POWER WEEK Aims to Bolster Local Economy

The Monroe County Economic Development Council is announcing a Think Monroe County First POWER WEEK. July 19th – 26th in conjunction with the Monroe County Fair. The fair holds the distinction of being the only countywide event in Monroe County.

Think Monroe County First is an ongoing campaign aimed at educating consumers in all forms to the real and valuable rewards associated with spending locally, as opposed to out of town or over the internet. Local businesses help support our local economy in the form of sales tax revenue, property tax revenues, jobs, spending, charitable contributions and more.

During the month of July, the Economic Development Council hopes to bolster the local economy by offering a “Super Sized Taste of Monroe County” drawing. This drawing will be a grand prize made up of products and services donated by as many local businesses as participate. The council will be posting an ongoing list of the prize as it develops during the months of June and July.

Consumers will be awarded one chance for every $100 of purchases made with any Monroe County businesses during the month of July. To enter the drawing, consumers must present their receipts between 5 and 8 p.m. any evening during fair week (July 19th – 26th) at the Think Monroe County First Booth in the Commercial Building. Receipts must show the name of the Monroe County business where the purchase was made and may be combined to reach the $100 requirement. No photocopies or reproductions will be accepted and receipts will be stamped when verified. If you do not plan to attend the fair, you may send your receipts with someone else to enter for you.

The council is also in need of prizes from local businesses for both this drawing and the ongoing monthly campaign. For the fair drawing, the prize may be valued at any amount the business chooses. Our goal is to create an amazing prize made up of many products and services that are available right here in Monroe County. You will be listed as a donor in the ongoing marketing of this campaign as well as at the fair. We would like to have all prizes committed by the first week in July for advertising purposes. Your business does not need to be a “participating business” in the Think Monroe County First program to donate a prize to the fair drawing.

The council wishes to express its sincere appreciation to all businesses that currently participate in the program and to offer an invitation to those who presently do not. Think Monroe County First is a FREE community service offered by the county to both the consumers and businesses of Monroe County in an attempt to retain and improve the quality of life for all Monroe County Citizens. For or more information or to donate a prize, please contact Nora Feuquay at 939-3434/ nfeuquay@illinois.edu or Jane Kolmer at 939-5755.