-10 minutes to check in and see how everything is going for us. It’s been positive and we feel supported” – Ryan Lockwood, Town Administrator

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 Fairlee, VT 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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