Waycross offers ‘opportunity in every direction’

Waycross, Ga. (Nov. 24, 2009) – Since Waycross-Ware County has received its share of national attention in recent years, community leaders decided last year it was time to create a new logo and tagline for the area. Working with The Robin Shepherd Group of Jacksonville, Fla., the community recently adopted its new brand identity, “Opportunity in every direction.”

The tagline plays upon the area’s location, easy access to other major metropolitan areas and the city’s many assets for current and future residents, visitors and businesses – those presently located in Waycross and those considering relocation.

“Our goal was to create a strong and lasting brand for Waycross,” said Mayor Clarence Billups. “We worked with the agency to study the area’s history and its many attributes to arrive at something that would resonate with our residents, as well as families and businesses looking to relocate here.”

Shepherd held a branding session with city, county leaders and boardof education leaders to begin developing a positive, marketable image of Waycross and Ware County that will help achieve area leaders’ objectives and grow a sense of pride and unity among all residents.

Long-term objectives are to attract new residents, advancerevitalization projects and encourage new neighborhoods and businesses, especially retail businesses and services. Other goals are to increase tourism and industrial growth, enhance the agriculture base and improve local transportation and public safety.

“We know that we won’t accomplish all of these things overnight, but by focusing on the area’s positive attributes, we have created a long-term vision that is very exciting,” added Billups.

The agency also designed new letterhead, business cards and envelopesto conform with the new image and colors, along with creating a new city flag, banners and permanent signage to welcome visitors to the city. The new brand focuses on the following differentiators that set Waycross apart from other South Georgia cities:

•Waycross offers small-town living while offering easy access to all major cities in the Southeast including Jacksonville, Brunswick, Savannah and Atlanta.
•The area is famous for its Southern hospitality and offers a true sense of community and belonging – a great place to raise a family.
•The city offers a low cost of living with low taxes.
•Ware County boasts an award-winning school system, along withhigher education offered at Waycross College, a well-respected two-year unit of the University System of Georgia, and Okefenokee Technical College.
•The Work Ready Ware certification indicates that the area has a high percentage of people ready and able to work – a qualified and skilled workforce.
•Waycross/Ware County offers boundless recreational opportunities with the Okefenokee Swamp Park, Laura S. Walker State Park, the Trembling Earth Sports Complex and a number of regional festivals that draw thousands to the area.
•Waycross is a safe harbor with nationally-accredited law enforcement equating to safety for citizens and low crime.
•The county offers access to medical excellence through Satilla Regional Medical Center.

“I hope that our new logo and tagline will help remind everyone just how great Waycross is, while encouraging our residents and businesses to pull together so we can achieve an even better quality of life,” said Ware County Chairman Jimmy Brown. “There truly is opportunity in every direction.”

For more information, contact Mary Beth Kennedy at (912) 287-2944 or mkennedy@waycrossga.com.