Three county organizations have issued the MoCo Holiday Challenge, part of the launch of a new online directory of local business, dining and shopping information, according to a press release from the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation.
The site, MoCo Marketplace, is a partnership between MCEDC, the Montgomery County Food Council’s MoCo Made and Visit Montgomery.
“Business owners can participate in a ‘virtual shopping center’ that supports hundreds of local merchants, restaurateurs, artisans and farmers, and is backed by an extensive marketing campaign to direct traffic to the MoCo Marketplace website,” according to the announcement.
The MoCo Holiday Challenge offers consumers who sign up with the marketplace and take a pledge to buy local the opportunity to win gift cards of up to $1,000 to use with participating merchants.
The marketplace site also includes information for customers about each business’ safety protocols regarding in-store, pick-up and delivery sales so they can shop safely.
Participants in the challenge are automatically entered to win weekly prizes when they check in with a mobile app five or more times a week at participating retailers from Dec. 11–24.
At the end of the challenge, 15 winners will be selected to receive gift cards ranging from $500 to $1,000.
Montgomery County merchants can join the MoCo Marketplace website at no cost. Locally, participants include:
- Bump ’n Grind
- Denizens Brewing Co.
- Fenton Citgo
- Locavino
- Tabletop–Takoma Park
- Takoma Artery
- Takoma Park-Silver Spring Food Coop, and
- The Urban Winery.
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