Pad sites in Tradeport East may not be empty for long, as the Liberty County Development Authority ignites a marketing effort to bring more companies — in turn, more jobs and more money — to the area.
The LCDA unveiled its new logo to about 30 area professionals and business leaders Monday afternoon.
LCDA CEO Ron Tolley said the old logo did not fully capitalize on the area’s strengths, nor did it convey what Liberty County can offer businesses contemplating a move to the area.
County assets, such as a sister city in China and its use as the I-95 corridor, were hidden in a plain design, according to Tolley.
“Having realized this, as part of the rebranding process, we looked at ways to better package and introduce our key assets,” he said.
With its new logo, LCDA officials hope potential industries and site selectors will come to associate Liberty County with international commerce and the go-green movement.
And the “extensive rebranding process,” has been in the works since last August.
“The brand development process was much more than just a logo and tagline,” said LCDA Marketing Director Anna Chafin.
Karl Stauch, president of Coastal Marketing Group, led focus groups and talks with community leaders, industries and regional economic developers.
Stauch made a presentation before the LCDA board in March. His services cost $5,600.
“Which was an incredible bargain, particularly in light of the fact that other communities in coastal Georgia have paid $25,000 simply for the design of a logo,” Chafin said.
Jan Melcher, director of eastern operations for Quick Start, attended the unveiling ceremony, which included a catered lunch and a slide show.
“I thought it was very innovative. I hadn’t really experienced it before,” Melcher said.
Quick Start provides customized work force training for organizations throughout the state.
“Branding means everything,” Melcher said. “If you have a nice, professional image, that really elevates your status when companies look at various communities.”
The new logo and brand also will give Liberty County a boost in the eyes of big-name, international companies at Tradeport East.
“In addition, to claiming four countries that are headquartered abroad, several of our additional industries in Liberty County are aggressive exporters,” Tolley said.
More than 70 countries around the globe receive products made in Liberty County and 70 percent of the manufacturing jobs in the county are from foreign companies who have come to Liberty County.
“To me, what stuck in my mind the most was the fact that I think 70 percent of their business is exported and that’s great,” Melcher said. “It’s a very international industry base I think it was good to let the community be aware of who their neighbors [are] and the quality of their neighbors.”
While the LCDA is busy expanding globally, officials say they’re also dedicated to preserving the environment, which they tried to convey through the partially green-colored logo.
“In Liberty County, companies will find environmentally-responsible development options,” Tolley said, mentioning IDI’s 500,000-square-foot speculative building and its federal certification as a silver leadership in engineering and environmental design.
And, he said, technology planned for the Tradeport East sewage plant will allow the authority to have “the most environmentally-sensitive water reclamation facility in all of coastal Georgia.”
The LCDA unveiled its new logo to about 30 area professionals and business leaders Monday afternoon.
LCDA CEO Ron Tolley said the old logo did not fully capitalize on the area’s strengths, nor did it convey what Liberty County can offer businesses contemplating a move to the area.
County assets, such as a sister city in China and its use as the I-95 corridor, were hidden in a plain design, according to Tolley.
“Having realized this, as part of the rebranding process, we looked at ways to better package and introduce our key assets,” he said.
With its new logo, LCDA officials hope potential industries and site selectors will come to associate Liberty County with international commerce and the go-green movement.
And the “extensive rebranding process,” has been in the works since last August.
“The brand development process was much more than just a logo and tagline,” said LCDA Marketing Director Anna Chafin.
Karl Stauch, president of Coastal Marketing Group, led focus groups and talks with community leaders, industries and regional economic developers.
Stauch made a presentation before the LCDA board in March. His services cost $5,600.
“Which was an incredible bargain, particularly in light of the fact that other communities in coastal Georgia have paid $25,000 simply for the design of a logo,” Chafin said.
Jan Melcher, director of eastern operations for Quick Start, attended the unveiling ceremony, which included a catered lunch and a slide show.
“I thought it was very innovative. I hadn’t really experienced it before,” Melcher said.
Quick Start provides customized work force training for organizations throughout the state.
“Branding means everything,” Melcher said. “If you have a nice, professional image, that really elevates your status when companies look at various communities.”
The new logo and brand also will give Liberty County a boost in the eyes of big-name, international companies at Tradeport East.
“In addition, to claiming four countries that are headquartered abroad, several of our additional industries in Liberty County are aggressive exporters,” Tolley said.
More than 70 countries around the globe receive products made in Liberty County and 70 percent of the manufacturing jobs in the county are from foreign companies who have come to Liberty County.
“To me, what stuck in my mind the most was the fact that I think 70 percent of their business is exported and that’s great,” Melcher said. “It’s a very international industry base I think it was good to let the community be aware of who their neighbors [are] and the quality of their neighbors.”
While the LCDA is busy expanding globally, officials say they’re also dedicated to preserving the environment, which they tried to convey through the partially green-colored logo.
“In Liberty County, companies will find environmentally-responsible development options,” Tolley said, mentioning IDI’s 500,000-square-foot speculative building and its federal certification as a silver leadership in engineering and environmental design.
And, he said, technology planned for the Tradeport East sewage plant will allow the authority to have “the most environmentally-sensitive water reclamation facility in all of coastal Georgia.”