This week’s installment showcases a breadth of communities and organizations, each using Granicus solutions to meet their modernization needs. In doing so, each of these new customers provide a more transparent, accessible, and digital government for their residents.
With over 5,000 miles of highway being used by some 2.2 million registered vehicles, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) maintains and improves Nevada’s highway system. Nevada’s state, U.S., and Interstate highways spread across both desert and metropolitan areas, and nearly 2,000 employees working at 45 staffed maintenance stations across the state keep the traffic flowing smoothly. To meet the needs of one the fastest growing populations in the country, NDOT needed to revisit their communications tools. Implementing govDelivery gives NDOT an effective digital solution for maintaining communication with staff, as well as engaging the public about ongoing transportation projects, travel information, and permit registrations.
Austin, TX, while serving as the state’s capitol, is known around the country and world for the unique way of life celebrated by its residents. Whether because of the off-beat arts and culture or the youthful exuberance inspired by the University of Texas at Austin, the call has grown over the years to “Keep Austin Weird.” But one unusual aspect of Travis County has been part of the Austin area since 1954: the enclave of Sunset Valley, TX. Measuring just one square mile, with a population of 748 residents, the town is surrounded on all sides by the city of Austin. Sunset Valley was created to provide a “quiet, friendly way of life” in a “primarily rural residential community,” and offers acres of open space and conservation land for native plants and animals. When Sunset Valley looked to update its digital presence, they chose govAccess to provide the backbone. Granicus’ solution stood out to Sunset Valley thanks to its ability to build integrations and custom data dashboards so residents can interact with information on-demand as needed.
As the COVID pandemic begins to wind down, reduced travel restrictions mean increased tourism around the country. While the last year saw hotel tourism rates decline, reservations of short-term rental (STRs) properties (such as those found on Airbnb, VRBO, and other websites) rose dramatically. The return to broader tourism shows no signs of impacting the popularity of STRs, leaving many communities to determine how best to ensure properties in their area are complying with local regulations and operating legally. Thanks to Host Compliance tools from Granicus, communities around the country are getting a better handle on their STR compliance needs. Fullerton, CA, and Summit County, CO, — two communities that recently added Granicus Host Compliance tools – reflect how STRs stand to impact popular destination communities.
Fullerton, located in Orange County, is in the hub of some of the world’s biggest tourist destinations, mere miles from Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm amusement parks, as well as Los Angeles and Orange County’s many beaches and other attractions. The city is also home to five universities and colleges, including California State University, Fullerton. All of these factors combine to make Fullerton a hotbed for STR properties. Fullerton’s STR compliance team will use Address Identification, Compliance Monitoring, 24/7 Hotline, Mobile Permitting, and Tax Collection tools from Granicus and are eager to get started. Having already identified 113 of 176 targeted STRs, the team is also planning to coordinate a public launch via a newsletter and press release to increase awareness around the need to have STRs work toward effective compliance.
Ski resort towns are also hotbeds for STRs. Buffalo Mountain Metropolitan District, located near world famous Breckenridge Ski Resort, is no exception. Buffalo Mountain recently launched Host Compliance’s Address Identification, Compliance Monitoring, and Mobile Permitting tools to not only get better visibility into STRs operating in their district, but also boost the percentage of STRs that pay required taxes. The team at Buffalo Mountain appreciated Granicus’ ability to quickly implement the system and are eager to move forward.
Stay tuned each week to read about our next set of featured communities, states, and federal agencies. For more about Granicus’ civic engagement platform, and to join the wave of governments implementing these types of digital tools, book a guided demo today!
