[StBernard] Christmas Cash Back program in St. Bernard!

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard Christmas Cash Back Program 

Businesses needed to participate to encourage shoppers to stay local 

 

St. Bernard Parish President Craig P. Taffaro Jr. and St. Bernard Economic
Development Commission Director Rebecca Martin are appealing to all St.
Bernard business owners to participate in a new program called the St.
Bernard Christmas Cash Back Program.

 

"First and foremost, thank you for your contribution to the economy of St.
Bernard Parish," Taffaro said.  "It means great deal to the recovery and
growth of St. Bernard to have entrepreneurs such as you involved.

 

"In an effort to continue to promote local holiday shopping in St. Bernard
and to provide assistance in keeping our tax dollars home and to encourage
our neighbors to shop with us in St. Bernard, we in parish government and
the economic development community are sponsoring the first annual Christmas
Cash Back program," he said.  "It's a fairly simple program that we think
could help us encourage local support of our business, especially during
this holiday shopping season."

 

Here is how it works:  Each participating retail business contributes $50 to
the St. Bernard Parish Economic Development Foundation, a non-profit arm of
the Economic Development Commission.  A complete record is kept of all
contributing businesses and a report at the conclusion of the program will
be provided.  Shoppers are encouraged to shop in St. Bernard and keep any
receipts from retailers between November 28, 2008 and December 21, 2008.
For every $100 in retail receipts, each shopper will be given a raffle
ticket.  We will host a Christmas Business gathering on Monday, December 22,
2008 at the Fred Sigur Civic Center Ballroom where shoppers will be able to
present their receipts for tickets between 5 and 6 p.m. with the drawings
starting at 6:30 p.m.  The St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation is
contributing $1,000 dollars to the program from a sponsorship from President
Taffaro. The goal is to raffle several levels of Christmas Cash Back
rewards.  Businesses that wish to donate items in lieu of cash can do so,
but the emphasis is on a cash back reward program.

 

Remember the idea is to promote local shopping and as an incentive, shoppers
may be able to win a little extra Christmas cash - the more the shoppers
spend the better their chances on winning and the better supported our local
businesses will be.

 

If you are willing to participate please send a check with a note that it is
for the Christmas Cash Back program to St. Bernard Economic Development
Foundation, 8201 W. Judge Perez Dr., Chalmette, LA 70043 or call 278-4227
for more information.  

 

 

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