For residents trying to keep up with what is happening around Clay County, finding local information can sometimes mean searching in several different places. Business hours may be posted on Facebook, a menu might be found on a separate website, and information about an upcoming event could be buried in an older social media post.
A new app called TownHaven is hoping to make that process a little easier by bringing local businesses, events, food trucks, and other community information together in one place.
TownHaven was created by LaneTech LLC after its developer Ronald Lane noticed how difficult finding local business information could be.
“I kept noticing the same problem,” said Lane. “There are a lot of businesses, events and other things happening around Clay County, but the information is scattered everywhere.”
The idea was to create a single place where residents could find the information they need without having to search across multiple websites and social media platforms.
Clay County is the first community to launch on TownHaven, with plans to eventually expand the concept to other communities. Each community would have its own TownHaven focused on the businesses, events and activities happening locally.
TownHaven is designed to go beyond a traditional business directory. Businesses can create their own pages featuring information such as hours, contact information, products and menus. Businesses can also use the platform to sell products or accept online orders directly through TownHaven.
The developer designed the app with mobile businesses in mind, particularly food trucks. Owners can post where they will be operating and when they will be there, with their locations displayed on a map. For customers, that means someone looking for a food truck or other mobile business can open TownHaven and see where businesses are operating that day.
Community events are another major component of the app. Residents and organizations can submit information about festivals, markets, church events, fundraisers, yard sales and other activities.
The goal is to make it easier for residents to answer a simple question: What’s going on in Clay?
TownHaven could also serve as a resource for visitors to the county.
Clay County attracts visitors for attractions such as its rail trails and Rail Explorers, but visitors may not always know what other businesses, restaurants or activities are available once they arrive. TownHaven is intended to help visitors discover those opportunities, potentially encouraging them to spend more time in the community and patronize local businesses while they are here.
Businesses pay a small monthly fee to join TownHaven, which helps cover the ongoing costs of operating the app and allows for continued development and improvements.
“TownHaven is brand new, so it is going to take some time to fill up,” Lane said. “It will become more useful as local businesses join and people start submitting events. I’m hoping the community will give it a chance and help it grow.”
The app was built locally through LaneTech LLC and remains a work in progress. Its creator expects TownHaven to continue evolving as businesses and residents begin using it and provide feedback about what they need.
The iPhone version of TownHaven is currently available, while an Android version is in development. The platform can also be accessed through a web browser on any device.
For more information, visit TownHaven.io/app or follow TownHaven on Facebook at Facebook.com/MyTownHaven.
