Clark County cities encourage residents to support local small businesses
The city of Ridgefield recently joined the city of Camas in offering its residents utility-bill discounts for services and purchases within its city.
City of Camas
In April, the city of Camas finance department presented new ways for residents in that city who were in arrears and small businesses of fewer than 50 employees to ease the burden of utility payments. On April 10, city officials announced an additional COVID-19 promotion called “Support Local & Save,’’ aimed at lowering residential utility bills while supporting Camas merchants.
Here’s how that program works:
- Residents are encouraged to make shopping and dining purchases from Camas merchants in the downtown area and throughout the city.
- Eligible purchases include gift cards, food, goods and services.
- Residents save their receipts showing the business name, date, and amount of purchase.
- Residents may submit to the city of Camas a total of $125 in receipts for a total savings of $75.
- When they have a total of $25 in receipts (this could be one receipt or multiple), they are eligible to receive $15 off their utility bill.
- Residents can then email a scan or photo of the receipts to finance@cityofcamas.us, mail them to City of Camas Finance Department, 616 NE 4th Ave, Camas WA 98607, or drop them in the City Hall drop box.
- All receipts must be accompanied by the name on the utility account, account number, address and contact phone or email.
- Support Local & Save began on Sat., April 11, and run through the current end of Gov. Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy proclamation; the city will reassess the program’s duration as the COVID-19 situation evolves.
“I challenge everyone who can to ‘Support Local & Save,’” rallied city of Camas Mayor Barry McDonnell. “Camas merchants are doing a great job of coming up with inventive ways to offer gift cards, food, goods and services that allow residents to stay home and stay healthy. Now we can shop, dine and save on utilities.”
For questions about the program, visit www.cityofcamas.us/supportlocal or contact the City of Camas Finance Department at finance@cityofcamas.us or (360) 834-2462, Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Finance staff will also be on hand to answer questions and enroll residents currently in arrears and small businesses in incorporated Camas with fewer than 50 employees.
The city will continue to monitor feedback from residents and businesses, as well as the guidance of public agencies, to determine future modifications and support mechanisms. For an up-to-date listing of changes to city programming and operations during the COVID-19 crisis, the public is encouraged to visit www.cityofcamas.us/ourcommunity/covid-19.
Members of the public who have a need or concern may contact administration@cityofcamas.us or (360) 834-6864. For assistance with errands, food, supplies, and more, residents may call the City of Camas Resource Helpline, (360) 382-1300, Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.- 6 p.m.
City of Ridgefield
The city of Ridgefield wants to help its local business community. During the Ridgefield Shop Local and Save Program, the city is offering utility rebates on water bills for local receipts.
Ridgefield residents can earn a credit on their utility bill by buying and eating locally made food and beverages, or by purchasing a gift card from their favorite downtown store.
How does it work?
• 1. Spend $25 at a local business or restaurant (you can combine two receipts) – the receipt must have the date and business name.
• 2. Write your name (as it appears on your utility statement), phone number, and utility account number on the receipt(s).
• 3. Scan and email the receipt to utilities@ci.ridgefield.wa.us or drop off the receipt(s) in a sealed envelope at the gray dropbox in front of City Hall at 230 Pioneer St.
• 4. The city of Ridgefield will credit $15 towards your utility bill. Residents can earn up to five credits per account with a maximum credit of $75 per account.
Eligible businesses include any business within the Ridgefield city limits. This program will run May 1 to June 30. To learn more about the program, go to https://ridgefieldwa.us/shop-local-and-save/ .
