North Port, Fl (September 24, 2012) – Have an idea? Want to see a new project, program, or service or have a thought on how to improve a service? Want to make a difference?
The City of North Port invites local residents to share their ideas at YourNorthPort.com. This interactive website allows residents to vote, comment, share, and pitch new ideas. With a strong call to action - “Achieve Anything, North Port!” - the City is asking residents to be part of shaping the future of their community.
“North Port prides itself on being a community where residents truly help to shape its future and be an instrumental role in the community’s growth and development,” said City Manager Jonathan Lewis. “This website is one way residents can have their voices heard. We are looking forward to the dialog that will take place.”
The concept of hosting a website in which residents can submit their ideas is not new. Cities across the country are building similar websites and stories are emerging of resident-generated ideas that have truly brought about positive change. Some examples include Austin, Texas with its SpeakupAustin.com and Raleigh, North Carolina with its My Raleigh Ideas! (which can be found at http://raleigh.granicusideas.com/all).
In the Fall of 2012, City staff began looking into the possibility of building one of these websites for the City of North Port. Extensive research was conducted on the different tools that are available in the market. The end result was the launch of the new site, YourNorthPort.com.
The site is highly interactive. Residents can submit ideas, search for ideas, comment on ideas, vote for ideas, and participate in providing ideas on specific topics. They also will be able to share ideas with their friends on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Google+, and more. They also will hear from City staff and can track the progress of their ideas.
“This website is about creating a stronger sense of community as much as it is about gathering ideas of projects and programs,” said Community Outreach Manager Erin Bryce. “We are excited to see the projects and programs that transpire from this website.”
It’s important to mention that this is a new tool in the toolbox, and is not meant to replace face-to-face communication with the public, Bryce said.
“We hope to reach a segment of our community that can’t come to neighborhood meetings or City Hall, but we are not going to halt doing other forms of outreach such as hosting neighborhood meetings, town halls, and more,” Bryce said. “We are always looking at ways to reach residents, and this is simply one of the tools in the toolbox.”
For more information, contact Erin Bryce, the City’s Community Outreach Manager, at (941) 429-7165 or ebryce@cityofnorthport.com.
About the City of North Port
For those who enjoy being part of an up-and-coming, accessible community, the City of North Port is located in Sarasota County between Tampa and Fort Myers. As part of the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota Metropolitan Statistical Area, North Port boasts more than 58,000 residents with a median age of 40. The City spans an estimated 104 square miles and is only 20 percent built out. North Port is known for its unique natural environment and its youthful population.