months, we have exceeded our expectations and those of our municipalities with
regard to use,” notes Warden.
“Our biggest success, besides the launch of the product, is seeing how the app
is bringing local communities together,” adds McConnell. “We see synergies and
coordination between adjoining communities when they are scheduling calendar
events. This enables citizens in both communities to enjoy and be more aware of
local happenings.”
For instance, residents who live in Pine can also sign up to receive news and
notifications from neighboring communities like Marshall and Richland townships.
“So, from one product, Savvy Citizen® App users will stay up-to-date not only
with what’s happening in their communities, but also in the others they frequent,”
says McConnell.
While some police departments and local governments use Facebook or
Twitter to share information, those methods aren’t as consistent as Savvy
Citizen®. The app’s ability to reach residents directly is appealing to John Bojarski,
Communications Assistant for the Town of McCandless, another community to
join Savvy Citizen® App. “The main advantage to a mobile app like Savvy Citizen®
is the directness of it. We use our website and Facebook to communicate with the
public, but those are less-direct methods. If we put a piece of immediate, breaking
news on our website, we have to trust that residents will intentionally visit the
site shortly afterward. With Facebook, many people will see a breaking news item
quickly, but just because someone ‘likes’ or ‘follows’ your page does not guarantee
that a post from our Facebook page will appear in their news feed—in fact, the reach
of posts can vary wildly,” says Bojarski. “However, if someone is signed up for Savvy
Citizen®, they will directly get an alert.”
“What’s unique about Savvy Citizen® is that, for those communities whose police
are not yet using an emergency alert system or are unhappy with the one they have,
the app can serve both purposes, as we permit access for the police department to
enter posts as well,” notes McConnell.
The company is looking forward to sharing the app with more communities in the
future, and eventually hopes to take it nationwide.
“The goal is to let more people know that this new communication method is
available to them for free. They simply download Savvy Citizen® App on their phones
and sign up for the information they want to receive,” says Warden. “There is nothing
else they need to do or learn. They’ll just be better informed.”
The app is free for users to download, and is available for both Android and Apple
smartphones. Residents who don’t have smartphones can sign up for notifications
via email or text message by visiting the app’s website, savvycitizenapp.com. ■
Shaler | Winter 2017 | icmags.com 15