Help us choose the community mark/logo that best represents the City of Milpitas.

Milpitas has been experiencing tremendous growth and, according to the US Census, was recently ranked the second fastest growing city in the state and the eighth fastest growing city in the nation. With this fast pace of growth come significant changes in demographics as the City welcomes new members to the community while nurturing those who have resided here for decades. Milpitas prides itself on accomplishing the community’s vision of preserving a close-knit community and rich cultural diversity as it moves with innovation into the future.

This transformational time in the City’s history will be reflected in several visioning and strategic efforts underway such as the recent Council approved General Plan and Economic Development Strategy and the forthcoming Recreation and Parks Master Plan, Trail, Bike, and Pedestrian Master Plan, and major updates to Transit Area Specific Plan (Milpitas Metro) and Mid-Town Specific Plan (Milpitas Gateway/Main Street). With these long-term planning efforts and place-making initiatives completed and underway, it is timely to modernize and strengthen the City’s brand. 

In 2019, a Community Identification and Brand Study was carried out to understand the unique attributes and impressions of the City as seen through the lens of various groups to develop a strong and modernized brand to attract economic development, guide placemaking in the City, and complement several other long-term planning initiatives and their implementation. The Study also provides an essential foundation for understanding the history, values, unique attributes, and overall personality of Milpitas. All of these elements fit together to create the City’s brand. 

The consultant team-initiated Phase 1 of the Brand Study in 2019 and engaged various stakeholders and target audiences through focus group discussions, online surveys, and community meetings. Based on stakeholder input and the consultant team’s research, the following key themes rose to the top:

1. Diversity was the top word used to reflect Milpitas. Milpitas includes a diverse mix of races, cultures, ages, and backgrounds and these different groups are not separated into “silos”; rather, they all live, work, and recreate together. This spirit of integration and inclusiveness has been part of this community since its earliest days.
2. Milpitas is also a very Friendly community. The people of Milpitas are very friendly, down-to-earth, and welcoming.
3. Milpitas has always been a Crossroads. Main Street was once the main connecting road between Oakland and San Jose. The City is now located between two major freeways (I-680 and I-880) and between two major cities (San Jose and Fremont) in the heart of Silicon Valley. And, the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) extension to Milpitas will provide a vital new connection between the South Bay, San Francisco, and East Bay. Milpitas is a place where people literally and figuratively come together.

In addition to these three top themes, the consultant also heard from the stakeholders that this is an exciting time of opportunity for Milpitas and that the history of the origins of the City is strongly woven into its fabric.

The consultant began work on Phase II of the Study in November 2020 and explored numerous strategic designs for community marks/logos. Based on initial feedback through a number of informal focus groups, THREE community mark/logo signatures have been identified as top contenders. We would like to ask for your input in selecting the community mark that will best represent the City of Milpitas. Please take note that we are NOT replacing the City seal. The official seal of the City of Milpitas is a permanent symbol of the City and will be retained. The new community mark/logo is an additional City mark, which will be used for economic development and placemaking initiatives.