Columbia County, OR-      Keep it Local Columbia County’s effort to promote shopping local countywide for Christmas worked!  Committee members built on the Clatskanie Chamber of Commerce’s already successful “Catch the Holiday Spirit Cards” Campaign, bringing shoppers to participating businesses to promote shop local for the Holiday Season from Nov 19th- Dec 28th.  Forty-two businesses from across Columbia County participated in the “Spirit Card” Campaign.  Shoppers were asked to bring in a “Spirit Card” similar to a coffee punch card/rewards card to get stamped for each $10.00 spent at a participating “Spirit Card” businesses across Columbia County.  Completed “Spirit Cards” were turned in December 28^th  from each participating city and brought to the local Wauna Federal Credit Union Branches in Clatskanie, Vernonia, Scappoose & St. Helens for the $50.00 Gift Card Drawing.  The Rainier drawing was held at the City of Rainier by a Margaret Macgruder, Keep it Local Columbia County, Volunteer.   Wauna donated $700 worth of prizes which were $50.00 Gift Cards, 3 were drawn per city to promote shopping locally.    Other donations from Sunshine Pizza, El Tapatio, SHEDCO (St Helens Economic Development Cooperation) & All About Pets, LLC helped provide prizes to 12 people from across Columbia County.  Susan Reynolds from St. Helens won the countywide drawing on Jan 4th, 2016 which was $100.00, Gift Card.  In the campaigns 1st year, 130 “Spirit Cards” valued at $200 each were turned in for the chance to win.  Natasha Parvey, Director, said “130 Spirit Cards was a great turnout for participating shoppers for the first year.  We can track $26,000 spent locally between five towns in our county.  The partnerships with the local newspaper and social media posts shared by businesses helped the new website get quite a bit of exposure for all local businesses as it had over 12,000 views in last ninety days.   This is key as we grow the FREE-Online Directory to help connect Columbia County business community.”

Thanks to all who shopped and participated to #keepitlocalcc.com

Author: Keep It Local Admin