Red and white banners, repaved streets, brightly painted curbs, revamped community websites and washed sidewalks are all part of how Farmville’s town, community and business leaders are rolling out the red carpet for Tuesday’s U.S. Vice Presidential Debate.

While the camera’s focus and reporter’s eyes and ears will be glued to the two candidates in Longwood University’s Willett Hall on Tuesday night, before and after, the town will see thousands of first-time visitors — mainly reporters — getting their first look at Farmville.

Town Manager Gerald Spates wants that first glance to the the best one possible.

“It’s a lot of small things, but we take a lot of pride in trying to keep Farmville clean,” Spates said.

According to the veteran manager, the town has painted lamp posts, installing new bases on them downtown; purchased and put up celebratory banners; cleaned and powerwashed sidewalks; paved streets; and held an early town-wide cleanup day.

“The street paving, we probably would have done anyway,” Spates said. “It just needed to be done and the timing was pretty good. (We’re) just making it look a little better. And I think Farmville looks good anyway. Paying attention to detail … There’ll be a lot of (people) looking at Farmville.”

The town also revamped its government website and, collaborating with Prince Edward County, Hampden-Sydney College and debate host Longwood University, launched a new website for visitors, www.VisitFarmville.com. 

He said the town prepared for the event “pretty much along the same lines” as Danville, Ky., which has hosted two debates.

Last winter, the Virginia General Assembly allocated $134,000 to help Farmville with debate expenses.

Mayor David Whitus said before the debate was on anyone’s radar, he and Spates wrote letters supporting Longwood’s hosting the event.

“Since that time, the excitement and preparation has continued to build. The town has worked on many projects, from street paving, new uniforms for police and public works, signage and the overall appearance of the town. In the public safety arena, we have partnered with numerous other departments and entities to ensure a safe and orderly event,” Whitus said.

He also highlighted the town’s new websites, calling them “great tools for everyone.”

Farmville Downtown Partnership (FDP) Program Manager John Burton said businesses, along with the partnership, have been working hard to make downtown beautiful, welcoming and vibrant.

“Many projects that FDP has been working on this year were specifically slated to be complete by the debate in order to show off our town, including (the new) Farmville bistro tables and chairs, addition of bicycle parking and the new mural on the Third and Main intersection,” Burton said.

He said FDP has also been working to create a Civil Rights Walking Tour to connect Moton Museum — the site of a student-led strike by 16-year-old Barbara Rose Johns, demanding equality in education for African-Americans — with the downtown area.

Burton said he’s communicated with the chamber of commerce and Main Street organization in Danville, Ky., to find out how their debates affected them.

“We have been working with businesses downtown to provide them with patriotic decorations for storefronts and window displays. We have been working with businesses to encourage them to extend opening hours,” he said.

FDP, Farmville Area Chamber of Commerce, town of Farmville and Prince Edward County collaborated on new pole banners for downtown featuring the debate, Burton said.

In addition, Prince Edward County officials spruced up courthouse green.