A new Covid recovery program aims to boost Hartford’s local economy with “Hartford Dollars,” an incentive-based stimulus program that sells a discounted special “currency” to be spent at locally.
Many small Upper Valley businesses have been devastated by the economic disruption caused by the pandemic. Vital Communities, the Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce, and other Hartford partners created the program to increase foot traffic and sales for struggling businesses, using a Restart Vermont Regional Marketing and Stimulus Grant from the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development.
Economists have long known that dollars spent on local businesses add the most to the local economy.
A recent study commissioned by Vital Communities found that, for every dollar they earn, locally owned retailers and restaurants return a share to the local community that’s up to four times as big as that of chain or online businesses.
Hartford Dollars can be purchased in $30 and $50 values for $15 and $25, respectively (a 50% discount).
Hartford Dollars are available for purchase online on the Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce website and at the Quechee Gorge Visitors Center. You can print out the currency or use unique codes.
Hartford Dollars can be spent at the following participating businesses:
BE Fit Physical Therapy, Cloverleaf Jewelers, Deirdre Donnelly Jewelry Art, Dynamic Natural Athletes, Elixir Restaurant, Fat Hat Clothing Co, Flourish, Beauty Lab, Jake’s Market & Deli, JUEL Modern Apothecary, Little Istanbul, Living the Dream Alpaca Farm, Long River Gallery, Massage Eminence, Northern Stage, Open Door Integrative Wellness, Piecemeal Pies, Pizza Chef, POST, Public House at Quechee Gorge, Public House Diner Quechee, Raq-On Dance, Revolution, Scavenger gallery, Scout Hair Design, Small Batch Design Company, Stern’s Quality Produce, Steven Thomas, Inc., Strafford Saddlery, Sugarbush Farm, Sunrise Farm, The Collection, The Skinny Pancake-Quechee, The Uncommon Home, Thyme, Trail Break taps + tacos, Tuckerbox, Upper Valley Aquatic Center, Upper Valley Yoga, Valley Flower Company, Vermont Institute of Natural Science, Wicked Awesome BBQ, and Wolf Tree.
Hartford Dollars need to be spent by Nov. 30, 2020 and may not be used to pay for tobacco, cannabis, alcohol, lottery tickets, fire arms, tax or tips. No change will be given for Hartford Dollars.
Hartford Dollars is a locally coordinated Covid recovery project between the Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce, Vital Communities, the town of Hartford and Hartford Dev. Corp. and partially funded with federal funds.
