Organizers of a program designed to help promote Lee County businesses during the pandemic said it proved highly successful.
Buy Lee County allowed people to buy $30 of Chamber Checks or Keokuk Kash for just $20. Those certificates could be redeemed only at locally owned businesses.
The Lee County Economic Development Group sold a round of certificates once a month from May through August. The organization said the first round sold out in two days, the second round took just one day, the third round sold out in three hours, and the fourth round got snapped up in less than 30 minutes.
“We were very excited to see on the fourth round that we had people lining out the door at the Chamber offices and our phone ringing off the hook as soon as it opened,” said Dana Millard, Economic Development Project Director for the LCEDG.
“It’s been a very successful program, very well-received by the community.”
She said around 240 Lee County businesses accept the certificates. They include restaurants and retailers.
“This program helped open eyes about what actually is available in Lee County,” Millard said.
The LCEDG reported Buy Lee County pumped more than $60,000 into the local economy. The LCEDG, Keokuk Chamber and Economic Development, and the Fort Madison Chamber funded the program.
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