LOS ALAMITOS, Calif.—As holiday shopping begins, Los Alamitos, California, is pushing residents to shop locally by providing each household with a $50 voucher for a local business.
Each household within the city will receive $50 worth of “Los Al Bucks” beginning the first week of November. Residents can spend the vouchers at participating stores from Nov. 10 to Dec. 19.
“We encourage residents and community members to shop local,” Ron Noda, Los Alamitos development services director, said during an Oct. 27 informational webinar. “Shopping local this holiday season all year round is vital because small businesses are the foundation of our economy.”
The Los Alamitos City Council on Oct. 11 approved the use of Los Al Bucks for residents to spend at local participating businesses.
The funds will be allocated through the federally funded American Rescue Plan Act, and are intended to assist small businesses in the community by promoting local shopping, according to Noda.
Noda encouraged residents to spend the vouchers on Small Business Saturday on Nov. 27.
To ensure there is no attempt to duplicate the Los Al Bucks, the vouchers will be made up of specific materials, so shop owners can identify potential fraud.
Approximately 4,421 households will receive the $50 vouchers, according to a staff report. An estimated $227,425 will be allocated from the American Rescue Plan to assist with the program.
“Recognizing the critical role that small businesses play in the present and future of Los Alamitos, the Los Al Bucks Program will assist recovery and create community with both the resident and businesses of Los Alamitos,” according to the city of Los Alamitos website.
“COVID-19 has affected businesses throughout the country with the small business sectors being impacted the most.
“Los Alamitos is home to hundreds of small businesses and along with the rest of the nation, is slowly recovering.”
A list of participating businesses will be made available on the city of Los Alamitos website by the end of the day on Nov. 8.
