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Hardee County Commission approves new tourism brand and logo package
Summary
The Hardee County Tourism Development Council and consultant presented a new county-wide branding package and the Board voted unanimously to adopt the branding direction and authorize staff to publish and integrate it across county channels.
Hardee County commissioners unanimously approved a countywide tourism branding package presented by the Tourism Development Council (TDC) and consultant GetHitchLab during the meeting.
The TDC’s parks, recreation and marketing manager, Lacey Webb, told commissioners the effort aimed to “reset and strengthen our tourism efforts” by establishing “a clear and consistent branding identity” across county marketing and promotional materials.
The branding consultant Tracy (founder, GetHitchLab Marketing) and project manager Kayla Heiner outlined the research and strategy behind the package. They said the campaign targets outdoor-adventure visitors, heritage travelers and local day-trippers and recommended four marketing pillars — outdoor recreation, authentic Florida/heritage experiences, local flavor and seasonal events — to guide future campaigns and partnerships.
GetHitchLab showed commissioners logo concepts, color palettes and sample merchandise. The presentation described an earthy palette with river blues and citrus orange accents and proposed the tagline that the consultant summarized as a connection to regional trails: “where the trail starts.” Webb told the board the TDC plans to place a page on the county website and coordinate with the chamber of commerce and Main Street to provide consistent links and visitor information.
Commissioners asked questions about where the new content would be hosted and how local businesses and schools could be engaged as ambassadors. Commissioner Wells moved to adopt the TDC’s branding direction; Commissioner Flores seconded the motion. The board voted 5–0 in favor.
The TDC and consultant left printed samples of the logo and promotional items with the board for review. Webb said the TDC intends to roll the brand out through digital ads, social media, display advertising and community ambassador programs that rely on residents and local businesses to help promote the county.
The board did not adopt specific funding measures during the presentation; Webb said next steps include consistent application of the new identity across marketing assets and coordination with partner organizations.
The board returned the item to staff for implementation and follow-up.
