Marketers to devise regional brand

By Tim Engstrom
tengstrom@news-press.com

Southwest Florida economic development leaders have hired a marketing group to develop a regional brand for the area.

The Chisano Marketing Group, with offices in Orlando, Tampa and Dayton, Ohio, will be paid $30,000 to develop a branding plan and present it in early 2009, said Tammie Nemecek, president of the Economic Development Council of Collier County.

The effort is being organized by the Southwest Florida Economic Development Partners, which includes economic development executives from Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Glades, Hendry and Sarasota counties. They will split the cost equally.

"We are excited about the many opportunities to regionally brand and market economic diversification in Southwest Florida," Nemecek said.

The Chisano Marketing Group was one of two to make presentations to the group last month.
Chisano has done advertising and promotions for business development in Asheville, N.C., and private clients include the Naples Beach Hotel in Collier County and Longboat Key Club in Sarasota.

Chisano will begin immediately by researching the area and then will be asked to develop a logo and motto reflecting the regional identity, including design of letterhead, envelopes, a Web site and other outreach material.