Cranberry Township has a new way to connect with residents—its own radio format.

The township last week launched Cranberry Connect Radio, an Internet radio channel available on the Cranberry website.

The localized channel will feature popular music mixed in with township announcements, including upcoming events at the community water park, Graham Park, Cranberry Highlands Golf Course and the municipal center.

“It’s one more avenue we’ll have to connect with people,” said township manager Jerry Andree.

In the future, there could be segments featuring a question-and-answer session with Andree, “pool party”-themed music and even a bedtime story read by Cranberry library director Leslie Pallotta.

“New features will emerge in the next few weeks that are specific to Cranberry Township,” said Keith Stover, founder of Shout Mountain Media, a media company that specializes in developing custom Internet channels and events. 

Originally formed to develop custom radio channels for churches, Shout Mountain will produce and manage Cranberry Connect Radio. Stover, a Cranberry resident and former vice-president of programming at CBS Radio in Pittsburgh, said the township staff has been tapped to read pre-recorded announcements of township and news events. There will be no live disc jockeys on the air.

Although Northland Ford in Zelienople already has signed on as a sponsor, Stover said their will be limited commercials on the program.

“It gives the residents and businesses an entertainment channel to enjoy while the spoken word is all about Cranberry,” he said.

The channel is free for anyone to listen and may be accessed on the township website. Users may also buy an Internet radio from Grace Digital Audio, according to the township. Coming up on Aug. 1, the program will be instantly accessible for Apple and Android devices.

To start listening now, people may also download the App for iPhone and iPad  from Grace Digital, according to the township.

Andree said the intial cost for the channel is $500 per month. Within four to six months, the program will be reliant on advertisements, resulting in no costs for the township, he said.

The cost also includes equipment used to broadcast live voices from the municipal center, if needed. Andree said this could be useful if there is an emergency message that needs to be communicated to the public. The equipment is worth more than $1,950, he said.

The township also will save $50 per month for costs associated with the music Cranberry had broadcasted internally in the municipal building and through the phones system, he said.

Stover said Cranberry is one of the first communities in the country to have a local Internet radio channel to communicate with residents.

“They’re kind of leading the way on this,” he said.