Now is the time of year when many business owners think about year end tax deductions.

Tampa, FL -- (SBWIRE) --11/23/2011 -- While signage may not be the first thing that comes to mind when considering year-end tax deductions; it may be worth further investigation.

Section 179 of the tax code allows businesses to deduct the full purchase price of qualifying equipment and/or software (both new and used) purchased during the tax year up to $500,000 (2011 limit). For qualifying equipment and/or software, Section 179 also allows businesses to fully depreciate any amounts above the $500,000 cut-off in the current year (new equipment only). There is a cap of $2 million for equipment purchases eligible for Section 179 treatment.

What you may not realize is that it may be possible that your signage purchases for 2011 could qualify for these beneficial tax treatments.

Creative Sign Designs does not intend this communication to provide tax advice or guidance. Please consult with your tax advisors to determine if Section 179 applies to your signage purchases.

If the sign is attached to a building, it could qualify for Section 179 expense. Since it can be separated from the building, it is considered tangible property and should be eligible. The taxpayer must have taxable income for a current year deduction.

If the sign is not attached to a building and is its own structural component, then it is a land improvement and is not eligible for deduction. However, it may eligible for bonus depreciation for new signage. 2011 bonus depreciation is 100% of the cost.

The Section 179 deduction limits and bonus deprecation rates could change in the New Year. Please consult with your tax advisor to determine if Section 179 applies to your signage purchases.

About Creative Sign Designs
Creative Sign Designs, with national headquarters in Tampa, specializes in turnkey architectural signage solutions. Creative Sign Designs provides consultation, design, project management, fabrication, and installation services for a full line of interior, exterior and digital sign products. With more than 25 years experience providing architectural sign solutions, Creative Sign Designs is capable of successfully managing local, regional, and national projects. For more information, visit www.CreativeSignDesigns.com or call (888) 713-7620.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

The Channelside Parking Garage and Tampa Port Authority recognized for its architectural design, aesthetics and innovative parking design system

Tampa, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/03/2011 -- In the summer of 2010, Creative Sign Designs partnered with Kraft Construction and the Tampa Port Authority to develop an innovative parking design system for the Channelside Parking Garage in downtown Tampa. Now one year later, the garage has been recognized with the 2011 Award of Merit for Best Design of a Parking Facility with Fewer than 800 Spaces from the International Parking Institute.

The facility underwent a key expansion to address the critical need for more parking during special events and peak seasons in the Channelside area of downtown Tampa. To accommodate the consistent increase in tourism from nearby cruise lines and popular attractions, the garage houses over 700 parking spots, including grade-level parking for buses, and capabilities for future 160-space vertical expansion. Creative Sign Designs furnished a complete custom sign package for the garage expansion project.

In addition, the garage has won a total of five awards including an Eagle Award from Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), celebrating excellence in construction, the Florida Parking Association's Award of Excellence and two merit awards from the Tampa Bay and Orlando chapters of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

"We thank the City of Tampa, the architects, and construction team for their contributions to the success of this fantastic garage," says Richard Wainio, Tampa's port director and CEO.

The IPI Award of Excellence Program recognizes and applauds the trend toward facilities that are aesthetically appealing, as well as functional, and encourages excellence and efficiency in parking design.

About Creative Sign Designs
Creative Sign Designs, with national headquarters in Tampa, specializes in turnkey architectural signage solutions. Creative Sign Designs provides consultation, design, project management, fabrication, and installation services for a full line of interior, exterior and digital sign products. With more than 25 years experience providing architectural sign solutions, Creative Sign Designs is capable of successfully managing local, regional, and national projects.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Creative Sign Designs announces their new Wayfinding and ADA Accessible Signage AIA Continuing Education Program

Tampa, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/03/2011 -- Wayfinding is a comprehensive process developed to familiarize people in a physical space and provide directional assistance from point A to point B. A central component of successful wayfinding design is signage. To help educate architects and designers on signage specifications, Creative Sign Designs is now offering their Wayfinding and ADA Accessible Signage AIA Continuing Education Program throughout the United States.

Keeping up-to-date with the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) and local accessibility regulations is vital to crafting successful and compliant wayfinding signage design systems. Creative's team of wayfinding consultants follow any changes and provide ADAAG-related training to continually educate all associates.

Creative Sign Designs is a Registered Provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems. Creative's Wayfinding and Accessible Signage AIA Continuing Education Program is registered with the AIA/CES for continuing professional education as 1 AIA/CES Learning Units (HSW).

Course objectives include: What is Wayfinding, Understanding Wayfinding in our everyday lives, Symbols and Universal Design, Best Practices for planning and implementation of wayfinding, and current ADAAG Guidelines review. Creative has completed numerous ADA interior signage and wayfinding signage system projects for educational institutions, medical facilities, highly recognized organizations and municipalities.

Messages presented on signage systems minimize visitors' natural confusion when arriving and navigating a new and unfamiliar facility. The wayfinding design and signage system work together to create a comfortable environment for your visitors. Clear and legible messages must be in the right location and visible to all - regardless of language or physical ability.

Creative's team of wayfinding consultants strive to effectively communicate clients' individual needs and assure the best comprehensive and cost effective signage solutions. Creative's design, project management, fabrication, and installation teams work to successfully determine the ideal signage solution of every environment.

To schedule a Lunch & Learn in your area, visit http://www.creativesigndesigns.com/product-lines/aia-continuing-education.aspx or call Creative Sign Designs' marketing department at (888) 713-7620.

About Creative Sign Designs
Creative Sign Designs, with national headquarters in Tampa, specializes in turnkey architectural signage solutions. Creative Sign Designs provides consultation, design, project management, fabrication, and installation services for a full line of interior, exterior and digital sign products. With more than 25 years experience providing architectural sign solutions, Creative Sign Designs is capable of successfully managing local, regional, and national projects. For more information, visit http://www.CreativeSignDesigns.com or call (888) 713-7620.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Tampa Bay Sign Company, Creative Sign Designs, recognized on the 2011 Inc. 500|5000 list as one of America’s fastest-growing private companies

Tampa, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/26/2011 -- Over the years, companies like Microsoft, Timberland, Vizio, Intuit, Jamba Juice, Oracle, Clif Bar, Zipcar and Zappos.com have joined the Inc. 500|5000 list as America's fastest-growing private companies. Creative Sign Designs, with national headquarters in Tampa, is proud to announce their ranking on this prestigious, nationally-recognized list.

There are over 7 million private, employer-based companies and over 17 million small businesses in the United States. Creative Sign Designs earned the position of 4,133 out of 5,000 private American companies, placing them in the top 1% - elite status. The Inc. 500|5000 list recognizes companies for their significant accomplishments, creativity, resilience, and tenacity of America's top entrepreneurs.

In 1986, Creative Sign Designs began as a small operation in the founder's garage, focusing on manufacturing decorative mailboxes and street signage to add "curb appeal" to the American home. In 2005, the original owners sold the business, and in 2006, CEO Jamie Harden purchased a 44,000 sq-ft facility. In 2007, the dramatic residential downturn resulted in a significant decline in revenue, and Harden re-focused the company and team's efforts to selling, designing, manufacturing, and installing interior, exterior, and digital commercial signage. Creative Sign Designs response to adversity resulted in a 60% increase in revenue in 2010.

An important part of Creative Sign Designs' overall mission is to be a good corporate citizen. "We discuss our values every month at our company-wide, all-employee meeting," says Harden. "We recognize employees with monthly and annual awards focusing on Commitment to Excellence, Positive Outlook, Teamwork, Innovative Thinking, Sense of Urgency, and Doing the Right Thing, Every Time."

Creative is committed to the community, and frequently contributes to both local and national organizations. Employees are involved in community activities such as the International Sign Association, American Marketing Association, and the United States Sign Council. Additionally, employees have contributed to numerous organizations including Baycare HealthCare System, YMCA of the Suncoast, Habitat for Humanity, American Heart Association, All Children's Hospital, Meals on Wheels, and The ALS Foundation. Creative Sign Designs will join the American Cancer Society in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on October 22, 2011.

In addition, Creative Sign Designs maintains a strong commitment to the environment, and was recently awarded the 2011 Earth Charter US Sustainable Business Award. Creative continuously researches new materials and processes to improve their ability to create environmentally friendly signs.

Creative was recently announced as one of 5 finalists for the 2011 Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year.

About Creative Sign Designs
Creative Sign Designs, with national headquarters in Tampa, specializes in turnkey architectural signage solutions. Creative Sign Designs provides consultation, design, project management, fabrication, and installation services for a full line of interior, exterior and digital sign products. With more than 25 years experience providing architectural sign solutions, Creative Sign Designs is capable of successfully managing local, regional, and national projects. For more information, visit http://www.CreativeSignDesigns.com or call (888) 713-7620.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Custom business signs add to GulfShore Bank's new contemporary headquarters in Downtown Tampa

Tampa, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/03/2011 -- When Joe Caballero, CEO, and Ed O'Carroll, COO, of GulfShore Bank, decided to open a new corporate headquarters in Florida, a complete one-stop signage firm was just as important as the headquarters location.

The bank's new 15,000 square-foot office in downtown Tampa – just across the street from the St. Pete Times Forum – is recognized for its contemporary sleek design. Creative Sign Designs designed, fabricated and installed the finishing touches to the modernized building.

Our team surveyed three possible sites before GulfShore determined the perfect prime location for its second Florida location.

GulfShore Bank's new offices include retail banking space on the first floor and 12,000 square-feet of corporate office space on the third floor. Our team covered 117 feet of interior windows with etched graphics to ensure all three conference rooms remain attractively private as well as fabricating and installing custom metal letters in the main conference room.

In addition, Creative fabricated and installed GulfShore Bank's custom logo throughout the new 3-story building and two sets of custom channel letters on the exterior of the new headquarters building.

Creative covered all 18 full-length windows with custom graphics to make certain the interior design and development remained a secret until the building's grand opening.

About Creative Sign Designs
Creative Sign Designs, with national headquarters in Tampa, specializes in turnkey architectural signage solutions. Creative Sign Designs provides consultation, design, project management, fabrication, and installation services for a full line of interior, exterior and digital sign products. With more than 25 years experience providing architectural sign solutions, Creative Sign Designs is capable of successfully managing local, regional, and national projects. For more information, visit http://www.CreativeSignDesigns.com or call (888) 713-7620.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Creative's President & CEO discusses today's top web marketing and social media techniques

Tampa, FL -- (SBWIRE) --05/24/2011 -- On Tuesday evening, Creative President & CEO, Jamie Harden, shared his companies' web marketing secrets with fellow panelists at an American Marketing Association Tampa Bay Event. Harden, along with representatives from Bing, Carnival Corporation, The Melting Pot, and Bayshore Solutions, presented the latest integrated marketing strategies for Creative Sign Designs and Creative Mailbox & Sign Designs.

Sponsored by Bayshore Solutions and the Tampa Bay Business Journal, the AMA Event was held at The Wyndham Hotel in downtown Tampa. The event featured opening comments from AMA Tampa Bay President, Tara Hustedde, and Bayshore Solutions CEO, Kevin Hourigan, followed by a 30-minute presentation from each speaker.

Harden's Marketing Game Plan for Creative Sign Designs and Creative Mailbox & Sign Designs (together, "Creative"), is simple: Develop Your Brand, Build a Website, Acquire Photography, Investigate Social Media, Develop a Marketing Strategy, and Promote. Creative Sign Designs owned a wide variety of case studies and projects and diverse product offerings, but after further investigation it was apparent that a new and more representative logo, coloring and styling was necessary.

"We were lacking a brand supporting our outside sales and marketing efforts," Harden explained. "We are a one-stop shop for turnkey architectural signage solutions, as well as a service provider for a full range of interior, exterior and digital signage productions. Our old logo and branding just wasn't representative for what we had become."

Creative Sign Designs launched their new award-winning website in May 2010 and have seen a 300% increase in number of visitors, 400% increase in organic search visits, 600% increase in non-branded keywords, and doubled their indexed pages with new case studies and projects in just one year. As part of Creative's Integrated Marketing Strategy, search engine optimization for the website plays a key role in the company's web marketing approach.

"Consistency is key," says Harden. "Driving content through social media, email newsletters, and press releases is a focus for us. We commit to updating our social media sites three times per week and developing newsletters and press releases at least twice every month."

Creative Sign Designs actively utilizes LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, flickr, and twitter pages. Creative Mailbox & Sign Designs utilizes LinkedIn, Facebook, and twitter pages.

"We were published in Sign Builder Illustrated four times, Signs of the Times five times, and the Tampa Bay Business Journal four times. We must be doing something right."

About Creative Sign Designs
Creative Sign Designs, with international headquarters in Tampa, specializes in turnkey architectural signage solutions. Creative Sign Designs provides consultation, design, fabrication, and installation services for a full line of interior and exterior sign products. With more than 25 years experience providing architectural sign solutions, Creative Sign Designs is capable of successfully managing local, regional, and national projects. For more information, visit their award-winning website, http://www.CreativeSignDesigns.com or call 888-713-7620

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Creative Sign Designs takes 3rd Place for their Electric Monument Sign in the 2011 Signs of the Times International Sign Contest

Tampa, FL -- (SBWIRE) --05/24/2011 -- Although the Tampa-headquartered Creative Sign Designs already has a strong national presence, the company made its international debut this spring with two of their top projects. The Signs of the Times annual International Sign Contest received hundreds of entries from companies across the globe. This year's contest consisted of 11 different categories covering multiple markets.

Creative Sign Designs has a national footprint in numerous markets: Corporate & Office, Retail & Restaurants, Education, Hospitality, Healthcare, Cultural, Arts & Entertainment, and Multifamily. One of Creative's Corporate & Office market projects, The Toho Water Authority, received third place in the contest's Electric Monument Signs category.

The ToHo Water Authority, established in 2003, is the largest supplier of water, wastewater, and reclaimed water services in Osceola County, Florida. The Authority's move to a new, 54,000-sq.-ft. facility required a comprehensive sign package. For the exterior monument, the shop routed aluminum sheet and acrylic with its MultiCam and Camtech CNC routers. The design team developed the package using CorelDraw X5, SA Intl.'s FlexiSign 8.5, and AutoCAD 2007. Fabricators decorated the sign using Matthews acrylic-polyurethane paint, and illuminated the face using MAXX LED's 6500k white LED mini-modules.

In addition, Creative's most recent Cultural, Arts & Entertainment rebranding project received an honorable mention in the in the Electric Building Signs category. The Straz Center for the Performing Arts (formerly the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center), in the heart of downtown Tampa, required newly-designed and fabricated exterior signs. Creative Sign Designs provided four sets of illuminated channel letters and stars on two different elevations of the landmark performing arts center.

The center's electric building signs required 100 gallons of paint, 33,000 pounds (over 16 tons) of aluminum that end-to-end would reach a distance of 3 miles, and enough LEDs to light up a one-mile stretch of road. A team of very talented individuals devoted over 20,000 hours to the project during the fabrication process in order to successfully meet the project's completion date.

Of the contest's 11 categories, Electric Building Signs received the largest portion of entries. In addition to Creative, a select handful of companies across the nation – and companies from Australia, Canada and China – received recognition for their creations. This year's categories were Exhibit Graphics, Sign Systems, Commercial Monument Signs, Electric Monument Signs, Banners/Murals, Commercial Freestanding Signs, Electric Freestanding Signs, Electric Building Signs, Electronic Message Centers and Unique Signs.

About Creative Sign Designs
Creative Sign Designs, with international headquarters in Tampa, specializes in turnkey architectural signage solutions. Creative Sign Designs provides consultation, design, fabrication, and installation services for a full line of interior and exterior sign products. With more than 25 years experience providing architectural sign solutions, Creative Sign Designs is capable of successfully managing local, regional, and national projects. For more information, visit their award-winning website, http://www.CreativeSignDesigns.com or call 888-713-7620.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Creative Sign Designs joins the fight against Lou Gehrig’s disease through the Greater Tampa Bay Walk to Defeat ALS at the University of South Florida

Tampa, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/05/2011 -- Every 90 minutes someone in the United States is diagnosed with ALS, and every 90 minutes another person will lose their battle against this disease. Each year, more than 140,000 patients, men, women, children and corporations join together as The ALS Association Florida Chapter hosts the Walk to Defeat ALS. Over 30 Creative employees attended the Greater Tampa Bay Walk to Defeat ALS at the University of South Florida on March 12, 2011.

The Walk to Defeat ALS is The ALS Association's biggest annual event, which raises funds to sustain patient care and support cutting-edge research by the world's best and brightest scientists. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive, fatal neuromuscular disease that slowly robs the body of its ability to walk, speak, swallow and breathe. Established in 1985, The ALS Association is the only national not-for-profit health organization dedicated solely to the fight against ALS.

The mission of The ALS Association is to find a cure for and improve living with ALS. They provide help and hope to patients and families impacted by the disease by funding research, patient and community services, public education, and advocacy efforts on a local and national level. The life expectancy of an ALS patient averages 2-5 years from the time of diagnosis. Caring for a loved one with ALS costs an average of $200,000 each year.

"I was truly touched by the number of friends, family and clients that knew someone who had been affected by this disease and shared a personal story with me. It was wonderful to share this experience with my daughter, Ellee, so that she could see what a difference so many people were making in our community by coming together for such a great cause," said Jamie Harden, President & CEO of Creative.

The ALS Association consists of 41 chapters throughout the United States. The Florida Chapter hosts 7 walks, all under 3 miles, throughout March and April in South Florida, Greater Tampa Bay, Palm Beach, Jacksonville, Orlando, Sarasota/Manatee, and Fort Myers. The 2-mile Greater Tampa Bay Walk had 89 teams and 1,224 walkers.

Over 30 Creative employees participated in the walk and helped raise over $7,000 in donations for the association's Equipment Loan, Respite Care, Patient Care Management, and Augmentative Communications programs. Team Creative was the #5 team and Creative's President & CEO, Jamie Harden, was the #7 walker having raised over $4,000. As of March 28th, the Greater Tampa Bay Walk fundraising totaled over $220,000.

In addition to their fundraising efforts, Creative Sign Designs donated over 70 signs for the events in Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando and Palm Beach. Creative employees have contributed to numerous organizations including Morton Plant Mease, Resurrection House, Baycare HealthCare System, Berkeley Preparatory School, Morean Arts Center, YMCA of the Suncoast, Angels After Dark, Habitat for Humanity, St. Petersburg History Museum, American Heart Association, All Children's Hospital, and Meals on Wheels.

Most recently, Creative employees devoted 161 hours over 24 shifts in two days through Habitat for Humanity's Blitz Build in Clearwater just in time for Valentine's Day. Creative Sign Designs is committed to providing environmentally-friendly signs, and was recently awarded the 2011 Earth Charter US Sustainable Business Award for focusing their efforts on People (Employee and Community Wellbeing), Profit (Economic Performance) and Planet (Environmental Health).

Additionally, employees are involved in community activities such as the CEO Council of Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Professional Alliance, Florida Health Care Engineering Association, Florida Apartment Association, International Sign Association, Junior League of Tampa, Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Tampa Bay & Co., CREW, American Marketing Association, CFHLA, and the Westshore Alliance.

About Creative Sign Designs
Creative Sign Designs, with international headquarters in Tampa, specializes in turnkey architectural signage solutions. Creative Sign Designs provides consultation, design, fabrication, and installation services for a full line of interior and exterior sign products. With more than 25 years experience providing architectural sign solutions, Creative Sign Designs is capable of successfully managing local, regional, and national projects. For more information, visit their award-winning website, http://www.CreativeSignDesigns.com or call (813) 818-7100.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Creative Sign Designs Joins Earth Charter US Sustainable Business Coalition

Tampa, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/21/2011 -- On Friday afternoon, Earth Charter US held their 3rd Annual Sustainable Business Awards Luncheon and Ceremony at the University of Tampa's Vaughn Center. Creative Sign Designs was honored for their focus on sustainable efforts on People, Profit, and Planet.

People (Employee and Community Wellbeing), Profit (Economic Performance) and Planet (Environmental Health) wholly describes the Earth Charter US Triple bottom line, a method of evaluating corporate performance by measuring profits as well as environmental sustainability and social responsibility.

Creative Sign Designs' environmental responsibility is reflected in the way it conducts business. Creative continuously researches new materials and processes to improve their ability to create environmentally friendly signs. The company is dedicated to finding and implementing new technologies to continue reducing waste and streamlining processes, including the elimination of stocked, printed marketing and sales materials to prevent overprinting and needless paper waste. Other initiatives include development of electronic marketing and sales brochures and materials to enable electronic distribution of communications, and an active, company-wide recycling program for aluminum, paper, glass, steel and plastics in office and manufacturing facilities.

Committed to providing environmentally-friendly signs, Creative designs and fabricates signs that are beneficial to both the client and the environment. In particular, Creative Sign Designs uses the NovAcryl GR Series and is a NovAcryl Preferred Fabricator for Nova Polymers. The NovAcryl GR Series product is processed in plain tap water and bonds to a clear PETG panel that is non-toxic, Greenguard Certified, and has a minimum of 40% recycled content.

Other Eco-Friendly practices include the use of durable materials and modular construction enabling customers to extend or repair signage systems with ease and less disposable waste and the use of responsible suppliers when products are unable to be manufactured in-house. In addition, Creative Sign Designs uses laser-printed paper graphic inserts allowing clients to use recycled paper and update signs in-house, Light-Emitting Diode (LED) signage which is 85% more efficient than signage with neon lights, and sustainable ADA signage featuring nontoxic biopolymers and up to 40% recycled material.

Creative Sign Designs believes the best way to be a corporate Tampa Bay citizen is to be an employer of choice by retaining and recruiting the best workforce in the industry. In fact, they have increased their workforce by 18% in the past six months.

Employee programs at Creative include a comprehensive employee benefit program to all employees, company sponsored 401k plan, employee recognition program including monthly and annual awards, and monthly company-wide meetings including all employees.

Externally, Creative employees are involved in community activities such as the CEO Council of Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Professional Alliance, Florida Health Care Engineering Association, Florida Apartment Association, International Sign Association, Junior League of Tampa, Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Tampa Bay & Co., CREW, American Marketing Association, CFHLA, and the Westshore Alliance. Additionally, employees have contributed to numerous organizations including Morton Plant Mease, Resurrection House, Baycare HealthCare System, Berkeley Preparatory School, Morean Arts Center, YMCA of the Suncoast, Angels After Dark, Habitat for Humanity, St. Petersburg History Museum, American Heart Association, All Children's Hospital, Meals on Wheels, and most recently The ALS Foundation and Greater Tampa Bay Walk to Defeat ALS on Saturday, March 12th at the University of South Florida main campus.

The Earth Charter is an international declaration for a sustainable future, including sixteen principles on culture of peace, respect for nature, economic justice, and human rights, which thousands of organizations and individuals around the globe have participated. Sustainable Business Award recipients are invited to join the Earth Charter US Sustainable Business Coalition and connect in this worldwide "green" statement. The Earth Charter US Sustainable Business Coalition, founded in 2009, partners with the University of Tampa to promote sustainable businesses and provide educational forums and networking opportunities for environmental and social responsibility.

Under the direction of Earth Charter US Founder and Sykes School of Business Professor, Jan Roberts, four University of Tampa graduate business students selected the 2011 Sustainable Business Award winners. Nominees were judged based on contributions to the economic and environmental health of Tampa Bay, community involvement and citizenship, and employee programs, demonstrating their commitment and focus on People, Profit and Planet.

Although Creative has a national footprint, their corporate strategy is to have centralized management and fabrication in their hometown of Tampa, Florida. In the last five years, they have purchased a 44,000 square-foot facility and hundreds of thousands of dollars of equipment, continuing growth in Tampa. As a fully-integrated manufacturer, they may source raw materials outside the Bay area, but they provide all of the value added labor in Tampa.

Creative Sign Designs has completed many LEED certified signage projects, including both interior and exterior signage for the Cancer Support Community in Sarasota, Florida. The Cancer Support Community is an international non-profit organization and the largest employer of psychosocial oncology mental health professionals in the United States: http://www.creativesigndesigns.com/portfolio/healthcare/cancer-support-community.aspx. To learn more about Creative Sign Designs, visit their award-winning website at http://www.CreativeSignDesigns.com.

About Creative Sign Designs
Creative Sign Designs, with national headquarters in Tampa, specializes in turnkey architectural signage solutions. Creative Sign Designs provides consultation, design, fabrication, and installation services for a full line of interior and exterior sign products. With more than 25 years experience providing architectural sign solutions, Creative Sign Designs is capable of successfully managing local, regional, and national projects. For more information, visit their award-winning website, http://www.CreativeSignDesigns.com or call 1-877-818-7180.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Employees Build Homes for Pinellas County Families

Clearwater, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/07/2011 -- Just in time for Valentine's Day, volunteers from Pinellas County teamed up to help build two houses in just seven days. Hundreds of community members joined forces to craft houses for those less fortunate.

Creative employees devoted 161 hours over 24 shifts Saturday and Sunday to the Blitz Build in Clearwater. Although most Creative employees were first-time volunteers, no one hesitated to grab a hammer and jump right in. Volunteers could choose morning or afternoon shifts to help put up high-efficiency windows and walls for the Green homes. Some Creative volunteers spent both Sunday morning and afternoon helping to finish the houses before plumbers, electricians and AC installers arrived that evening.

Creative's Production Manager, Kim McGinnis, could not think of a better way to spend her weekend. "Many of our Creative employees tell me they want to volunteer again, which is awesome! You can never have too much help when building a home for a deserving family."

Habitat for Humanity has been providing affordable housing opportunities for families in Pinellas County and overseas for over 35 years. The non-profit organization has helped build over 400,000 houses serving more than 2 million families internationally.

"It's a wonderful feeling to work side by side with the future owner of the home that you're helping to build. Habitat for Humanity truly is a hand up for those who are working towards a secure future for themselves and their children," McGinnis said.

To view video footage of the build, please visit the Creative Sign Designs YouTube Channel. To view photos from the event, please visit the Creative Sign Designs Facebook Page.

Get involved! To volunteer with Habitat for Humanity in your community, visit http://www.habitat.org or http://www.habitatpinellas.org.

About Creative Sign Designs
Creative Sign Designs, with national headquarters in Tampa, specializes in turnkey architectural signage solutions. Creative Sign Designs provides consultation, design, fabrication, and installation services for a full line of interior and exterior sign products. With more than 25 years experience providing architectural sign solutions, Creative Sign Designs is capable of successfully managing local, regional, and national projects. For more information, visit http://www.CreativeSignDesigns.com or call 1-877-818-7180.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Charley Belcher Visits Creative Sign Designs Headquarters

Tampa, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/17/2011 -- On a chilly Monday morning, FOX 13's Charley Belcher went behind the scenes for a sneak peek into Creative Sign Designs, a national leader in architectural sign solutions. The host of "Charley's World," a daily segment on the "Good Day Tampa Bay," visited Creative Sign Designs headquarters in Tampa, FL to showcase the secrets behind design, fabrication, and installation of exterior DOT signs, interior ADA signage, and outdoor illuminated LED signage.

"We started out as a residential mailbox and sign company, and next year we will celebrate 25 years in business, but in the last three or four years we have turned our focus to architectural signage solutions," said Creative Sign Designs President & CEO, Jamie Harden. He shared an insider's view of signage such as the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, the Orlando Magic Recreation Centers, and Walt Disney World's outdoor directional signage in and out of the resort's property. "There are over 30,000 sign companies in the United States. We are actually in the top 100 sign companies in the country offering complete signage solutions for our projects."

Director of Design & Production Manager, Kim McGinnis, and VP & General Manager, Jeff Croskey, shared with Belcher what goes into fabrication of DOT Signs and LED Illuminated Signs. McGinnis explained, "DOT signs are aluminum construction with reflective graphics made in our vinyl shop." Like all of Creative Sign Designs' Exterior Signage and Interior Signage product lines, both DOT Signs and LED Illuminated Signs are fabricated in-house. "We fabricate small and large projects in-house, in compliance with green standards. Our LED Illuminated Signage is completely green, and that's important to our clients," states Croskey.

Kelly Crandall, Director of Sales and Co-Owner, agrees with Croskey's statement: "We are currently working on a rebranding project for the YMCA. More recently, we have focused on going green." In addition, Creative Sign Designs recently invested in new machinery for the design and fabrication aspects of their tailored signage project process. "The interior signs for the project require raised copy, tactile Braille, and color contrast to comply with ADA standards. The engraver drops in the Braille beads for us. We used to fabricate our ADA signage by hand," she explained.

To view the complete video, please visit our video gallery at http://www.creativesigndesigns.com/photo-gallery/video-gallery.aspx.

About Creative Sign Designs
Creative Sign Designs, with headquarters in Tampa, specializes in turnkey architectural signage solutions. Creative Sign Designs provides consultation, design, fabrication, and installation services for a full line of interior and exterior sign products As the leader in architectural sign solutions, Creative Sign Designs is capable of successfully managing local, regional, and national projects. For more information, visit http://www.CreativeSignDesigns.com or call 1-877-818-7180.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

New signs add new architectural features to downtown Tampa’s skyline

Tampa, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/17/2010 -- The David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts officially revealed its new name with bold new signage Monday evening provided by Creative Sign Designs, a national leader in architectural sign solutions. The Tampa-based sign company teamed up with architect John Toppe of Toppe Consultants, Inc. and Lorrin Shepard, senior vice president and chief operational officer of the Straz Center to consult, design, fabricate and install the custom signs.

"The new exterior signs not only make a bold new statement for the Straz Center, but add new architectural features in the downtown Tampa Skyline. To give you an idea of the magnitude of this project, it took 100 gallons of paint, 33,000 pounds (over 16 tons) of aluminum that end-to-end would reach a distance of 3 miles and enough LEDs to light up a one-mile stretch of road," said Jamie Harden, president and CEO of Creative Sign Designs. "A team of very talented individuals devoted more than 20,000 hours to the project during the fabrication process in order to successfully meet the project's completion date."

Creative Sign Designs provided all custom business signs for the rebranding project, including four sets of illuminated channel letters and stars on two different elevations of the performing arts center, and a new, 16 mm full-color Daktronics LED message board mounted on the center's covered pedestrian walkway.

"Our new exterior signage has really become a beacon for us. Our new name and our new look will change our downtown skyline forever. It will serve as a welcoming symbol for our growing cultural arts district and help us celebrate the arts in our wonderful community," said Judith Lisi, president and CEO of the Straz Center.

Other organizations included in the cultural arts district are the Glazers Children's Museum, Tampa Museum of Art and Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. Creative Sign Designs provided the signage for all of these as well. The addition of the Straz Center signs completes the District.

Details of the Straz Center project include two sets of high-profile channel letters that are curved and built on a radius, with the furthest point extending over 5 feet from the southeast corner of the performing arts center. Each set has two curved frames measuring 30 inches tall by 50 feet long, an architectural feature allowing for enhanced visibility and dramatic effect. Mounted to the frames are standard channel letters reading "FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS" (15 inches tall) and "STRAZ CENTER" (5 feet tall), face lit with pan-formed acrylic faces and reverse lit and mounted on aluminum backer panels. Centered between both sets of curved channel letters are 3 prism-style formed face stars (10 feet, 8 feet, and 6 feet) illuminated with RGB LED's, an impressive focal point for the center's main entrance. Adjacent to the southeast corner of the facility stands a majestic 30 foot-tall, 7.5 foot-high Daktronics GalaxiPro series electronic message sign, capable of 1-6 separate videos at once.

The other two sets of company signs hang on the northwest corner of the Straz Center, overlooking I-4 and the Hillsborough River, and measure 12.5 feet high and 90 feet long. Flat-mounted flush against the building wall are standard channel letters reading "FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS" (24 inches tall) and "STRAZ CENTER" (7.5 feet tall), face lit with pan-formed acrylic faces and reverse lit and mounted on aluminum backer panels. Three prism-style formed face stars (16 feet, 13 feet, and 10 feet) illuminated with RGB LED's, accompany the channel letters and compliment the smaller curved sets.

The Straz Center is the leading performing arts center in the southeastern United States, and is the third largest performing arts center in the nation.

About Creative Sign Designs:
Creative Sign Designs, with headquarters in Tampa, FL, specializes in turnkey architectural signage solutions. Creative Sign Designs provides consultation, design, fabrication, and installation services for a full line of interior and exterior sign products. As the leader in architectural sign solutions, Creative Sign Designs is capable of successfully managing local, regional, and national projects. For more information, visit http://www.CreativeSignDesigns.com or call 1-877-818-7180.

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