NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A redesign of the state’s official website now includes the new state logo, which has been the subject of contentious debates ever since its unveiling.
Governor Bill Haslam announced Monday the state government's website, TN.gov, has been redesigned to improve functionality and the overall experience for taxpayers.
“TN.gov is an important resource for Tennesseans and, for a lot of people, the main way they interact with state government. We are always working to serve Tennessee taxpayers more efficiently and effectively by making that experience as customer-focused as possible,” Haslam said.
Some of the site's new features include an integrated map which allows users to search for schools, parks, hospitals and other resources, along with a "help" button at the bottom of every page.
The state’s new logo has been placed in the top-left corner of the website. In May, it was revealed that Tennessee had spent $46,000 for the design of a new logo featuring the white letters TN on colors patterned on the state flag.
A spokesman for Governor Bill Haslam said the logo was needed to give the state a more unified look on signs and letterhead.
However, the new logo was rejected by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. According to the federal office, the art was "primarily geographically descriptive," which was against the rules.
Nashville-based firm GS&F designed the logo over the course of nine months.
An online petition against the new logo has already garnered 500 signatures urging the state to not use the new logo.
The state's website, TN.gov, was last updated in May 2013.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
