RDO Entrepreneurship in Action

Who We Are?

• District 3• Our district was

established in 1973

• Created by law in 1978. State Act 472

Software Division Enterprise Fund

MyGovernmentOnline Modules Consists of: Integrated GPS System Permit Software Planning and Zoning Code Enforcement GIS Integrations And much more

Feature Examples

24 Hour Customer Portal Mobile Field Inspections Digital Plan Review Automatic Phone Alerts Citizen Solution Center &

Complaint Resolution Customized Reports Unlimited Support

Software Division Enterprise Fund

Approaching 2 million in annual revenue.

Partnerships in 5 states. Hundreds of

Jurisdiction’s Departments implemented.

How did this come to be?

• Hurricane Katrina (August 29th 2005)• In Response State Uniform Construction Code (ACT 12) passed Nov 29th

2005.• Jurisdictions had to make a choice of one of three methods to provide

enforcement of the emergency code provisions of Act 12:• Continue or establish a method of plan review and inspections (Local

governments may contract with any other local government), or• Contract with third-party providers, registered with the Louisiana Department of

Public Safety to provide review and inspection services, or• Contract with the State Fire Marshal to provide review and inspection services.

• If currently enforcing building codes must enforce the emergency wind and flood provisions by December 29, 2005.

• If a local government is not currently enforcing building codes, the jurisdiction is required to enforce the emergency wind and flood provisions by February 27, 2006.

District 3 Regionalized

• SCPDC was asked to help member jurisdictions meet this unfunded mandate.

• Provided building officials, plan reviewers and inspectors services to member jurisdictions.

• SCPDC embraced the opportunity to meet the needs of the jurisdictions that were being vocalized.

• Created need to facilitate permitting practices across multiple jurisdictions.

Why Build Software?

• First, we identified actual needs of jurisdictions.• Second we sought a solution in the private sector and

identified MANY possible solutions.• When we matched up what our true needs were compared

to the actual abilities of the software programs available it became clear we were a text book care of a custom software development project.

• Involved leaders, CEO and commission board in the decision to commit to building vs buying.

• MyPermitNow and later MyGovernmentOnline were born.

Funding

• Had a small amount of initial grant money• Created Jurisdiction Partnership program that for no

upfront money a jurisdiction could receive the software as a service and receive all support and new features for free.

• Paid monthly fee based on the size of estimated permit volume for the year.

• Evangelized Software Vision.

Lessons Learned

• Identify Jurisdictions actual needs and felt needs. • Ex: interface clutter over work order system.

• Felt needs are often the door to meeting their actual needs.

Lessons Learned

• Just because a solution appears to be available carefully consider if it truly meets the real needs.

• Identify how you can “add value”• Price the value you provide. Bringing in more

revenue allows to re-invest in yourself which in turn allows you to provide more value.

• Hire people who bring Intelligence, Integrity and Energy to the job.