TMCF Power Month Offers Consumers 3 Chances to Win

Prizes Sought from Local Businesses

Monroe County-The Monroe County Economic Development Council (MCEDC) is beginning to gear up for the second annual Think Monroe County First (TMCF) POWER MONTH. Consumers who make purchases from July 1 to August 1 at Monroe County businesses can turn in their receipts during the Monroe County Fair, July 25-August 1, for a chance to win one of three big prizes.

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, MCEDC hopes to once again bolster the local economy by offering a “Super Sized Taste of Monroe County” drawing. Last year, consumers had the chance to win a prize worth more than $7,000 with items from more than 50 Monroe County businesses. More than $500,000 in receipts were presented.

However, this year, consumers will have three chances to win. This year’s drawing will feature a Super Sized Taste of Monroe County Blue Ribbon Prize made up of products and services donated by as many local businesses as participate, as well as a Red Ribbon and White Ribbon Prize (TBD). An ongoing list of the prizes will be posted on the TMCF website, www.thinkmonroecountyfirst.com, during the months of June and July. Consumers are only eligible to win one of the three prizes.

Consumers will be awarded one chance for every $100 of purchases made with any Monroe County businesses from July 1 to August 1. To enter the drawing, consumers must present their receipts between 5 and 8 p.m. any evening during fair week (July 25th – Aug. 1st) 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. Entry forms must be filled out by hand at the TMCF booth. 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 the drawing. For the Blue Ribbon prize 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. For the Red Ribbon and White Ribbon prizes, we'd like to offer an item of at least $1,000 and $500 value respectively. It could be something like a flat screen TV, a gift certificate to a local hotel/B&B along with dinner for four at one of our fine restaurants. 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.

For or more information or to donate a prize, please contact U of I Extension Community and Economic Development Educator Nora Feuquay at 618-939-8681 ext. 309/ nfeuquay@illinois.edu.