Nashville Downtown Partnership Launches Gift Card Program To Boost Downtown Merchants
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Downtown merchants will soon be enjoying a boost from their neighbors with the creation of the “Downtown Dollars” campaign, the Nashville Downtown Partnership announced today.
The Partnership is making “Downtown Dollars” e-gift cards available for purchase, redeemable only at participating downtown businesses. With nearly 75% of downtown merchants proudly locally owned, the Partnership sees this as a uniquely targeted boost to one of Nashville’s most local economies.
“The Nashville Downtown Partnership is always looking for innovative ways to spur business in our downtown core, and never have those efforts been more crucial than they are right now,” said Sean Henry, Downtown Partnership board chair and Nashville Predators president/CEO. “With added incentives sponsored by participating companies, the new “Downtown Dollars” program will stimulate businesses in the heart of Nashville and support hundreds of local shops and restaurants in our city.”
The corporate community is backing this program through sponsorships to amplify the impact of “Downtown Dollars.” Early funding for the program came after the Partnership decided to rethink its annual awards luncheon, usually held in early fall.
“Rather than holding our traditional luncheon, we looked for a way that downtown residents, businesses and workers could help deliver an extra boost to downtown,” NDP President and CEO Tom Turner said. “We leaned into the great relationships we have with the downtown corporate community and asked them to pivot with us. The response was overwhelmingly positive.”
The Downtown Partnership has raised $110,000 in sponsorships to date, which will amplify and expedite spending at downtown cash registers by funding the distribution of giveaways and adding bonus dollars to e-card purchases. Partnership staff are currently working to maximize an anonymous $20,000 challenge grant, matching additional sponsorships. The Partnership also encourages employers to utilize the “Downtown Dollars” program for employee or client appreciation gifts. Businesses do not need to be located downtown to participate as a sponsor or to purchase e-gift cards for corporate use.
The program begins Sept. 1, in coordination with the city’s additional reopening leniencies, thanks to the city’s hard-earned progress toward minimizing the spread of the virus. “Downtown Dollars” are redeemable only at participating vendors, all of which must be located downtown. The area covers nearly 2 square miles, constituting the inside-I-40 loop with Jefferson Street as the north border and the Cumberland River as the east border.
The Partnership is making the cards available in partnership with Yiftee, a California e-card company.
Downtown Dollars is part of a bigger initiative called “Downtown Safe + Strong,” a recovery-focused campaign for the city’s urban core. For downtown businesses, the campaign conveys a sense of solidarity, support and pride as the business community works together to reopen safely.
“Downtown Dollars” will be available for purchase beginning Sept. 1, 2020, via the Nashville Downtown Partnership’s website.
For more information about Downtown Safe + Strong or Downtown Dollars, including e-gift card purchasing, sponsorship or becoming a vendor, visit nashvilledowntown.com/downtowndollars.
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About the Nashville Downtown Partnership
Organized in 1994, the Nashville Downtown Partnership is a private-sector nonprofit corporation and membership organization whose core purpose is “to make Downtown Nashville the compelling urban center in the Southeast in which to LIVE, WORK, PLAY and INVEST.” The Nashville Downtown Partnership works to advance the downtown experience for residents, employees, businesses and visitors alike. From its Clean and Safe teams to effective collaboration with public and private leaders to identify and implement resources that serve all of downtown, the Nashville Downtown Partnership enhances Nashville’s economic vitality and manages sustainable growth. For more information, visit nashvilledowntown.com.