A Case Study: Hancock County, Tennessee

Hancock County, Tennessee
http://www.hancockcountytn.com

Before…

With very few resources, Hancock County developed its first website with help from a local person who pursued web design as a hobby. The county’s Joint Economic and Community Development Board commissioned this person to create and maintain the website. The designer obtained content from the Board, but retained ownership of the site and served as the gatekeeper for updates. The process only involved a few Board members. After the site launched, very little was done to promote the site and no effort was made to acquire feedback from end users.

And now…

After several years, the local Extension office and other community members decided that the site needed some TLC. Actually, they decided that the whole site needed to be redone. They chose to emphasize economic development and civic engagement.

Armed with a few thousand dollars, a core group of dedicated volunteers, assistance from faculty at the University of Tennessee and faculty and two graduating seniors from Pellissippi State Community College’s Communications and Graphics Technology Department, a new site was launched.

To get the job done, they hired someone from the community to put together all of the text (including soliciting text from county/city officials, gathering data, etc.). The students visited the community on several occasions and even went on a photo safari to obtain the necessary images. As the county had no branding pieces in place, a community contest was held to come up with a logo and phrase. The hand-drawn, winning logo design was adapted by the Department of Marketing and Communications in the University of Tennessee’s Institute of Agriculture.