Recognizing the need to sustain and stimulate the local economy, the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance developed a program to both support businesses and incentivize customers to spend more money locally.

Earlier this month, the Growth Alliance introduced the Love Local gift card program.

It’s a program where individuals can purchase a $35 gift card to a member business of their choice for a price of only $25.

The additional $10 for consumers is made possible through the following sponsors: Availa Bank, Citizens Community Credit Union, GreenState Credit Union and Peoples Credit Union.

The cards have to be used at just one participating business.

“You have to pick one business where you want to spend it,” said Lydia Schuur, communications specialist for the Growth Alliance. “Participating businesses are listed on the website. We email you a receipt and that acts as your gift card. We include the business in that email, so they can track who purchases gift cards as well.”

Only 25 gift cards will be sold each week through Aug. 7. The cards are sold through the Growth Alliance’s website. There’s a limit of one card per week, per individual.

The cards will expire Dec. 31.

“This week we sold out in just over an hour,” Schuur said. “This is our third week and it was going to be a four-week long program, but then we had another sponsor added, so we are extending it to five weeks.”

Schuur credited Jill Nelson, community development director at the Growth Alliance, for generating the idea.

“She had been working on a way to help local businesses who have been impacted by COVID-19,” Schuur said. “This was her idea to help them. We reached out to our member businesses and gave them all the details and they could choose to participate if they wanted to.”

Twenty-five businesses are participating. So far, Fareway, Mineral City Mill & Grill, Olde Boston’s Restaurant and Pub, Sports Page and ShinyTop Brewing have been the most popular, Schuur said.

Lily Hemrick, service manager at Olde Boston’s Restaurant and Pub, said adjusting to the pandemic has been difficult.

“It’s been difficult, but we try to make all of our customers as comfortable as possible when they come in,” Hemrick said.

She has noticed an uptick in customers coming in and getting a little more for their dollar using the gift card program.

Michael Payne, owner/manager of Olde Boston’s, appreciates the sponsors who helped make the gift card a reality.

“It’s a great deal for the community,” Payne said. “I’m happy those sponsors stepped up. It’s been a nice boost for not just us but all of the participating businesses.”

Having to shut down dine-in operations for a period of time earlier in the spring hampered business.

“It was a slow, very slow start during the pandemic,” Payne said. “We made adjustments quickly with delivery and DoorDash and making sure we are giving the best possible customer service and trying to keep everything a clean and safe environment.”

Schuur said local businesses are often giving so much to make the community better that it’s a nice opportunity to give back to them.

“It’s important to support all local businesses and those that have been adversely impacted by COVID-19,” Schuur said. “They need to see that love from the community and this program gives the community a chance to do that. These businesses help with sponsorships and give to different charity events and youth teams throughout the year. They give back all the time, so it’s nice to be able to give back to them, too.”

The Growth Alliance’s page for the gift cards will open again on Monday at 10 a.m. Once 25 are sold, the page will be shut down for the week.