The Kenai City Council will consider a program to incentivize shopping local at their Jan. 6 meeting as a way to provide economic support to Kenai businesses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program, which would run from Feb. 1 to March 1 of 2021, would be similar to the Soldotna’s popular “Holding Our Own Shop Local” program, which ran from November to December of 2020 and saw more than $280,000 given out in the form of vouchers.
The program, if approved, would be called the “Shop Here All Year in Kenai.” Similar to Soldotna, the program would give $100 in coupons to people who spend $200 in Kenai businesses to be used at those businesses. The vouchers would be issued on a first-come first-served basis and would have to be spent by March 30, 2021.
As with Soldotna’s program, shoppers will be able to submit up to 10 receipts totaling at least $200 in discretionary purchases either online or in person to the Kenai Chamber of Commerce. Discretionary purchases include things such as clothing, art and tools, among others. Non-discretionary purchases include things like groceries, firewood and medical bills, among others.
Businesses interested in participating must be located in Kenai City limits, must have been in existence with a valid state business license as of Jan. 1, 2021, must be current in sales tax registration with the borough and must not be a national chain or C corporation traded on the U.S. stock exchange.
Voucher payments would be made to businesses on a weekly basis, with new businesses being allowed to sign onto the program at any time.
According to a memo from Acting City Manager Terry Eubank to the council, the program would help provide economic support during a time of the year that is usually slow and during a “time of critical recovery” from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The city would enter into an agreement with the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center for the program, to which $115,000 would be allocated. $100,000 would be used for incentives to shoppers and $15,000 would be used for administrative costs such as marketing, supplies and materials.
The council will consider the program at their Jan. 6 meeting.
Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.
