JREDC’s Five Year Regional Plan: A New, Unified Brand is Unveiled

The leadership of Jacksonville, Illinois, knows that community and economic development go hand-in-hand to ensure a region’s success. To present a unified voice, five Jacksonville-related organizations unveiled an all-new brand identity that aligns the groups to provide a consolidated approach to promote the city as a top choice to visit, work and live. 

Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation (JREDC), Jacksonville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Jacksonville and the City of Jacksonville worked together with Pekin, Illinois-based McDaniels Marketing — an experienced tourism marketing firm — to develop a strong brand that established cohesion between all five entities and highlighted the city’s most desirable attributes. 

“Community leaders have long discussed the importance of working with one another to market Jacksonville in one voice,” Kristin Jamison, President of the Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation. “The five entities dedicated to this brand redesign work extremely well together, which is the reason we were finally successful in bringing a new Jacksonville brand to fruition after 20 years of conversation.”

McDaniels Marketing worked closely with all five groups to gather input from area residents across a wide range of backgrounds to ascertain the current perception of the Jacksonville area. Using this data, stakeholders identified the city’s most desirable attributes and amenities that would ultimately become the brand's focus.

“Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation’s five-year regional plan includes constructively engaging with community partners as one of its seven major goals,” said Jamison. “More specifically, the document prioritizes a new regional branding campaign as an objective under that goal. The success of our organization hinges on the cooperation of all these Jacksonville-based organizations. And the success of our region is directly tied to all of us banding together to serve as a catalyst for economic development.”

The all-new branding positions Jacksonville, Illinois, area as a premier destination for shopping, dining, outdoor recreation and industry; seamlessly blending the region’s remarkable past with its innumerable opportunities for new businesses, students and residents.

The brand package was inspired by the city’s history as a Midwest manufacturing hub, from the Eli Bridge Co. to Capitol Records, as well as the 19th-century architecture that defines many of the downtown storefronts and structures. The new brand honors the city’s past and present with a vintage-inspired serifed font, parallel lines that emphasize the stability of the community and the sunrise that shines brightly on the city’s promising future. Each logo version calls out “IL” within the word Jacksonville, identifying the city as an Illinois fixture.

“By highlighting and sharing our positive attributes – from incredible historic architecture and character to unique small businesses to family-friendly entertainment, Jacksonville has an amazing story to tell the world that will entice new people and enterprises to make Jacksonville their destination of choice,” said Judy Tighe, Executive Director of Jacksonville Main Street.

Brand Standards, Messaging And Merchandise

The Jacksonville Area CVB has finalized a brand standards guide and is also finalizing a potential line of merchandise featuring the new logo. The brand standards guide can be found here.

For more information or images, please contact:

Brittany Henry
Executive Director — Jacksonville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau,
at visitors@jacksonvilleil.org or call 217-243-5678.

Andy Ezard
Mayor — City of Jacksonville,
at mayor@jacksonvilleil.gov or call 217-479-4610.

Brian Nyberg
Director of Community Development & Recreational Facilities — City of Jacksonville,
at bnyberg@jacksonvilleil.gov or call 217-479-4620.

Kristin Jamison
President — Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation,
at kristin@jredc.org or call 217-479-4627.

Lisa Musch
President — Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce,
at chamber@jacksonvilleareachamber.org or call 217-245-2174.

Judy Tighe
Executive Director — Jacksonville Main Street,
at info@jacksonvillemainstreet.com or call 217-245-6884.