Ark City makes cut for online TV show

Arkansas City’s long-shot odds of winning $500,000 in a TV show contest are getting stronger.

Word was received Tuesday that Ark City made the cut of 20 finalists from nearly 12,000 nominations for Small Business Revolution — Main Street, a TV show produced by the Deluxe Corporation.

Ark City Chamber CEO Paisley Howerton said on Wednesday she is excited by the news. She and her staff are looking for new ways to increase community involvement and support.

Businesses in the winning community apply for part of the $500,000, Howerton said. This is fourth season of the contest; season 3 winner was Alton, Ill. The series airs on smallbusinessrevolution.org, Hulu and YouTube, according to press release from Deluxe Corporation.

Howerton said the contest’s website encouraged the use of social media to get the word out and build support. The Ark City Ask and Answered Facebook page was a major tool used to encourage people to visit the show’s website and vote for Ark City, she added.

After learning that enough votes had been cast to attract the attention of show officials, a group of Ark City citizens gathered in the downtown area last month to take part in a promotional video.