The 亚洲天堂 Lake and District Chamber of Commerce has launched a new program designed to keep shopping dollars in the Lakes District.

The local gift certificate program allows companies, organizations and individual consumers to purchase gift certificates from the chamber of commerce and redeem them at 25 participating local retailers and service businesses.

The program was officially launched on Nov. 6, 2015, and now the chamber expects the number of participating businesses to grow.

Given the success of the program in neighbouring communities such as Houston and Vanderhoof, the chamber expects the gift certificate to become a standard program in the Lakes District. The chamber has committed to running the program until the end of 2016 at a minimum.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not the only tool in the 鈥榮hop local toolkit,鈥� but it鈥檚 a mighty one and we encourage maximum participation,鈥� said Susan Schienbein, 亚洲天堂 Lake and District Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Centre Manager.

Unlike the purchase of some gift cards that can be used at multiple locations, the local gift certificate will have no fee for the purchaser.

The chamber suggests the certificates can be used as seasonal bonuses, safety awards, employee recognition, or for birthday or anniversary celebrations. They can also be used as donation for community events and fundraisers.

Gift certificates can be purchased from the 亚洲天堂 Lake and District Chamber of Commerce in denominations of $10, $25, $50 and $100. The chamber will also entertain special orders of different amounts.

Participating businesses pay an annual administration fee - that covers the cost of printing and administration - to the chamber of commerce.

Businesses that redeem the coupons can bring them into the chamber twice a month and the chamber writes the business a cheque for the total redemption. The chamber charges less than one per cent as a handling fee.

鈥淰ery minimal when you consider what the fees for Visa, MasterCard or debit purchases cost a business, or the service fees on some gift cards,鈥� says the chamber.

In addition, if a business would like to order a number of certificates in bulk, the chamber will, at no charge, incorporate the business logo on the certificate.

The chamber decided to launch the local gift certificate program after a survey conducted earlier this year with its members. The survey showed that chamber members considered 鈥渆nticing local shoppers鈥� a number one priority.

鈥淲e really need to change the pattern of driving to another community to purchase our goods; rather, let鈥檚 see what we can buy in this community,鈥� said Schienbein.

鈥淪ome will say that we don鈥檛 have enough retail stores and they are right, we could use some more,鈥� she added. 鈥淏ut investors who might be thinking about setting up shops in 亚洲天堂 Lake will talk to the local business community; if our current businesses are concerned about residents not shopping locally, that has a negative spin-off for potential investors.鈥�

鈥淓very Lakes District local gift certificate that is purchased boosts our local economy.鈥�

To check the list of participating businesses, visit the chamber鈥檚 website at burnslakechamber.com