Downtown Business Support Initiatives announced amid COVID-19 pandemic
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Contact: Meghan Behymer | Communications + Marketing Manager
mbehymer@downtownkalamazoo.org | 269-344-0795
As policies are enacted across the state, and the Kalamazoo community takes precautions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership recognizes that Downtown businesses are preparing for major economic impact. During this unprecedented time in history, the Partnership is committed to supporting downtown businesses and has worked ceaselessly to develop a series of immediate actions, outlined below, to help put cash in the pockets of Downtown restaurants and retailers.
“Our downtown businesses are a vital component of our community, their employees are our friends, neighbors, and family. Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership is committed to supporting them during this challenging time. We’re in the first phase of assessing how these rapid developments will impact businesses, and how we can help,” Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership President Andrew Haan said. “There’s a number of ways that the community can continue to support them, through curbside pickup, online shopping, and through the newly-announced Downtown Gift Card Stimulus program, which for every $25 spent, will leverage an additional $10 for the consumer to put into the hands the businesses feeling these unprecedented impacts.”
Downtown Kalamazoo Gift Card Stimulus
The Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership has launched a gift card stimulus program to incentivize customers to support Downtown businesses by purchasing gift cards during the month of March. The Partnership will purchase gift cards for customers in the amount of $25 to the Downtown business of their choice, AND will add an additional $10 to that amount from our organization. All gift cards will be mailed directly to each customer.
The Partnership is aiming to facilitate the purchase of 1,000 gift cards in the next two weeks from businesses across Downtown. To see a list of participating downtown businesses and to purchase a gift card, please visit: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080a4baba822a1f94-downtown1
Announcing Downtown Kalamazoo Dedicated Curbside Pick-up Stations
The Partnership has partnered with the City of Kalamazoo to identify 16 dedicated curbside pick-up locations where patrons will be able to drive up, idle and await take-out and pick-up orders from Downtown restaurants and retailers. Stations are deployed throughout downtown and marked with cones.
Downtown Dollars
For the remainder of 2020, the Partnership will waive all administrative fees for businesses related to Downtown Dollars. Businesses will get 100 percent of Downtown Dollars submitted, and the Partnership will absorb all administrative costs.
Marketing & Promotion of Downtown businesses during COVID-19
The Partnership communications team is launching a series of digital media campaigns to encourage customers to support Downtown restaurants and retailers, even as policies and precautionary measures limit patrons from visiting Downtown. Campaigns will encourage audiences to order take-out, purchase gift cards, shop online, make phone orders, and tip generously, as well as highlight each Downtown business offering those services.
As an organization, the Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership recognizes the long-term effects of COVID-19 on downtown Kalamazoo businesses. The above steps are just the beginning – the Partnership will continue to work with government actors and philanthropic partners to identify impactful ways to provide direct business support.
About Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership
Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership is a private, non-profit organization that works with both the public and private sectors in preserving and enhancing the economic health of Kalamazoo’s downtown area and, in turn, the Kalamazoo community. In conjunction with its affiliate organizations, it manages a full range of activities that include capital improvement projects, business development and recruitment programs, image marketing and event planning in order to establish Downtown Kalamazoo as an accessible, diverse, green, progressive and vibrant urban center. For more information, visit downtownkalamazoo.org, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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