Lately, we’ve been talking a lot about a vision for Coats.  What it’s like to live here. Our history. Our values. What we want for our future. 

Many of you have told us that you want to preserve Coats’s small-town character but you also want new opportunities, businesses and experiences. The Town is at an important crossroads in its history – and everyone has a say in what our future looks like. 

Introducing a Coats brand.  

Coats is a proud farming community and home of Alton Stewart, North Carolina’s first licensed aviator. We have an opportunity tell that unique story visually, and that starts with a brand that ties Coats’s past to its present and future. 

The Coats brand combines an old-fashioned barn quilt with the tagline Celebrating Earth & Sky. The color palette in red and blue reflects our community’s strong patriotism. The icons on the barn quilt invoke the Alton Stewart legacy in flight and the Town’s farming heritage. The shooting stars in the night sky allude to dreams and aspirations. The quilt design is a nod to creativity that aligns with our community and its history. 

Opportunities to grow. 

Our story isn’t just our past. Coats is growing, and we’re welcoming new residents to Town. We have an opportunity to redevelop our downtown to create gathering spaces that create a sense of place. We’re confident that new energy and creativity will lead to business opportunities that fit our vision for Coats. 

Celebrating Earth & Sky is broad enough to allow Coats to go in many different directions but focused enough to stay true to who we are. Opportunities abound for applying the brand – colorful murals and temporary arts displays, new events, collaborations with nonprofits and public agencies that align with our vision, new startups that complement existing businesses, and affiliations and memberships that strengthen our brand. 


Town seal and Town brand. 

The family coat of arms of Town founder James Thomas Coats is still the official seal of our municipal government. Our Town motto, “A peaceful place…a friendly face,” remains as well. Think of the Town seal as inward facing and the brand as outward facing. Each has its own purpose but they are both part of the identity of the Town of Coats. 

Rolling out the brand. 

We started with a soft brand rollout at the Town booth at this year’s Farmers Day. Over the next few months and into 2026, the brand will start popping up on Parks & Recreation flyers, at community events and in other applications where we can start to tell our Coats story.  

We hope you will be a champion of the brand! We’re embarking on a journey to better engage with our residents and visitors as we guide Coats into the future. Watch for more news on our Town website and follow our Facebook page to hear more about how you can be more informed and involved in this special place we call home.