Main Street Dollars Program To Encourage Shopping Local In Trumbull

Information via the town of Trumbull

TRUMBULL, CT — For the fourth year, Trumbull will offer Main Street Dollars certificates to Trumbull residents to be used from Dec. 4, 2024 to Jan. 31, 2025.

According to a news release provided by the town, the program is designed to promote locally run businesses that offer gift, entertainment or personal wellness options for families to take advantage of during the holidays and winter months.

The Main Street Dollars program will provide a minimum of 250 certificates to Trumbull residents to spend from Dec. 4, 2024 to Jan. 31, 2025.

This year each certificate is worth $15 dollars, and a customer must spend a minimum of $30 dollars at one of the participating businesses to apply the certificate.

Certificates can be applied toward any services, goods or merchandise at Plasko’s Farm, Pure Poetry, Next Chapter Bookstore, City Line Florist, X-periment VR, and Natural U, which is a new business in the Trumbull Mall, according to the town.

Up to two certificates per household will be offered this year. Residents can pick up certificates at the Economic and Community Development Office at Trumbull Town Hall, or at the Trumbull Senior Center on Priscilla Place, according to the town.

"I want to encourage everyone to visit our shops and buy local as often as possible this holiday season and every day," First Selectman Vicki Tesoro said in a news release. "Buying local keeps money in our economy to generate even more benefits to our community. We are excited to announce our fourth year of the Main Street Dollars Program, supporting six of our local businesses. The first three years of the program facilitated over $25,500 in sales at participating businesses. We thank the Trumbull Rotary Club and the Mustard Seed Foundation for sponsoring the program again this year."

Trumbull Rotary Club President Nancy Kuhn said the rotary club is proud to be a sponsor of Main Street Dollars again this year.

"As proud members of the Trumbull community, we appreciate our small businesses and all that they do in our town," Kuhn said in a news release. "We are happy to participate in this wonderful season of giving and we wish our town leaders, businesses, and residents a happy and healthy holiday season."

Rina Bakalar, director of economic and community development, has evaluated the impact of the program each year.

"We are always looking to drive bottom line benefit to our businesses to help them to expand their customer base and profits," Bakalar said in a news release. "This year, we are increasing the amount of each certificate to $15 each to address inflation and to encourage an even higher usage rate. Approximately two-thirds of certificates issued in the past have been utilized. This is a high return rate for coupon programs, but we feel it can be even higher. We are adding three new locally operated personal care businesses and increasing promotion of the participating businesses. We hope to continue to grow this program over time and add additional businesses in the future."

This effort is part of the Trumbull Celebrates Local initiative. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of the certificates and also to visit and support other small businesses in town, according to the town.

A list of many small, locally operated businesses in town can be found here.