GovPartner expanding to Midwest

GovPartner, the technology arm of San Diego-based municipal consulting firm Berryman & Henigar, is expanding its e-government market into the Midwest through a regional partnership.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based HRG Technology Group will exclusively provide GovPartner software products to municipalities in Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota.

"We've moved very purposefully," said Gabriela Dow, a spokeswoman for GovPartner. "We've been getting interest from all over the country and wanted a partner where we could follow up."

Because HRG Technology Group is an affiliate of an 89-year-old planning, engineering and architectural services firm -- Howard R. Green Co. -- she said the company understands that providing management consulting and training along with the technology is vital to the success of any project.

She said GovPartner is investigating business partnerships in other regions as well.

GovPartner provides several online applications to local governments that will enable citizens to make service requests or file complaints, make reservations at parks and other recreational sites, and obtain permits for buildings and public works. It also has an internal workflow management system.

Even before the partnership was announced Sept. 23, Dow said the city of Urbandale, Iowa, will be using RequestPartner, a GovPartner application that enables citizens to submit service requests or information.

She said Urbandale is the 11th city to use the company's products. RequestPartner will take about three months to implement.

GovPartner also has a partnership with Microsoft Corp. and Sunnyvale, Calif. The city gave the company an exclusive licensing deal two years ago for several applications it developed.