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OPPORTUNITIES FOR DOWNTOWN & AREA BUSINESSES

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The ³Ô¹ÏÌìÌà is proud to be part of the City of Scranton, with its campus located just adjacent to Courthouse Square. The Office of Community Relations seeks to help support the continued renaissance of the downtown and the vitality of the wider region of Northeastern Pennsylvania by sharing resources and information and by encouraging interaction between students, faculty, and staff and area businesses. 

³Ô¹ÏÌìÌÃ-Downtown Engagement Initiative
Student Spending
Discounts for Students
Share your News: Business Updates & Ads in Student Newspaper 
Community Relations’ ³Ô¹ÏÌìÌà Calendar
Local Purchasing
Downtown Map

³Ô¹ÏÌìÌÃ-Downtown Engagement Initiative

The ³Ô¹ÏÌìÌÃ-Downtown Engagement Initiative began in 2011.  These efforts have included strategic collaborations, special events and regular communications and promotions designed to raise the awareness of students, faculty, staff and parents with downtown Scranton offerings.  The activities help to familiarize the campus community with the various shopping, dining, entertainment and cultural offerings downtown and to increase their engagement in the downtown area.  

The initiative is undertaken in cooperation with community and campus partners - ³Ô¹ÏÌìÌÃ’s Small Business Development Center, Center for Student Engagement, Office of Residence Life, as well as Scranton Tomorrow and the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce.  These efforts have received recognition from both higher education and community organizations. In March 2013, the project received a Bronze Accolade Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and in May 2013 was recognized as a Partner of the Year from Scranton Tomorrow. In addition, the ³Ô¹ÏÌìÌà has presented these activities at national conferences of the International Town-Gown Association to share best practices. 

2017 Survey: Findings from a recent survey, show a steady increase in student awareness and patronage of the myriad businesses just steps from the campus. Most notably, downtown dining is a key draw for students. View a and the .

Tours: Every summer and fall, since 2011, the ³Ô¹ÏÌìÌà conducts "FAM" tours familiarizing Resident Assistants, Faculty and Staff, and other campus groups with downtown businesses, in cooperation with Scranton Tomorrow.  

Special Events: The eleventh annual Downtown Scavenger Hunt took place on Sept. 2-3, 2022 with 199 students participating. 

Leveraging Major Campus Events: During Family Weekend downtown eateries participate in the Family Table discount program.  We encourage families to during Family Weekend. 

Service: ³Ô¹ÏÌìÌà student government, alumni and the Office of Community Relations work with Scranton Tomorrow to beautify the planters in downtown Scranton as part of Scranton Tomorrow's "Adopt-a-Planter" initiative, and as a component of the ³Ô¹ÏÌìÌÃ's semi-annual "Street Sweep".  Around 100 students and alumni plant flowers in over 75 planters.  In the 2013-2014 academic year, the ³Ô¹ÏÌìÌà and community partners won a $1,000 grant from Pennsylvania American Water's Community Investment Challenge to support the .  The next event is planned for April 15, 2018. 

Meetings with Businesses: Downtown businesses and organizations gather with ³Ô¹ÏÌìÌà representatives to discuss “³Ô¹ÏÌìÌÃ-Downtown Engagement" to review past efforts and look ahead to new opportunities for collaboration.  The Office of Community Relations first launched efforts to increase connections with downtown businesses and cultural venues in May, 2011 and holds an annual meeting to discuss new opportunities. .      

Below find several additional links highlighting this initiative from its start in 2011.  

Downtown businesses interested in participating in these types of initiatives can contact community@scranton.edu or call 570-941-4419.  

Student Spending

For the past several years, the ³Ô¹ÏÌìÌÃ, together with the other colleges in Lackawanna County, have surveyed their students on their weekly spending. In 2017, ³Ô¹ÏÌìÌà students reported spending more than $1.2 million each month in a number of categories (e.g. shopping, dining, entertainment, rent, utilities, groceries, etc.).  Highlights of the 2017 survey results can be viewed and 2011 student spending survey can be viewed here.

Discounts for Students

Downtown businesses can provide 10% discounts to ³Ô¹ÏÌìÌà students (and students at the other eight colleges in Lackawanna County) through the “Show It, Save It” program, coordinated by Scranton Tomorrow.  Students receive the discount by simply showing their college ID and businesses can post a decal in their window to indicate their participation in the program. 

View a special Show it, Save it Map listing the current businesses in the program. Contact Scranton Tomorrow to be added to this list at 570-963-1575 or leslie@scrantontomorrow.org. 

Share your News: Business Updates & Ads in Student Newspaper

Business Updates: The ³Ô¹ÏÌìÌà Office of Community Relations shares business news, special discounts and events with the campus community through specialized business and community alerts. To be included in the business update, please send an email to community@scranton.edu with the subject line, “Business Update”.  All submissions are subject to ³Ô¹ÏÌìÌà approval and should be submitted by the last Thursday of each month for inclusion in the first Royal News of the month.  

Advertising in the Student Newspaper: The Aquinas is a great way to spread the word among ³Ô¹ÏÌìÌà students.  Advertising is not free; prices vary.  Contact the Advertising Manager at AquinasAdvertising@gmail.com for information on rates and available ad space.  

Local Purchasing

The ³Ô¹ÏÌìÌà makes 42% of its purchasing through local merchants and vendors in Northeastern Pennsylvania and always considers purchasing locally where possible.   

If you are a local or area business interested in working with the ³Ô¹ÏÌìÌÃ, please send information about your firm, identify the products and services you provide, list a contact person, and provide references to purchasing@scranton.edu or call the ³Ô¹ÏÌìÌÃ’s Purchasing Department at (570) 941-6214.

Downtown Map

The ³Ô¹ÏÌìÌà makes available a special downtown Scranton map to students (current and prospective), faculty, staff and visitors to campus.  The map was created in collaboration with Scranton Tomorrow and includes downtown businesses, restaurants, places of worship and entertainment opportunities.  If you are a downtown business or venue not listed on the map, and would like to be added, please contact community@scranton.edu or call 941-4419.

We want to hear from you!  Questions? Contact the Office of Community Relations at 570-941-4419 or community@scranton.edu.
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