Porterdale continued its quest towards becoming a Better Hometown Monday as officials unveiled a new logo at the monthly city council meeting.

The new logo, designed by THP Graphics Group in Conyers, showcases the Porterdale Mill Lofts and focuses on the Porterdale Village.

THP Group president and CEO Jefferson Riley and his daughter Krista presented Mayor Bobby Hamby with the new logo which the city plans to use for its signage.

"We'll probably start using the logo on letterhead first," City Manager Tom Fox said. "Eventually we'll put it on new signs throughout the city. But for now we'll start there."

The logo could have cost the city between $4,000 and $6,000 or as high as $25,000 if purchased in Atlanta. Instead Riley's company donated their services after meeting with the mayor and seeing the improvements Porterdale has made over the past year.

 "About a year ago my daughter asked if I would get involved in the community in some way," he said. "I talked to Mayor Hamby and he asked me if one of my companies would consider designing a logo."

Riley said the artist who designed the logo has also done work for the Atlanta Hawks, CNN and other well known companies around Atlanta.

 Krista and her husband operated the Vintage Jewelry Box, a small store near the Annex Building in downtown Porterdale.

 It was there where Krista fostered the relationship with city officials that eventually led to her father's involvement.

 "After I met Mayor Hamby and came down here and visited, I knew I wanted to help out," Riley said. "I was really honored that the city would consider me for that."

 Riley said the choice to donate his services came easily as he is a Newton County native.

 "My family history goes back to the mid 1800s in Newton County and I was raised in Covington," Riley said. "My uncle MJ Piper was one of the managers in the mill and my grandfather was the official time keeper, so I have some roots here."

The logo is vibrant and incorporates the river. Fowler and the city have been working with council members to increase Porterdale's visibility and the new logo is a big step in that direction.

 "I think it's unbelievable that he donated the sign to us and the cost would have been out of reach for us to do this with our budget," Councilwoman Arline Chapman said. It's an excellent logo and speaks to what Porterdale is striving to be."