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Paint the Town Blue Reaches New Heights
Written By: Rachel Putman
More than 100 businesses across Fort Smith, Greenwood, Van Buren, and Lavaca joined the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith this August to celebrate the start of the fall semester with the third annual “Paint the Town Blue” campaign.
The campaign encourages local businesses to show their support for students, faculty and staff returning to campus and the region by proudly displaying “Lion Pride Lives Here” signs, window clings and custom banners. The university delivered materials directly to participating businesses, spotlighting many on social media.
"JAM Mart is proud to participate in the Paint the Town Blue campaign,” said Brad Arterbury of JAM Mart. "Most importantly, UAFS is a vital part of the River Valley and is a cornerstone of Fort Smith. We enjoy being able to partner with the Lions in athletics and love being the 'go to convenience store' for the students, staff, and faculty!"
This year marked a milestone for the initiative, with participation exceeding a hundred locations for the first time. UAFS staff reported increasing excitement from business owners, many of whom now look forward to the updated designs and the energy that students bring to the region.
"We've heard stories from proud alumni, shared smiles with current students and their parents, and been buoyed by the love our community has for their university,” said Chris Kelly, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Marketing. “This is year three and it's really catching on. Business owners this year have loved the new design of the campaign almost as much as they love the energy our students bring to the region.
Paint the Town Blue launched in 2022 to complement the university’s brand relaunch and celebrate the university’s growing presence in the River Valley.