Four hundred and forty-six women and men serving the Emergency Services Department, Volunteer Fire Departments, Police Departments, Sheriff’s Office, and the State Police, Easton Barracks will receive a well-deserved “thank you” for the services they provide. Through the generosity of Paul and Joanne Prager, Bluepoint Hospitality Group will give Talbot County First Responders a $100 gift card to spend at any business in downtown Easton registered with the Downtown Gift card program through Easton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC).
The cards, which will be redeemable between 6/14 – 6/27/21, will also benefit the merchants from the downtown area, who were impacted by the closures during the pandemic last year. Says Mark Greene, owner of Sailor Women’s Clothing Store in Easton: “Bluepoint Hospitality’s recognition of our local first responders with a Downtown Easton gift card will have a cyclical effect within our community. This gift will infuse much-needed economic recovery into our Downtown merchants & restaurants. These businesses also support our community by sponsoring local civic events, non-profits, schools, and the like. This impactful program is a win-win for everyone involved.”
The Downtown Gift Card program was introduced last year by EEDC as a way to bring business to the downtown area. Studies have shown that local independent retailers recirculate 47% of their revenue back into the community, vs.14% of the national chains’ revenue. More dramatically, restaurants recirculate 73% of their revenue back into the community versus 30% for national chains.
EEDC’s Director, Tracy Ward, said: “We were proud to be able to assist in this generous gift to our first responders by providing the technology platform that has enabled over 50 of our Main Street businesses to participate in the program. Through acts like this, we bring our “buy local” intentions to life, and the community wins.
The cards were distributed to the First Responders by the respective department heads from Easton, St. Michaels, Tilghman Island, Cordova, Trappe, and Oxford.
Allie McGuckian, Bluepoint Hospitality’s Director of Marketing and Public Relations, says, “Ultimately, we would like to see this program become an annual tradition in recognition of our emergency response teams. The more businesses that participate, the better!”
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