LEWISTON – The red, white and blue All-America City logo should be omnipresent at the Androscoggin Business to Business Trade Show today at the Colisee.

Lewiston officials will wear freshly screen-printed polo shirts with the logo, and a 15-foot banner hung from the Colisee’s main entrance will greet attendees.

And they won’t stop there. Look for granite signs at the city’s entrances, bumper stickers for cars and even T-shirts for babies.

“I love the idea of every baby born in either hospital going home with an ‘I was born in an All-America City’ T-shirt,” said Dottie Perham-Whittier, Lewiston’s community relations director.

Perham-Whittier was one of the 14 delegates to the National Civic League’s contest last week in Anaheim, Calif. Lewiston competed against 21 other communities, making a 20-minute presentation on three solutions to community problems.

Lewiston was one of 10 cities picked by judges as winning examples of civic engagement.

The Denver-based National Civic League claims cities that win the award enjoy a public-relations boost, leading to more business investment and tourism. Lewiston staffers met Wednesday to talk about making that happen.

Past winners agree that how the city uses the logo matters.

“The biggest thing you have to remember, it all depends on what you’re willing to put into it,” said Del Borgsdorf of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. Sarasota County took All-America City honors in 2006, and Borgsdorf has worked in other cities that won the award.

“One community literally parlayed it into a decade of general expansion,” he said. “They made sure it was everywhere, and that everybody knew just what it meant.”

Borgsdorf said the logo is also important for boosting civic pride.

Jonathan Coe, president of the Couer d’Alene (Idaho) Chamber of Commerce agreed.

“It’s a great affirmation to remind people that good things are happening at home,” Coe said. Couer d’Alene won the designation in 1990.

“I think it resulted in some people really taking a second look at what we are, both in Couer d’Alene and around northern Idaho,” Coe said.

That’s the kind of thing Lewiston delegates want. Mayor Larry Gilbert said he wants to see All-America City bumper stickers.

“I want to put one on my car and go drive around in Portland and Augusta,” he said.

City Administrator Jim Bennett has staff looking into putting decals on all city vehicles, making metal street signs carrying the logo and painting it on streets. The city plans to replace two wooden “Welcome to Lewiston” signs with granite, and officials might incorporate the logo. Lewiston police are hoping to include the logo in new badges, as well.

“But first thing, I want real estimates on how much everything will cost,” Bennett said.

The city might consider selling some merchandise to help pay for promotional materials, including All-America City rubber wristbands and shirts.

The city is planning a celebration and media event in the next few weeks to promote the designation and celebrate the win.