Case Study: Milwaukee County achieves 50% faster event applications with Granicus (govService)

Milwaukee County Turns Daunting Paper Event Applications into Convenient Automated Process

Milwaukee County Parks Special Events Department in Milwaukee, WI faced a slow, paper‑heavy process for permits and requests — from weddings to photography shoots and community events — that required staff time to process, sort, and update multiple forms. Four separate paper applications created a cumbersome experience for both residents and county employees.

Using CARES Act funds, Milwaukee County partnered with govService to build the MyCounty online portal, consolidating four paper forms into a single automated application that tracks status throughout approval. The new process cuts applicant time by about 50%, saves staff 60–90 minutes per application, and improves accuracy by capturing event data in one place — a clear win for efficiency and customer service.

Milwaukee County

Davina Anderson

Special Events Manager