FACT gets two new advertising jingles
Fayette Area Coordinated Transportation (FACT) will head into the new year with two new advertising jingles.
The Fayette County commissioners approved contracts with Clay Taylor of Fayette-based Orchard Camp Studios and Hugh Kirkpatrick, who has local ties, for complete composition, recording and production of two new FACT jingles at a total cost of $4,000.
FACT Director Rudy Dutko said both producers were recommended to him, following an extensive, months-long search for the right fit.
鈥淭hough many have come to recognize and love the existing jingle that we have had for 20 years, it was time to freshen it up. Both (Taylor and Kirkpatrick) were excited to work with us and both submitted sample jingles. Both jingles were good, and the commissioners were torn between the two,鈥� Dutko said. 鈥淚t was then suggested that nothing prevented us from using both, since the cost for the two was more than reasonable. Thus, we have two jingles that we will be using moving forward, and the old jingle will be discontinued all together.鈥�
The original FACT jingle was produced in the 1990s, following an open jingle-writing contest. Former FACT employee Jill Rush Streit鈥檚 winning submission has been played across radio stations ever since. The new jingle will also be aired throughout southwestern Pennsylvania on multiple stations.
鈥淲hen I was hired, the commissioners charged me with many tasks, and one of them was to rebrand FACT,鈥� Dutko said. 鈥淭he new jingles and new logo will help bring a fresh look to our advertising and marketing. This is just the beginning steps for FACT to become better. We鈥檙e getting our services and message out to as many people as possible.鈥�
Earlier this year, FACT unveiled its new logo, created by West Media, which it has been steadily rolling out on its bus fleet, marketing materials and more. The organization also launched a social media campaign on its rebranded Facebook page. Additionally, Dutko said, FACT employees have been attending community events, performing outreach to groups and citizens.
鈥淚nternally, we鈥檙e encouraging our staff to undergo regular training so that we may better serve the public and better our own approach to public transportation,鈥� Dutko said. 鈥淭his rebranding is not an overnight process, and it鈥檚 not a one-and-done deal. This must be an ongoing approach that we strive to better ourselves.
One more change coming to FACT this year is a modified seasonal schedule, which will allow bus drivers to spend more time with their families for the holidays. FACT鈥檚 regular Sunday routes will end early on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, and New Year鈥檚 Eve, Dec. 31.
On both dates, the last bus will stop at the Uniontown Transfer Center at 3:30 p.m. The bus will proceed to its normal Hopwood stops, before ending up at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa. If passengers at Nemacolin need transit back to Uniontown, FACT will accommodate them.
For more information, visit www.FACTbus.com or the Fayette Area Coordinated Transportation page at www.FayetteCountyPA.org.
The first of FACT鈥檚 two new jingles is available for preview now at www.Facebook.com/FayetteCoFACT.