The City of Sacramento has launched Shop 916, a citywide electronic gift card program that supports local storefront retailers negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shop 916 is kicking off with a promotional bonus gift card offer that runs through Feb. 15:

• Buy a $25 gift card and get a $10 bonus gift card for free
• Buy a $50 gift card and get a $25 bonus gift card for free
• Buy a $100 gift card and get a $50 bonus gift card for free

These gift cards can be used at participating retailers, restaurants and other establishments where people eat, drink, play and shop. To purchase a Shop 916 e-gift card, visit www.shop916local.com

“The Shop 916 e-gift card is a great way to save money and support the retailers that give Sacramento the unique character we all love,” said Mayor Darrell Steinberg. “It’s more important than ever that we rally around our small businesses that have endured so much hardship during the pandemic.”

The program is funded with $200,000 from federal American Rescue Plan, which the City Council approved this fall as part of the $8.2 million framework for business recovery efforts.

“The Shop 916 gift card is such a fun and inspired program, it provides an opportunity for our small businesses to showcase their offerings in a way that doesn’t compete with the big-box retailers,” said R Street Sacramento Partnership Staff Wesley Fagundes. “We hope to see more businesses sign-up in the coming weeks and strongly encourage folks to show support by purchasing a card or two.”

“This is the first ARP funded business program to launch, and the goal is to keep local dollars local,” said Assistant City Manager Michael Jasso. “Shop 916 is the perfect gift to give this holiday season and beyond, all while supporting local businesses.”

The program is open to all businesses within the city of Sacramento that have 500 or fewer full-time equivalent employees, with the exception of home-based businesses, franchises, liquor-only stores and cannabis businesses.

Local businesses can sign-up to participate in this program through www.shop916local.com. There is no cost to the merchants to participate in the program. Regular merchant processing fees apply to process the gift card.

Bonus gift cards expire Feb. 27. Bonus cards limited to five per purchaser. Regular consumer-purchased gift cards do not expire. Gift cards can be used at any participating city of Sacramento business.

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