PANAMA CITY, Fla. – Staying informed about what’s happening in your community should be easy. The City of Panama City is taking steps to make that possible, earning national recognition for its efforts to improve communication and connect residents with the information they need.

The City has been named one of the top three winners in the 2026 CivicPlus® Community Impact Awards for its Digital Transformation initiative, which focuses on making City information more accessible, reliable and convenient for residents.

In the years following Hurricane Michael, Panama City has continued to rebuild, recover and grow. Throughout that process, clear and timely communication has remained an important part of keeping residents connected to their local government. Recognizing that community members often had to rely on social media or local news outlets to find information about City services, projects and updates, the City set out to create more direct ways for residents to get information from an official source.

Through a redesigned City website, a monthly newsletter and a mass notification system that allows residents to choose the updates they receive, Panama City is making it easier for community members to stay informed on their own terms. The City has also expanded its use of video updates featuring City staff, providing residents with a more direct and engaging way to learn about ongoing projects, new initiatives and important developments. Additionally, the City has implemented an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot on its website to help users navigate online resources, locate information more efficiently and connect with the services they need.

Whether residents are looking for City news, keeping up with community initiatives or receiving important alerts, these tools are designed to make information easier to find and help residents stay connected to the place they call home.

“Our goal is to make it easier for residents to find the information they need and stay connected with their local government,” said City Manager Jonathan Hayes. “Residents need one trusted, official source for timely, accurate information. By making the City’s website a central hub for community information and offering more ways to receive updates, we’re working to improve accessibility, strengthen trust and better serve our residents.”

“Our taxpayers help fund the services and projects that shape our community, and they have a right to know how their tax dollars are being used and what’s happening in their city,” said Kristen Kennedy, Public Affairs Manager for the City of Panama City. “Our efforts to improve communication and make information more accessible are about better serving our residents, keeping them informed and bridging the gap between local government and the community it serves.”

A Growing Connection With the Community The City’s digital communication efforts are already making a measurable difference, with more residents turning to the City’s information channels to stay informed.

Since the initiative’s implementation, the City has achieved:

• More than 400,000 text messages delivered through the City’s mass notification system, helping residents receive important updates and timely alerts.
• A 40% year-over-year increase in new website users, showing that more people are discovering the City’s online resources.
• A 37% year-over-year increase in website sessions, reflecting greater use of the City’s website as a central source for community information.

These results represent more than website visits and messages delivered. They reflect the City’s ongoing efforts to meet residents where they are, provide convenient access to information and build stronger connections between local government and the community it serves.

Recognition That Gives Back to Panama City

As one of the top three winners of the 2026 Community Impact Awards, the City of Panama City will receive a $1,000 charitable contribution made in its name to the Panama City Community Fund, supporting reinvestment in the City and its team members. The City will also receive a recognition trophy and be featured in a CivicPlus case study and video highlighting the initiative and its impact.

CivicPlus created the Community Impact Awards to recognize U.S.-based customers whose work is making a positive difference in their communities and improving the resident experience through better services, modernized operations and innovative programs.

“The Community Impact Awards honor the everyday work that leads to extraordinary outcomes. The most powerful changes often start at the local level, and we are proud to recognize our customers that are driving innovation and setting new standards in public service,” said CivicPlus Chief Executive Officer Brian Rempe. “The City of Panama City’s work is shaping the future of impact-led government and redefining the resident experience. We hope the City of Panama City’s success inspires other communities to explore new ways to serve, engage, and lead.”

As Panama City continues to grow and move forward, the City remains committed to finding new ways to keep residents informed, improve access to information and strengthen the connection between local government and the community it serves.

Residents are encouraged to stay connected by signing up for updates and important alerts through the City’s Mass Notification System and catching up on City news, projects and initiatives in The Panama City Tide – the City’s monthly newsletter. Residents can also visit www.panamacity.gov to access City services, find helpful resources and learn more about what’s happening in their community.

About CivicPlus

Thousands of high-performing civic leaders rely on CivicPlus® as their trusted partner for impact-led government. With CivicPlus, leaders can overcome the ongoing challenge of meeting the demand for better services with limited operational resources, using the Civic Impact Platform to improve efficiency and create more unified, positive resident experiences.

With more than 25 years of experience and a team of more than 950 employees, CivicPlus solutions are used by more than 13,000 organizations and serve more than 340 million people in the United States and Canada. For more information, visit www.civicplus.com.