Stir an uproar over brand? Can do!

It may be a lime, says Maxine Nietz, of Carson City. Or it could be a green balloon. She stares down at the new regional business brand for Northern Nevada on the inside of a black pamphlet.
A green circle encloses the words "can do.""Is it a sun turned green?"

I'm sure this isn't the question the designers of the "Welcome to can do" brand wanted to hear.

The brand is part of a $400,000 effort headed by the Northern Nevada Development Authority and the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada. The new name they're marketing for the area is Greater Reno-Tahoe.

I wonder if the Northern Nevada Development Authority will be changing its name?

The brand was released this week with much fanfare. They distributed a "branding kit" at the Tuesday unveiling in Reno that contained a temporary tattoo (Is it really that hip to brand yourself?) and a window sticker for your car.

With this brand, economic officials hope to attract skilled professionals and high-paying businesses to Northern Nevada, oops, Greater Reno-Tahoe."

And if you figure out what it is, (the green circle) what does it mean to the area?" asks Nietz, who runs a local event-planning business.

According to the creative director of R&R Partners, of Reno, the green circle enclosing the slogan "can do" represents unity.

It has created anything but that.

"I think they missed the boat on the concept," said local builder Bill Miles. He attended the Tuesday event, heard the spiel and wasn't impressed. Read more here.