Onondaga County is setting aside $400 thousand dollars for a matching restaurant voucher program where people can double their money when they dine out. The "Keeping It Local" promotion was an incentive launched last spring to encourage people to dine out at their favorite local restaurants, again. County Executive Ryan McMahon says a maximum of four certificates can be purchased and are sent in one email.
“We know form the last half million dollars that went into the economy from all of the feedback that we at least got a 3X from participation and people coming. Obviously, if you get a $50 gift card and that turns into $100 depends on how many people you’re feeding but, if it’s me and my children, certainly I spend more than $100.”
The program will launch at noon to the general public on Veterans Day this Thursday. An interesting twist happens on Wednesday when the county also donates 1,000 $25 dollar vouchers to Clearpath for Veterans to distribute as a thank you to veterans. McMahon says the program makes sense because it will take businesses several years before they fully recover from prior pandemic shutdowns and restrictions.
“So, we need to continue to do our part to stimulate the local economy and to continue to make smart investments to drive more and more people here into our Downtown and into our restaurants throughout Onondaga County because we need this.”
He made the announcement at Kitty Hoynes. Another $75,000 worth of matching restaurant vouchers will be offered exclusively to seniors for purchase on Friday beginning at 10 AM by calling 211. Click here for the general public to purchase vouchers on Thursday