‘In the black’ plates draw 600 Tennesseans

The Millennial Debt Foundation (MDF), a Chattanooga-based advocacy group started by Weston Wamp and other millennials to encourage Congress to limit the growing U.S. debt, has attracted nearly 600 purchasers of a new all-black license plate in Tennessee designed to promote a more responsible “in the black” budgeting process in government.

Wamp and Chattanooga MDF founding board members Adam Boeselager and Nick Macco spearheaded the black license plates which were designed by the Chattanooga creative agencies Whiteboard and RVRB.

“We teamed up with state Rep. Jeremy Faison and state Sen. Todd Gardenhire to pass a specialty plate bill through the General Assembly, and with the signature of Gov. [Bill] Lee, our symbol, Tennessee’s only all-black license plate, was born,” said Tucker McClendon, a spokesman for MDF. “But the plate is only the symbol. In the Black was envisioned as a community of Tennesseans who believe less is more, in government and in everyday life.”

The license plates were an outgrowth of one of the MDF regional “Stewardship Series” events two years ago with current and former Govs. Phil Bredesen, Bill Haslam and Bill Lee, who each talked about how Tennessee’s state government balances its annual budget while the federal government continues to run deficits.

The black license plates are among nearly 100 such specialized license plates sold at premium prices in Tennessee to help raise funds for various causes. To be produced by the state, 1,000 pre-orders must be received before the licenses are manufactured.