The Berthoud Area Chamber of Commerce, under the leadership of Executive Director Melissa Feldbush, is working to drum up support for Berthoud businesses with a pair of new programs – Berthoud Bucks and the Cash Dash.

The Berthoud Bucks program is offering individuals a cash match of $5, $10, or $25 for monies spent at local businesses to spend further at local businesses. Feldbush created a specific account for this program and 100% of donations go directly back into local business.

The program is simple – a person spends say, $10, at one of Berthoud’s coffee shops, they then bring their receipt to the Chamber office or submit it online and the Chamber will then cut the individual a Berthoud Bucks check for $10 for the local business of their choice, says one of the local craft breweries. The hope is that people will spend locally and receive the incentive of “free” money to spend locally again.

“We are matching the money you spend locally for you to spend wherever you would like,” Feldbush said. “The whole reason it’s a matching campaign is we are trying to start encouraging people to spend locally and then we will reward them.”

The Chamber is actively seeking donations of any amount from individuals and businesses to fund the Berthoud Bucks program. At Tuesday night’s meeting of the Berthoud Board of Trustees, Feldbush presented information on the Berthoud Bucks program to the board and asked if the town would be willing to contribute. The Trustees seemed largely receptive to the idea and Town Administrator Chris Kirk was also supportive saying, “If we want to redirect some funds to the Chamber, I think that’s something we can do. I think a $5,000 initial contribution would make sense.”

The Cash Dash program was just announced this week and aims to get a gathering of people to arrive at a local business and spend in a short window of time. The first Cash Dash will be at The Rancher’s Wife July 3 from noon to 2 p.m. The first 20 shoppers will receive direct cash from the Chamber to spend at the store as well as be entered into a raffle for various door prizes.

Feldbush explained that incentive programs like Berthoud Bucks and the Cash Dash are effective for boosting local business support, particularly with so much growth in town. “Trying to bring all those new people to come shop locally, you can get money to shop local. We think this program has the best chance to encourage people to shop here more than just asking them to shop locally,” she said.

“If there is anyone out there that is interested in donating to this program, we are accepting donations, it goes into its own separate account and 100% of it goes directly to local businesses,” Feldbush said.

Further information these programs and information on donations to help support both can be found by contacting the Berthoud Area Chamber of Commerce at www.BerthoudColorado.com or by calling (970) 532-4200.