By Brian E. Clark
WisBusiness.com
REDE – the Regional Economic Development Entity representing the eight-county Madison region – is now “Thrive.”
The name change was announced this afternoon at the bi-annual meeting of the Collaboration Council at Monona Terrace, which brings together business, government, education and nonprofit leaders to discuss stewardship of the Madison Region.
The counties represented by Thrive include Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Rock and Sauk.
Thrive also has launched a regional Web site, thrivehere.org, to act as a first stop regional portal for audiences inside the region, nationally and globally, Thrive President Jane Alexander said.
She said the name REDE was known by economic development professionals in the area, but not by the wider community.
“REDE didn’t exactly trip off the tongue, so we really had no where to go but up in terms of a name,” she quipped.
In addition, the group unveiled a leaf logo and what Alexander called a “region of intellectual curiosity and innovative, creative energy” as Thrive’s brand.
Alexander also unveiled a video that the group hopes will help on-going marketing of the group in the region and in other parts of the country.
Terry Potter, the Thrive board chairman, praised the new name and brand. He said being able to compete on a global scale and preserving the region’s quality of life are Thrive’s two main objectives.
“Those missions are completely compatible and an economic imperative in a knowledge-based economy,” he said.
