By Russell Jones
BRANDON — From in-store discounts and sales to a chance to get cash back or win money, the Brandon Area Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Brandon Alliance have teamed up with the town to offer residents more reasons than ever to shop local this year as Moonlight Madness kicks off Wednesday, Dec. 5 and again on Thursday, Dec. 20, from 4 to 9 p.m..
But in addition to the annual Moonlight Madness events, Brandon shoppers will also have a chance to win $2,019 in cash prizes.
That can happen when shoppers get a Brandon Buzz Card by spending $10 or more at a Brandon business. The wallet-sized cards can be picked up at most any retail Brandon business, or from the chamber or town offices during Moonlight Madness.
The card will have 10 spaces that can be punched after shoppers spend $10 or more in an area business and cards filled with no more than two punches from any single business will earn the cardholder $20 in Brandon Green and entry into two drawings for $2,019.
Cards filled with 10 punches from 10 different businesses will also earn $20 in Brandon Green but will receive 10 entries into the two drawings. The first drawing will be held at the end of the year and the second will be next year after construction is completed.
Head of Economic Development Bill Moore says that this is a way of trying to help the businesses that have been under duress during the construction of Route 7.
“Although this is a much needed and ultimately fantastic infrastructure upgrade,” Moore said, “locals are the ones that will keep local businesses going.”
Moore said that they are doing well to keep the town ahead of what the infrastructure will eventually need and this construction will set the town up for at least the next 70 years. He says other towns in the area are finding out how expensive it is to upgrade essential services and Rutland is looking at a $100 million upgrade for its water systems now.
The Brandon Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Brandon Alliance have teamed together and are using money provided them by the state to make the drawings happen, but Moore says that it is up to the locals to make the choice to shop locally and help the community.
“They [town residents] need to be the glue that holds the community together,” Moore said.
