March Madness brings boosted business

The Edmond Chamber and Edmond Economic Development Authority (EEDA) recently wrapped up the 2021 March Madness Restaurant Rebate, which rewarded residents with gift cards for supporting restaurants in Edmond city limits.

The rebate program brought in nearly $20,000 in generated sales, translating to almost $3,000 in gift cards purchased from local restaurants. Residents could submit up to $250 in receipts each week and receive $10 in gift cards for every $50 spent.

“We have partnered with EEDA for a total of four rebate programs, and we are astounded at the participation and support we’ve received,” said Edmond Chamber President and CEO Sherry Jordan. “Our residents know how to take care of their own, and they are the reason these programs have been such a success.”

In 2020, the Chamber and EEDA hosted a rebate program in the first few weeks of the pandemic and later created rebate programs for Small Business Saturday and the holiday shopping season.

The two organizations also assisted business owners through the Small Business Emergency Microgrant Program, offering two rounds of grants up to $5,000 to help companies with less than 50 employees remain operational through the pandemic.

“We want to boost the local economy and show our small businesses how much we appreciate them,” said Janet Yowell, Executive Director of EEDA. “These programs were formed from our mission to facilitate growth and generate opportunities for both new and existing businesses, especially during this difficult time.”

With the success of these programs, the Chamber and EEDA look forward to continuing to provide assistance and sales tax generation in the midst and aftermath of the global pandemic.