Success Stories
Kitsap County Providing enhanced service to citizens through real-time information updates
Situation
Earlier this year, Kitsap County owned and managed a single subscription list of more than 1,000 subscribers for the County Road Reports. The County and its residents understood the value of electronic communication, but, with a goal to expand the amount and variety of information offered electronically, it was not feasible to manage multiple subscription lists in-house. County officials were looking for a more global list service and hoped to find a solution that would deliver news and updates directly to residents as well as several internal newsletters to employees.
Solutions
On June 1, 2011, Kitsap County implemented GovDelivery Digital Communication Management (DCM), a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution, to help them manage their increased digital communications efforts. The solution, a part of Kitsap’s Public Communications Program, was publicly named KENS – short for Kitsap County Electronic Notification System – and allows residents to sign up to receive email or text message notifications about information that is of interest to them. “We see this as an effective tool in our outreach toolbox. With this service we can put important information directly in the hands of people who want it, without them having to look for it,” said Vickie Bushnell, Education and Communications Coordinator for Kitsap County Solid Waste Division.
Results
In August 2011, representatives from Kitsap County leveraged the annual KitsapCounty Fair to increase subscribers, speaking with residents about KENS and encouraging those who hadn’t already subscribed to sign up for email or text notifications, as well as ‘like’ the County’s Facebook page. Residents who visited the County’s booth received magnets and handouts that promoted the service as well, and “as people find the need for information, these take aways will direct them to subscribe and allow them to take advantage of the services offered through our partnership with GovDelivery,” according Bear. The service is also promoted through a special icon at the top-right corner of the Kitsap County's homepage.
