Economic development, the county's image and the need for Urbana to grow were topics of a joint meeting of the Champaign County Commission and Urbana City Council, during which John Fimiani, Westville-area resident and Springboard Marketing president, presented a logo and "brand" for use by the county, local governments, businesses and other entities within the county.
The city contributed $2,000 and the Chamber of Commerce and Community Improvement Corporation each $500 to this initial phase of a marketing project promoting the county's desirability as a tourist destination, business site and place to raise a family.
City Development Planner Melanie Kendrick mentioned the possibility of using the logo in promotions for Art Affair on the Square, which is promoted in various parts of the country, and on Web sites.
Chamber Director Kelly Evans-Wilson said buttons would be created featuring the logo.
Fimiani said the county is free to use the logo and even the several design concepts his company created. The county or governments within the county can develop these ideas into brochures, advertisements or other promotional materials or can contract with his company or another company to develop the materials.
The point, Evans-Wilson said, is "to put the community in a positive light." The "positive lights" in Springboard's concepts include rural scenes, bike trails, a river, families and businesses.
"It's like a resume," Fimiani said of branding a community. "You put your best foot forward."
Promotions he displayed included phrases such as "Once a pathfinder, always a pathfinder" for the bike trail and "Our pioneering spirit has never left us."
Obstacles to growth
Prior to Fimiani's presentation, the city council and county commission talked about obstacles to local economic development, including complaints about the county Building Regulations Department and Urbana's landlocked situation.
Council members also tried to pin down the commission on whether it was going to fund CIC this year. Commissioners only said a vote hadn't been taken yet.
Both groups seemed to agree that they must work together on economic development, but neither said which group or person they should choose to lead the way.
"I don't see enough being done by CIC," Councilman Bill Bean said.
Commissioner Steve Hess said the restructured CIC hasn't had enough time, that it takes time to see results.
As for Building Regulations, some claimed it is not user-friendly toward businesses, while others claimed its decisions are fair and by the book.
The commissioners said people encountering difficulties with Building Regulations should bring it to their attention, that putting problems in writing would be helpful. Others said business people would not officially complain about a department that inspects their buildings.
The elected officials revisited the oft-discussed island of non-city property that includes Lawnview Industries.
The commission once again said it had no objection to Lawnview being annexed and suggested the city talk to the other few property owners in the island.
The council also discussed the possibility of annexing township land adjacent to the city.
"I know we've discussed this before ... We need to annex land so we can grow," Bean said. "We should be working with the township to do this."
Kathleen Fox can be reached at kfox@urbanacitizen.com
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