Sometimes, a fresh coat of paint can make a difference to a community.

But encouraging civic duty for young people, uniting communities with common goals and forging relationships between schools and their neighbors can go an even longer way.

All of these boxes were checked this past week as students from Slippery Rock University led a focus group on how Butler Township could “rebrand” itself. On Friday, the students — for whom the initiative is a capstone project — met with area residents in the Butler Township municipal building to solicit opinions on the township’s logo.

During the focus group, everyone from township commissioners to residents of neighboring communities weighed in. Participants suggested a logo that is more modern, adding that it should incorporate agriculture, industry and family to best represent the township. By the end of the semester, the participating students aim to provide the township with an understanding of how it can rebrand itself. An online survey will be posted to the township’s Facebook page this coming week.

The project is a win-win scenario.

The students involved can get college credit for taking part in the initiative, while in the process get to know residents of other communities in the county in which they attend school. It’s also a great way to get young people engaged in participating in community efforts.

Butler Township also benefits from the project by getting a free focus group to tackle the initiative, rather than having to pay someone to do it.

The students gain experience, while the township gets free services.

On top of that, the project can bridge the relations between “town and gown.” In college towns across the United States, there has often been an adversarial relationship between institutions of higher learning and the residents of the towns in which they are located.

While this might not necessarily apply to Butler County’s colleges, it’s always a great opportunity when one of the county’s schools can enable its students to become active members of the community. In the process, the school and the town’s residents can learn a little something about each other, all while united under a common goal.

We hope the efforts of the SRU students and township leaders involved in the rebranding lead to the creation of a logo that best represents Butler Township.

But just as importantly, we hope the project encourages civic engagement from local students and further collaboration between the county’s colleges and communities.