What CityGrows (ClearGov ClearForms) does

CityGrows, now operating as ClearForms following its 2022 acquisition by ClearGov, is a Software-as-a-Service workflow automation platform built for local-government permitting, licensing, and regulatory processes. The product enables cities, counties, water districts, fire districts, and other public agencies to publish online application forms, route submissions through configurable approval workflows, collect fees, and manage back-office review without custom development. The platform is designed around a self-sufficiency model that allows non-technical government staff to build and modify their own forms and workflows, removing the agency from ongoing vendor dependency. The company also integrates payment processing (notably via Stripe) so that jurisdictions can collect permit and license fees online as part of the same transaction.

The company was founded in 2015 by Stephen Corwin and Catherine Geanuracos and is headquartered in Erie, Pennsylvania, with a secondary Los Angeles presence. As of the most recent disclosures, headcount is in the 1-10 range. CityGrows scaled its footprint to 650+ public-sector clients across 48 states, serving primarily small and mid-sized local governments rather than state or federal agencies. The pricing model is subscription-based, scaled to the population served by the jurisdiction, and is intentionally structured to stay below formal RFP thresholds so that small municipalities can procure via purchase order or credit card.

The business also generates revenue from per-transaction payment-processing fees on filings and from optional implementation and configuration services. Customer acquisition has relied heavily on referrals through government management associations and peer networks rather than a large direct sales force, which is reflected in the modest headcount relative to the installed base. Total disclosed equity funding is approximately $590,000, raised across 2017 ($90,000) and 2018 ($500,000 led by Hatcher+ with Ben Franklin Technology Partners, Quake Capital, and Secure Erie). On June 1, 2022, CityGrows was acquired by ClearGov and the platform was rebranded as ClearForms, integrating the permitting and licensing workflows into ClearGov's broader transparency and budgeting product suite.

Name

CityGrows (ClearGov ClearForms)

Legal name

ClearForms

Website

https://citygrows.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CityGrows, now ClearForms under ClearGov, is a SaaS workflow automation platform that helps local governments digitize permitting, licensing, and fee collection, serving 650+ cities, counties, and special districts across 48 states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Permitting and Licensing Software

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (51821)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

eSignature, Forms & Digital Workflow Platforms (HDAEAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Communications, Transparency & Open Government (BPAIAAAH)

Keywords

• Government permitting software
• Licensing management software
• Workflow automation platform
• No-code government forms
• Local government SaaS

Headquarters

HQ city

Erie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. SaaS Subscription: Subscription-based pricing for cloud-based permitting and workflow software. Pricing scales based on government population size and is designed to remain below RFP thresholds. Governments can pay monthly or annually.
2. Transaction Processing: Per-transaction processing fees for permit and license applications. Government clients see 2-3x increases in completed permits, generating additional revenue through compliance.
3. Implementation Services: Some governments request setup assistance from the ClearForms team for complex workflows with formulas, logic, and custom PDFs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ClearForms (formerly CityGrows) is a cloud-based, no-code workflow automation SaaS that lets local government agencies digitize permitting, licensing, and approvals end-to-end. It provides customizable mobile-responsive forms, automated fee calculations, multi-department reviews and approvals, integrated Stripe payments, digital signatures, real-time status notifications, and open data publishing. Pricing is a flat subscription per government scaled by population, sold both via self-serve signup and ClearGov-led enterprise sales.

Product overview

ClearForms (formerly CityGrows) is a cloud-based permitting, licensing, and workflow automation platform for local governments. The core product is ClearForms, which provides a unified platform for digitizing government workflows from end to end. The platform is offered as a single integrated suite with multiple built-in modules including customizable forms, smart dashboards, online reviews and approvals, integrated payment processing via Stripe, digital signatures, real-time status updates, communication tools, formulas for fee calculations, conditional logic for complex workflows, open data features, built-in FAQs, performance management tools, and no-code setup capabilities. The product operates alongside ClearGov's Budget Cycle Management software products, forming ClearGov's expanded government software portfolio following the June 2022 acquisition of CityGrows.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ClearForms Cloud-based, no-code permitting, licensing, and workflow automation SaaS for U.S. local governments. Digitizes the full workflow from online application and integrated Stripe payment through multi-department reviews and approvals, digital signatures, status notifications, and permit issuance. Built for non-technical government staff, with mobile-responsive forms, conditional logic, fee formulas, custom PDF outputs, and open data publishing.
• ClearGov Budget Cycle Management ClearGov's original suite of budget-focused software products that make local governments' complex budget and financial information easier to collect, create, and communicate. Sold alongside ClearForms as part of ClearGov's expanded government software portfolio following the CityGrows acquisition.

Quantifiable outcome

• Permits issued 75% faster
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature15 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ClearGovcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022On June 1, 2022, ClearGov acquired the CityGrows software platform. ClearGov is a leading local government budgeting platform. ClearForms is now part of ClearGov's suite of products, helping governments modernize budgeting and operations across multiple departments.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• OpenGov: OpenGov provides cloud software for state and local governments spanning budgeting, permitting, and procurement. It is the closest direct peer, competing with the ClearForms/ClearGov suite for the same government buyers with overlapping workflow automation functionality.
• Accela: Accela is a leading government permitting, licensing, and asset management SaaS platform. It directly competes with ClearForms in civic permits and licensing for cities and counties, though it skews toward larger jurisdictions and more complex implementations.
• Granicus: Granicus offers a govtech platform covering communications, service requests, and workflow automation for public agencies. It competes with ClearForms around digital service delivery, 311, and permitting-adjacent workflows for the same local government buyers.
• Cloudpermit: Cloudpermit delivers e-permitting software for building and development departments. It overlaps directly with ClearForms' building-permit and plan-review use cases, targeting the same small and mid-sized municipalities with a similar cloud-based, self-service approach.
• OpenCounter: OpenCounter provides online permitting and licensing software for local governments. It targets a similar small-to-mid-municipality segment as ClearForms with comparable cloud-based workflows, directly competing for the same buyers.
• ViewPoint (CitizenServe): ViewPoint's CitizenServe is a government permitting, licensing, and code-enforcement platform. It competes head-to-head with ClearForms in civic permits and licensing, particularly with small and mid-sized cities and counties.
• GovOS: GovOS provides digital government solutions for permits, licensing, and short-term rental compliance. It competes directly with ClearForms in online permitting and licensing for local governments with a similar self-service, cloud-based model.

Broad incumbents

• Tyler Technologies: Tyler Technologies is a large, established public-sector software provider with deep permitting, ERP, and civic-suite offerings. It competes with ClearForms indirectly as a broader incumbent whose solutions often anchor larger jurisdictions that ClearForms targets for expansion.
• Salesforce Public Sector Solutions: Salesforce's public sector vertical offers configurable workflow, forms, and approval automation that governments can adapt for permitting and licensing. While not specializing in permits, it is a broad incumbent that competes for IT-driven government automation budgets.

Emerging players

• Municity: Municity offers permitting, licensing, and code-enforcement software for local governments. As a smaller, focused competitor, it targets overlapping use cases with ClearForms but with narrower market traction and brand presence.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/citygrows
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/citygrows
• Facebookfacebook.com/Citygrows

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors8 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CityGrows (ClearGov ClearForms)