Last time I bid on a Metroparks project was the last time I’ll ever bid on one. After I didn’t win, I asked to see the bid evaluation documentation- they hemmed and hawed- then burned their office down to avoid having to produce the paperwork as required by law.

It’s OK, they don’t pay their bills on-time either.

However, they are about to unveil a new corporate identity system for the entire system- and guess what- they went all the way to Grand Rapids MI to hire a firm to do the work.

Never mind there are some true national talents in Dayton who could easily have done award winning and effective work.

Off the top of my mind: Visual Marketing Associates who has done tons of work for sporting goods and outdoor products companies.

Real Art– again, a very talented group of graphic designers- who’ve done work for Paramount and Universal Studios, GM, and many others.

Graphica– they’ve done work with clients like GM and Nike.

Any one of the three above could easily have managed to do better work than the Michael Schwab rip-off look (scroll down to the posters for the National Parks) that the people from Michigan did.

Before local government hires outside the region, they should have to prove there isn’t anyone local who can do the same work. Here is a list of agencies and design firms in Dayton, Cincinnati and Columbus for them to choose from. Our economy is hurting bad enough without exporting dollars to Michigan.