The new official app for Odessa, Texas, Our Odessa, is now available as a free download on Apple and Android smartphones and tablets. The Odessa Chamber of Commerce partnered with zCivic, a division of Bar-Z Mobile Development, to create the comprehensive community resource. The app combines features and content from the Odessa Chamber of Commerce, the City of Odessa, the Odessa Convention and Visitors Bureau, Ector County, the Odessa Development Corporation, and Ector County Independent School District.

With this collaborative model, the app provides a one-stop shop for everything Odessa. It is designed to appeal to visitors, residents and those relocating to Odessa, and is the first app of its kind for the community.

“As a Chamber, we are always looking for ways to spread the good news about Odessa,” said Reneé Earls, President/CEO of the Odessa Chamber of Commerce. “Since we spend so much time on our phones, it just makes sense to be part of a mobile app that highlights everything our community has to offer. We are excited to be a partner in this new endeavor that will be a tremendous benefit to our own residents and visitors and is one more avenue for us to show off Odessa – the community we love!”

The app features a wealth of local business information encompassing professional services, shopping, dining, lodging, attractions, real estate, auto care, health services and more.

Tourism and corporate events related to the area’s oil and gas industry play important roles in the local economy so drawing in the Odessa Convention and Visitors Bureau, the community’s destination marketing organization, was a natural fit to help provide focused content for visitors.

“Our Odessa is a great way for visitors to get plugged into the community during their stay,” said Monica Tschauner, Director of the Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Visitors can easily access local attraction listings, events, venues, hotels and more.”

The Odessa Development Corporation is focused on growing and diversifying Odessa’s economy by providing job creation grants, capital investment grants and other incentives for businesses seeking to expand in Odessa.

“We are excited about the new app for Odessa, Our Odessa, as a new way for people to connect to our community,” said Wesley Burnett, Director of Economic Development at the Odessa Chamber of Commerce. “This is just one more way for anyone looking to locate here to get in touch with the right person in order to move in the right direction here in Odessa.”

The app content is rounded out with a community events calendar, local news, information about area schools, nonprofit organizations, houses of worship, and coupons/deals for local businesses. The official Our Odessa is designed to have broad appeal with valuable information and features for all users.

“I saw how effective this app can be in other cities, so I have been an advocate for this project since the beginning,” said Odessa Mayor David Turner. “We want the world to see how unique Odessa is and this enables people from near and far to take pride in this community. Whether it’s simply checking the community calendar, finding a new restaurant, or linking up with a specific service or product, this app means quick and easy access at your fingertips.”

zCivic, a division of Bar-Z Mobile Development, guided the project from ideation to app launch, building the app using the company’s Full Digital Platform™ which enables development of iOS, Android and responsive websites, all updated through a central online content management system. A companion responsive website is in development to further extend access to the Our Odessa app content. The company is working with additional organizations and businesses throughout the community that want to be a part of the app to reach a broader audience.

“We are excited to work with such a wide range of organizations throughout Odessa to create a comprehensive mobile solution for the area. We look forward to expanding the content and reach even further”, said Lee Little CEO and Founder of zCivic, a division of Bar-Z Mobile Development.