Evolve Grand Forks' Support Small-Love Local program boosts local businesses
May 16—A campaign encouraging people to support local businesses is having an impact on participating Grand Forks establishments.
The Support Small-Love Local program, led by Evolve Grand Forks, got off the ground in March with an awareness campaign and call to support local businesses. The campaign includes a gift card program that gives shoppers extra money at some stores, and sales and use of the cards has increased since the program's inception.
"I'm super excited as the executive director of Evolve Grand Forks, to be able to rally the small businesses and startups in our community around an effort that helps support our neighbors and business owners, after such a detrimental global pandemic," said Maggie Smith.
The Support Small-Love Local program was made possible through a $40,000 grant from Knight Foundation Donor-Advised Fund at the Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks, and Region. The city of Grand Forks matched that grant for extra economic impact.
The two-fold program seeks to raise consumer awareness about how shopping locally affects the community, how people can get involved with the program and by highlighting locally-owned businesses around the community.
"My hopes are we can encourage our consumers in this town to support our small and local businesses, because they're what keep this town a fun, vibrant and desirable community that we want to live, work and play in," Smith said.
The second part of the campaign is a gift card that can be used at participating merchants to encourage consumers to support Grand Forks' locally-owned businesses. These gift cards are incentivized with free money that is awarded based on the amount purchased. The bonus bucks are made possible through Grand Forks' contribution to the program.
For every $25 gift card purchased, shoppers get $10 for free. For every $50 gift card bought, $20 is added. The program tops out with $40 added to every $100 gift card purchase. At present, 356 gift cards have been purchased since March 1 with 256 of them having been sold in the past 30 days. Forty-six small, locally-owned businesses around the city are participating in the program. Sales of the cards have generated $15,350 in circulation within the community, and $36,455 bonus bucks still up for grabs.
The gift cards can be purchased online at evolvegf.com. They can be purchased either for direct consumer use, or can be gifted to others. The cards are also sold in bulk, to be used as gifts for co-workers, or can be given away as prizes. Participating businesses range from bars and restaurants to clothing and shoe stores, among others. The full list of businesses can be found on the website.
Evolve Grand Forks is a nonprofit organization that oversees the 701 Coworking space, and offers entrepreneur programs and affordable office space for start-ups in the region.
