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Homecoming: Locals ‘Paint the Town Red’ for UL homecoming – It’s a red kind of day- Lowry’s featuredHomecoming: Locals ‘Paint the Town Red’ for UL homecoming – It’s a red kind of day- Lowry’s featured
Kris Wartelle, Daily Advertiser, Oct. 3, 2012
Lowry’s Printing went all out for UL’s "Paint the Town Red" homecoming-week celebration in Lafayette/Leslie Westbrook, The Advertiser
Betty Lowry of Lowry’s Printing and Copying in Lafayette, is about as big a fan of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette as you can be.
Lowry graduated from UL in 1954 and has been an active alumna for nearly 58 years. She and her late husband started Lowry’s Printing in 1981 and have been avid supporters of the university, especially during homecoming week.
"UL has been good to us," said Lowry. "My husband played football there, our kids went there, because we believe in UL."Lowry’s is known for having some of the best exterior decorations during UL’s Paint the Town Red contest. In fact, Lowry says the company has won the category almost every year they have participated.
"We enjoy it," Lowry said. "We get carried away with it. It’s a good thing it comes to an end because we would just keep on going!"Driving around Lafayette, it’s easy to spot the bright red signs and outdoor décor. In all, some 24 Lafayette businesses and 12 schools competed in the homecoming decorations contest. The categories included prizes for Interior Decoration, Exterior Decoration, Small Organization Skit, and Large Organization Skit. Local alumni and business community leaders made their way around town in RVs, visiting each location for the judging.
At Cox Communications, cheering employees decked out in red and white greeted the judges. Balloons and games filled the halls and entryways, which were decorated for the competition in the interior decorations category. Director of Operations Julie Dronet said the company won for best skit last year. As the former director of public relations for UL, she has seen firsthand how enthusiasm for the university in the business community has grown."What I’ve observed from working in a company that is so UL-oriented is that our company benefits from the spirit of the place and what the university brings to the community," said Dronet. "I think our affiliation with UL goes far beyond financial support. We enhance each other’s reputations."It’s that kind of enthusiasm for the university that has grown and translated into major dollars in the Acadiana community. To find out how much, the university prepared an economic and community impact study in 2008, which officials say is the most recent data available. The study found that UL had a total spending impact in Louisiana of more than $755 million per year. It also sustained about 7,800 nonuniversity jobs. According to UL President Joseph Savoie, UL also contributed to the economic development, construction and tourism industries in the area.
"UL Lafayette’s economic development centers were responsible for $1.2 billion in increased revenues for their clients," Savoie wrote in the report. "Its research centers reported over $51 million in revenues. UL Lafayette is a major consumer, too. It buys an amazing array of goods and services, due to the breadth of its needs. It builds multimillion-dollar facilities that require architects, construction workers and skilled laborers, as well as building materials. …
"The university attracted about 1.2 million visitors in 2008 who spent money on food, lodging and entertainment."Gregg Gothreaux, executive director of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority, said he believes those figures —- especially the spending impact of $755 million per year —- have actually increased since 2008.
"There is no doubt in my mind that it could be as much as 10 percent higher," said Gothreaux."If you look at the last four years, athletics (have become) a marketing tool for the university. And the university is not only an attraction for businesses. They are actually a partner in many of the business development activities that we do."
Lafayette City-Parish President Joey Durel said more and more people are starting to understand UL’s impact."What UL means to this area is, in my opinion, immeasurable," said Durel. "I’ve always felt if it didn’t exist, 25 percent of our jobs wouldn’t exist.
"I don’t believe people realize their own job might not exist if not for the university. Lafayette wouldn’t be the size it is today if not for the university."Betty Lowry said she gets it.
She said she is not just a business owner, but a true fan, and that has meant nothing but good things for her and her company."We get a lot of community support because we are local," she said. "But that’s not why we do it. It’s just a lot of fun for us."
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