Editor’s Note: This story is part of a month-long series that highlights 31 ideas included in the “Mansfield Rising” plan. The 67-page document was created by 15 local leaders after attending the South by Southwest Conference last March in Austin, Texas.
Idea 31: Build a free mobile app
With technology use on the rise, a free mobile app should be developed to showcase downtown businesses, events, attractions, public art, and other activities.
In conjunction with this app, geofencing may provide a valuable opportunity to cross-promote events in the user’s immediate area.
Since the Mansfield-Richland Education Foundation has shown an interest to hold a civic hackathon, this organization may prove to be a valuable partner to develop a mobile app. With an added bonus of increasing community buy-in. Destination Mansfield could be another potential partner to help develop and pilot the app as well as promotion.
Costs could be reduced by identifying and employing an existing platform that is customizable and has shown success in similar projects across the country (e.g. My Tours).
Data from the central processing/community calendar could be used to develop the app and ensure the long-term success.
Join us for a live discussion of the “Ideas of March” series and the “Mansfield Rising” plan on Thursday, April 4.
A lighter, quicker, cheaper version of this would be to link all websites to cross-promote events and activities and utilize social media to its fullest capacity to promote Downtown Mansfield.
Cost: Initial setup cost $2,000 – $5,000 and yearly cost of $6,000 – $8,000.
Partners: Mansfield-Richland Area Education Foundation, Destination Mansfield. White Label Apps are available to apply Mansfield branding to the app; the Renaissance implemented this in summer 2018.
Timeline: Six to 12 months in development. It would be best to have the city brand and message created first along with utilization of the Central Processing/Community Calendar for one year prior to app development.
