City introduces "Living Local" app

The City of New Rockford now has its own app for residents to download.

According to Amanda Hegland, Executive Director of the New Rockford Area Betterment Corporation (NRABC), the N.D. Department of Health received a grant allowing them to offer the "Living Local app" to cities and counties for free for up to two years.

This past winter, city auditor Becki Schumacher, and Hegland met with representatives from Living Local to learn about the app and what it all would entail.

"After lots of research and meetings, we decided to go ahead and try it out since it ultimately is a free service," said Hegland. "If it goes well after the first two years, we will hopefully continue the service for the city."

Hegland said they're unable to combine both city and county information on the app due to the way Living Local is currently set up, but she believes it will be a useful tool for any and all city information.

Beginning in June, said Hegland, the NRABC has been inputting all of the city's local information, links to businesses and more.

"Basically the app is a one stop for all city information," she said.

On the app, residents will find links to NR-S School's website and calendar, a business directory, community event calendar, as well as a direct link to the "New Rockford Transcript" website for local news. Businesses can also upload coupons or sales/specials to the app

Residents will also be able to view current weather conditions at any given time, and will be given updates on warnings and watches when they are issued. Users can even choose what they want to be notified about, and the app will then send push notifications and updates to the user's phone.

Hegland believes the app will be particularly useful as the street project gets underway. The app will be regularly updated to include the latest street closures and any other pertinent information residents need to know.

The app is completely free for users, and can be downloaded by scanning the QR Code to the right by opening the camera on your phone, holding it over the QR code, and tapping the link that pops up.

Or, residents can simply search for "NewRockford ND" in the App Store and download it from there.

Currently, the NRABC has just two administrators operating and updating the app, and Hegland encourages residents and businesses to let them know if any information on the app is missing or outdated.

"It's very important for them to let us know about events, contact info., changes, etc.," she said.

The NRABC can be reached by calling (701) 947-2205 or by emailing [email protected].