New Marketing Brand and Website

2 Jul 2014


Athens, Tenn. - The McMinn County Economic Development Authority (MCEDA) unveiled a new marketing brand “Make It In McMinn” and website at their annual celebration of industries and membership meeting Thursday evening, June 26th. The marketing brand was developed to bring awareness to McMinn County as a community that has the resources for industries to prosper. Kathy Knight, Executive Director, of the MCEDA states that “a unique brand was needed so that companies and site location consultants can identify McMinn County from our competition. When a company is looking to site a new facility, our competition is not only the other 94 counties in Tennessee, but it is with communities throughout the world. A brand gives us an identity and differentiates us from everyone else.” The Make It In McMinn brand was created by Knight and the logo design was developed by Topher Littleton Designs. Choate Printing has been instrumental in designing corresponding materials related to the brand. All of the MCEDA’s marketing materials will be designed around the new brand. Durant Tullock, President of the MCEDA Board of Directors, noted that “the Board felt the brand was flexible enough to be used throughout different marketing programs in the county, including tourism, residential, education and more. We are excited about what the brand can do for the community in getting us noticed by prospective businesses.”

The website, www.MakeItInMcMinn.org, which went live on June 25th, is a continuous work-in-progress, explains Knight. “In addition to needing a brand, a total overhaul was needed of our website to reflect the new brand and up-to-date information.” The website focuses on McMinn County’s business advantages and community assets including highlighting our existing industries that are located in the county. The website was designed to be a one-stop site for companies, site location consultants, and the community at large. The site has a local feel with a regional approach. Being located along Interstate 75 and within less than a one hour drive of either Chattanooga or Knoxville, gives McMinn County the distinct advantage of the vast resources available in two metropolitan regions. The web site will feature the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) Local InSite Tool that allows access to McMinn County’s industrial properties that are listed on the tvasites.com database. The database is shared between TVA, the State of Tennessee, and regional economic development organizations such as our region’s Southeast Industrial Development Association. The Search Properties database section of the website will go live on the site in the next few weeks. Visitors to the site are encouraged to return often to look for new additions. The website was designed and developed by Trademark Advertising.

In addition to the brand and website, the McMinn County Economic Development Authority has established social media sites on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube in an effort to reach a much larger audience. It is encouraged for individuals to follow, connect, like and subscribe to their social media sites to stay up-to-date on what is happening on the economic development front in McMinn County.
The McMinn County Economic Development Authority’s mission is to facilitate the creation and retention of quality jobs for the citizens of McMinn County and increase capital investment in McMinn County through a targeted marketing plan and program with regional partnerships. For more information on the McMinn County Economic Development Authority, you may contact Kathy Knight, Executive Director, at (423) 745-1506 or by e-mail at Kathy@MakeItInMcMinn.org.