City awaits a partner for restaurant rescue plan
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, May 12th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
HERMISTON – The Hermiston City Council has approved city staff to continue to explore a restaurant assistance pilot project (RAPP) that would use stimulus funds. The city would provide $50,000 as seed money for a gift certificate purchasing program for restaurants, since the federal dollars have not yet arrived.
The goal is to circulate a large number of gift cards that would encourage people to eat out, and ideally spend more than the amount of the gift card. The stumbling block is finding an organization that can run the program.
“We’re looking to try and partner with one of our local business development outfits to have them basically engage in a mass gift certificate purchasing program,” Morgan said.
The Greater Hermiston Chamber of Commerce was approached about a partnership, but has not yet committed. Morgan’s not giving up, however.
“We’re going to continue trying to work with the Hermiston Chamber to get this program off the ground,” he said.
