LaFayette, Ga., Branding contest spurs slew of slogans

Friday, January 1, 1904

photo Landon Clift plays in the fountain at Joe Stock Park in downtown LaFayette on Sunday afternoon.

A contest to "brand" downtown LaFayette, Ga., generated a slew of slogans - but only two logos.

Forty-four slogans were submitted in the Downtown Development Authority's branding contest that offers a first prize of $50 -- plus bragging rights for seeing the idea used on signs, banners and shirts.

"We want words, but we want an image, also," authority board member Sharon Cunningham said. "We need maybe to solicit a few [logos]."

She had hoped high school art class students would have submitted more logos, but she said it's a busy time of year because of graduation.

Meanwhile, the development authority plans to push ahead on the slogan front.

Cunningham heads the authority's design subcommittee. It will sort through the 44 slogan entries and winnow them down to four finalists so the authority board can pick a winner at its July 9 meeting.

"We had a good variety," Cunningham said. "Some of them were really funny. I don't have a favorite myself, not yet. It might be that we combine two."

The design subcommittee includes non-DDA members David Cameron, an architect, and Sheri Aldridge, a photographer who works at the Bank of LaFayette.

Development authority Director Matthew Williams said most of the entries came from LaFayette, but some were from farther away, including Chattanooga and out of state.

Overall, Williams is happy with the public participation in the effort.

"A professional firm, for this kind of thing, would be very, very expensive," he said. "Some cities spend $50,000 to $75,000."

Contact staff writer Tim Omarzu at tomarzu@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6651.