GO (e)BUCKS! Ya know what's even better than a gift card? A gift card that can be used at over 50 local businesses! That's essentially what the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce's eBucks program is; newly expanded through its partnership with DECI.

You hear it all year long and especially during holiday season: Shop local.

The Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce hopes its new partnership with Downtown Eau Claire, Inc. (DECI) – an independent nonprofit made up of small businesses within Eau Claire’s downtown business districts – will bolster one of its shop-local initiatives, the eBucks program.

The partnership and expanded program, announced Dec. 10, has bolstered what is essentially a community-wide digital gift card option.

“Patrons can go online to the eBucks platform to purchase eBucks as a gift or for themselves,” Kate Felton, local business owner and DECI's civic and strategic communications coordinator, said. “This gives these local businesses a leg up in our current economic environment that unfortunately gives huge advantages to large corporations, making it hard for small businesses to survive.”

"Unlike a gift card tied to a single store, eBucks can be spent at any participating chamber investor (and most DECI businesses)."

DANIELLE KUMMER

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, EAU CLAIRE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

While eBucks previously existed as a paper check system, its new digital program in partnership with DECI and Visit Eau Claire means those digital dollars – which can be purchased online and delivered via email, text message or printed out as a PDF for use – can now be used at over 50 local businesses.

Participating businesses include restaurants like Houligan's Steak and Seafood Pub, The District, The French Press and others; retailers such as Lasker Jewelers, The Local Store, Brent Douglas Flowers and others; as well as organizations and service providers including the Children's Museum of Eau Claire, Trubilt Collision Center, MacMan and more.

A great, unique breadth of businesses are part of the eBucks program, including local grocer Menomonie Market Food Co-op (pictured), Hope Bargain Center, Paulsrud Chiropractic, The Phoenix Taproom & Kitchen and more.

“Unlike a gift card tied to a single store, eBucks can be spent at any participating chamber investor (and most DECI businesses),” Danielle Kummer, the chamber's director of finance, added.

The chamber, DECI and Visit Eau Claire hope the expanded program will increase overall viability and customer traffic for participating businesses, positively impacting local commerce.

Need some help using the eBucks platform? Watch this quick explainer video on YouTube!

Learn more about and purchase Chamber eBucks online at www.eauclairechamber.org/chamber-ebucks/. There is a $2.25 processing fee charged by the Yiftee platform (which does not go toward the chamber, DECI or Visit Eau Claire).