Carpentersville hires firm to redesign website
Amid a rebranding initiative, Carpentersville officials are hiring an outside firm to revamp the village's website and make it more user-friendly.
The village board last week unanimously approved a contract with Kansas-based CivicPlus, which specializes in municipal web design and hosting services. The village initially budgeted $50,000 for the project, though costs are coming in lower than expected at $31,622, IT Director Kevin Goethals said.
The website redesign coincides with the village's rebranding efforts, which include creating a new logo, improving social media strategies and developing other methods to highlight Carpentersville's best assets, he said. The new site likely will be completed by next fall.
"The village website does play a major part in improving the image and brand of the village," Goethals said. "(It) is essentially the book cover that shows why Carpentersville is a great place to live, work and play."
The redesigned site will allow users to submit and track the progress of requests, subscribe to village notifications based on category, submit forms online, and view the website in multiple languages. The search functionality will be improved, and listings for businesses, bids and commercial properties will be upgraded, Goethals said.
Additionally, the new site will improve the workflow for village employees, he said, pointing to a function that makes it easier for department heads to submit agenda items. It also includes a communication tool that streamlines how information is sent to the website, social media, newsletters and other platforms.
"All of these features are geared toward creating a more engaging online experience," Goethals said.
The website was last redesigned in 2012, with some minor updates a few years later. The new site will aim to be easier to use and more aesthetically pleasing, he said, noting it also will feature more photos and videos of village residents, events, hot spots and recreational opportunities.
CivicPlus recently completed similar website projects in Oak Brook, Aurora and Hanover Park, Goethals said.