Coatesville, PA (December 16, 2011) - Today, City Manager Gary Rawlings announces a new program that will allow residents to report quality-of-life issues and request city services through an online and mobile interface. Powered by SeeClickFix, the place-based reporting platform allows residents to document neighborhood concerns and improvements alike, ranging from potholes and graffiti to illegal dumping and snow removal.

“With this emerging technology, the City of Coatesville hopes to further manage and foster a safe and vibrant community for all who inhabit and visit our city,” Rawlings said. “We’re hoping this partnership emphasizes the importance we place on communicating with those we serve and responding to constituent concerns in an efficient and public manner.”

With the online and mobile reporting platform, residents can report quality-of-life concerns through service request categories via the Coatesville website, custom mobile applications (iPhone, Android, Blackberry), Facebook App, and SeeClickFix.com. When submitting issues via mobile app, for example, residents can provide locational, descriptive, and photographic information as they see the issue in real time. Once the resident submits an issue, the reporter, Coatesville, and anyone ‘watching’ the area will receive an alert. The town can then acknowledge the service request, route it to the proper department, and update the request—and residents following the issue—once it’s been resolved.

The partnership allows residents to not only report community issues, but also view, comment on, and vote to fix problems submitted by their neighbors. Citizens can even create their own “watch areas” to receive notifications about all issues reported in their community, enabling them to follow the progress of all service requests---not just the ones they report.

“As the years progress, more and more communities are bridging that gap between offline and online engagement through digital tools like SeeClickFix,” said Ben Berkowitz, SeeClickFix CEO. “The City of Coatesville serves as an excellent example of government harnessing these technological advances to connect with citizens and solve real problems in the public space.”

The Coatesville SeeClickFix website can be found here: http://www.coatesville.org/report-an-issue-with-coatesville and residents can download iPhone, Android, and Blackberry apps here: http://www.seeclickfix.com/apps.

About SeeClickFix

SeeClickFix allows citizens anywhere in the world to report and monitor non-emergency community issues ranging from potholes and planted trees to garbage and graffiti. Launched in 2008, it empowers citizens, community groups, media organizations, and governments to work together and improve their neighborhoods. Through mobile web, web, iPhone, Android, and Blackberry apps, the SeeClickFix platform is the most widely-distributed citizen reporting tool in the country. SeeClickFix supports the Open311 standard that promotes improved communication between local municipalities and the citizens they serve. The platform is fun and easy to use for citizens while being inexpensive and easily adaptable for governments. Over 60 percent of issues reported on SeeClickFix are ultimately resolved. For more information or to report an issue, visit www.seeclickfix.com.

Beginning in December, the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) is expanding the options available to residents, businesses and visitors alike for requesting services and reporting non-emergency problems.

SeeClickFix allows citizens to report and monitor non-emergency issues, such as a missed recycling pick up. Launched in 2008, SeeClickFix empowers citizens, community groups, media organizations and governments to work together and improve their neighborhoods.

Through the SeeClickFix website and a variety of smartphone apps, the SeeClickFix platform is the most widely distributed citizen reporting tool in the country. The platform is not only fun and easy to use, it also promotes improved communication between citizens and their local governments.

“With this expansive and public platform, residents can directly communicate concerns to the ACUA and more actively participate in resolving issues,” said Rick Dovey, ACUA president. “Through this system, we are improving the way we address customer service issues,” Dovey added.

When submitting issues via mobile app, residents have the ability to provide a detailed description, use their smartphone GPS to accurately locate, and even attach a photo of the issue. A service request is generated and updates on the case are sent automatically to the community about the service request’s progress. With a few clicks, the problem can be on its way to resolution.

SeeClickFix also allows residents to view, comment on, vote to fix and even share on social media, the service requests. They can even create their own “watch areas” to receive notifications about all issues reported in their community, enabling them to follow the progress of all service requests—not just the ones they report.

“SeeClickFix provides a social platform for exchanging information and engaging individuals,” said Dovey. “From Atlantic City to Hammonton and from Port Republic to Corbin City, citizens can become empowered to connect with each other and the ACUA over problems that affect them in very direct ways,” Dovey noted.

Look for SeeClickFix on ACUA’s website and Facebook page in mid-December. Download the mobile apps here.