Developing Early County

The “sun cog” represents businesses “rising and shining” in Early County and the horizontal logo portrays an advertisement that could have been found on a historic storefront. The “EC” pays homage to local public education as it was designed to resemble a variation of the Early County School System logo.

The color scheme is very custom to Early County. The logo is brought to life with the following: Georgia Red Clay, Early Sunrise, Chattahoochee Blue, Peanut Shell and Cotton Bulb.

This week, I was thrilled to roll out the Development Authority of Early County’s fresh logo and website, www.developearly.com. It’s been a long time coming!

The website has been over a year and a half in the making. It is now live for the world to access and can act as a vital resource for existing and prospective businesses. It will serve as a “one stop shop” to learn more about our community. The website not only provides a variety of resources and information about doing business in Early County, but it also tells its story.

Along with the new website, you may have already noticed the new Development Authority of Early County logo. I was very pleased with how it turned out. Primarily because it is so personal to Early County and tells a story in itself.

When contemplating how the branding should look, we knew it had to look like Early County. My entire life I have thought of the red clay and of course, peanuts. The Chattahoochee River came to mind too. As you look at the colors and layout of the logo, you might be reminded of these things as well.

For instance, the color scheme is very custom to Early County. It is brought to life with the following: Georgia Red Clay, Early Sunrise, Chattahoochee Blue, Peanut Shell and Cotton Bulb.

The “sun cog” represents businesses “rising and shining” in Early County and the horizontal logo portrays an advertisement that could have been found on a historic storefront. The “EC” pays homage to local public education as it was designed to resemble a variation of the Early County School System logo. I hope we were able to encompass a few of the elements that make our county uniquely us. I also hope it’s an inclusive image that makes everyone feel welcome here.

Having this presence online and new imagery will help promote Early County in a professional, organized manner. For many years, it has been instilled in me the importance of having an accessible avenue for others to learn more about the mission of the community that will move it forward.

As it has been put to me on more than one occasion: “if you aren’t branding your community… then someone on the outside is…” I don’t know about y’all, but I don’t like the thought of someone else telling our community’s story. No one knows our community like we do – and we should be “in control” of the narrative.

It might be best to put this topic into perspective with a real life example. A few of my counterparts in the economic development world have told me about business deals that were lost due to lack of online information or just plain negativity that was found alongside the community’s name on the internet.

Google Searches are how many people (including prospects) get information about areas they are interested in either living or locating a business. Often social media posts are pulled up in the results. Before you post something for the world to see, you might want to think about what the “prospect” would think if he or she saw it. Would it encourage them to locate or move their business to Early County? Would it encourage a family to relocate here?

Perhaps there is a more appropriate avenue for negative (or constructive) comments to be relayed.

In short: We have to be positive about our community on social media and in conversation. You never know who might be looking or listening. What could all that negativity (even if sometimes true) cost this community in the long run? The approach and tone we use for community improvements plays a massive part in activating solutions.

Over all, having a recognizable brand and avenue to assist in sharing appropriate, business and job-focused information will be extremely beneficial to tell our story better and ultimately attract quality businesses that create quality jobs, so Early County residents can have a better quality of life.

Special thanks to Jenny Dell Advancement Group, BackLight, Inc., Early County News and Development Authority of Early County board of directors for all they have done to create and launch the Development Authority of Early website. Also, thank you to the Early County board of commissioners and their staff.

Always feel free to let me know your thoughts and suggestions. As Early County develops, so will our website: www.developearly.com.

It’s important now, more so than ever, that we band together and uplift our community through positive-focused messages. I encourage anyone reading this not to let negativity and naysaying “rent or own” any space in your mind. It truly threatens the integrity of this beautiful place we get to live, work and play in everyday.

Published weekly in the Early County News.

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