LONE TREE

Board members of the newly formed Lone Tree Economic Development Committee got their first look at logo designs created by Robyn Hepker, a designer with Benson & Hepker Design of Iowa City, on May 19. Hepker laid six design options in front of them, created based on their previous discussion, where the board brainstormed the words they want the logo to embody – strong, bold, movement, roots, and unique – and the colors they feel represent the town – greens and golds, to which Hepker suggested adding blues and perhaps a touch of burgundy.

And a tree – an elm tree – figures prominently in all of them.

“I like the detail of that tree.” “I like that, I think it’s the font that I’m attracted to.” “That looks cool on a shirt.”

Caitlin Ford, Kim Hamm, Gus Jones, Sam Nelson, and Christina Magruder weighed in on the options, quickly narrowing them down to three. Hepker took notes on what worked and what didn’t; she’ll make a few changes to the favored designs and present the revisions at the board’s June 2 meeting.

The plan is to reduce the options to two, then have the community vote on Facebook to make the final decision.

The committee is tasked with building a brand that will attract people to Lone Tree to live, work, and prosper. It’s an opportunity made possible by a Johnson County-funded 2025 Community Branding Grant they received from Greater Iowa City, Inc. at the end of March. Of the $5,000 award, $1,500 must go toward brand development with a professional designer – that is, the logo – and up to $3,500 in matching funds must be used for marketing materials like signage, murals, and decals.

The board knows they want a mural, and window clings for businesses and t-shirts to sell at Party in the Park and Fall Festival were other ideas discussed at the May meeting.

The group faces a deadline; receipts must be submitted by the end of June.

Another concern is where the $3,500 fund-match might come from. The Lone Tree Chamber of Commerce seems interested; the City of Lone Tree might consider. What about the school, or the Lone Tree Community Foundation? Committee members agreed to work on a letter of request.

With one committee member absent – Tyler Hotz – the group decided to delay nomination of officers and approval of bylaws to the June meeting. But ultimately, they left happy with the logo designs and progress they are making.

“I’m excited to get things moving,” Nelson said.