Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland came up with the idea to give the city a distinction which will represent what Cleveland should mean to the world. The residents who enter “What’s in a Name?” have the opportunity to claim a $1,000 cash prize.
Creativity is a key component to those who want to come up with what will be the city’s nickname, according to Rowland.
Rowland introduced the idea at last week’s City Council meeting and then presented it once again Monday, when he attended the MainStreet Cleveland luncheon held at the Elk’s Lodge.
The mayor received an immediate response from business leaders and individuals, and before the meeting was over, the $1,000 cash pledges had been fulfilled as well as a committee to filter through entries established.
Nine people will make the final choices and narrow those choices down to what Cleveland’s new nickname will become.
“Nashville is known as the ‘Music City,” Rowland said Monday. “New Orleans is the ‘Crescent City.’ When you ask what is the ‘Friendly City,’ everyone knows it is Athens.”
The Cleveland mayor added, “Knoxville is known as the ‘Dogwood City,’ Chattanooga as the ‘Scenic City.”
These and many others are known as certain “capitals of” or “cities of,” the mayor said.
Melissa Woody, vice president of the Convention & Visitor’s Bureau for the Cleveland-Bradley Chamber of Commerce, will chair the committee to make a choice from the entries.
The $1,000 cash prize is being sponsored by Pioneer Credit, Brenda Lawson and Associates, Don Ledford Automotive of Cleveland, Logan-Thompson PC, State Rep. Kevin Brooks, Bender Realty, Ed Jacobs and Associates, Wacker Polysilicon North America, Bank of Cleveland and Jones Management.
Mail entries can be sent to the Office of the Mayor at Cleveland Municipal Building at 190 Church Street N.E., Cleveland, TN, 37311.
Emailed entries can be directed to szius@cityofclevelandtn.com.
