By Kevin J Sabo
For the Bashaw Star
The Bashaw and District Chamber of Commerce is encouraging people to shop local this holiday season by bringing back a popular program for another year.
The Chamber is launching “Bashaw Bucks” on Nov. 9, a program where purchases at participating businesses earn shoppers the chance to win one of many draws being held Fridays beginning Nov. 13 and concluding Dec. 18 with the grand prize draws.
“The chamber has run (Bashaw Bucks) for quite a few years,” said Chamber of Commerce President Dustin Hemingson. “It’s been an encouraging thing to shop local.”
While Bashaw Bucks is administered by the chamber, non-chamber businesses are able to participate as well. Members of the chamber pay $80 to participate in the program, while non-chamber businesses pay $100.
The 2020 version of the program has 18 businesses taking part. Shoppers earn stamps on a card for qualifying purchases, and when the card is full it gets put into a draw box. The draw boxes from the businesses will be taken to a central location every Friday, where a name will be drawn for $100 in Bashaw Bucks. Additionally, names that aren’t drawn are left in for chances to win in subsequent weeks.
“The winner will get a certificate that they can use through the participating businesses,” said Hemingson.
All the money put out by businesses to participate in the program is used in the draws and to reimburse participating businesses once the bucks are used.
“There’s not a huge financial benefit to the Chamber (to run the program), but there’s a huge benefit to the community for running the program,” said Hemingson. “It’s always been well received, especially in the last few years.”
The program has been running since before Hemingson became Chamber president, and many businesses have participated over the years.
“All the prominent businesses have (participated) since it started as far as I’m aware,” he said.
A full list of participating businesses can be found on the Bashaw Chamber of Commerce website, at www.enjoybashaw.com.