Gift certificate give-away starts Thursday
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, September 29th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
HERMISTON – The Hermiston Chamber of Commerce is launching the Restaurant Assistance Program it has created with funding from the city of Hermiston. Beginning Thursday, people can receive $10 gift certificates for restaurants in the city.
Assistant City Manager Mark Morgan said the city decided to leverage American Rescue Act funding in a way that would directly benefit the restaurants who were hurt so badly by the pandemic. He added that it was a natural decision to ask the chamber to run the program.
“The city of Hermiston and the Hermiston community definitely benefit by having a strong and vibrant membership-based Chamber of Commerce,” he said.
The city gave the chamber $50,000 in federal funds and let that organization work with the restaurants to create the gift card program. Morgan said it was vital to have that organization reach out to the restaurants.
“As much as I hate to admit it, people truly are skeptical when somebody shows up and says, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help,’” he said.
The gift certificates are being distributed by the Chamber of Commerce and the Hermiston utility bill mailing list as well as people who sign up for programs at either the Hermiston Public Library or the Parks and recreation Department. Morgan said the hope is people won’t stop with eating just $10 worth of food.
“The hope is that folks will take these gift certificates and bring a friend or bring their family and, hopefully, drive additional business into these restaurants,” Morgan said.
