Downtown Odessa, Inc., the organization driving the revitalization of the city’s downtown area, has undergone a significant transformation with the help of Creative Marketing Nerds, a web design and SEO agency based in Odessa, Texas. The company, led by CEO Abel Nunez, has worked closely with Gloria Hernandez, Executive Director of Main Street Odessa, to rebrand the organization and its events, creating a powerful new visual identity that captures the essence of the ongoing downtown revitalization.
In 2015, Nunez and his team at Creative Marketing Nerds created a new logo for Downtown Odessa, Inc. that represents an overhead view of the city’s downtown district. The versatile design has since been adapted for various downtown event marketing materials, including Firecracker Fandango, State of Downtown Odessa, and Treat Street. Nunez, a West Odessa native and Air Force veteran, has made it his mission to give back to the community, stating, “I grew up in West Odessa, graduated from OHS, and left for the Air Force where I served for 11 years as a medic… When I moved back home in 2010, I promised myself that I would help make a difference in Odessa, and what better way to leave a mark than to create one?”
The rebranding of Main Street Odessa to Downtown Odessa, Inc. comes as part of the city’s broader revitalization efforts to bolster economic development and preserve the area’s historic treasures. Last month, the Odessa City Council voted to withdraw Main Street Odessa from the Texas Main Street program and rebrand it as Downtown Odessa, Inc., a 501(c)3 organization formed by the city in 2005. According to Hernandez, the rebranding does not alter the organization’s mission but strengthens its capacity to raise funds for downtown revitalization projects.
Downtown Odessa, Inc.’s 2014-2015 allocated budget of $349,386 will be entirely funded by the city, donations, and grants, with all proceeds going toward downtown beautification projects. The organization’s Board of Directors, composed of elected officials, downtown business owners, and interested residents, will collaborate with the City Council and the City Manager’s office to bring economic projects, entertainment, restaurants, and retail to the downtown area.
The unveiling of the new Downtown Odessa, Inc. logo at a press conference in 2015 marked a new chapter in the organization’s efforts to upgrade the city’s core. Hernandez expressed her excitement about the new logo, stating, “It’s the streets of downtown. How much more specific could we be on our mission, what we’re trying to do, and where we want to do it?” As the revitalization of downtown Odessa continues, the collaboration between local visionaries like Hernandez and creative forces like Nunez and Creative Marketing Nerds will be crucial in shaping the city’s future.
