Shop and Dine Community Gift Card Program ("BOGO")

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Latest Updates:

The buy-one-get-one gift card portion of the Shop & Dine Gift Card Program is SOLD OUT. Residents and visitors can still buy cards to use at participating businesses but will not receive a bonus card. Updates about the City's next wave of buy-one-get-one funding will be posted to the City's social media accounts and website. 

See which businesses are participating and purchase your cards using the links below.

Information:

The City Council approved the Lake Forest Shop & Dine Community Gift Card Program on October 4, 2022. Under the program, Lake Forest residents can purchase a community gift card that works exclusively at local businesses that have signed up to participate in the program. Residents can use the gift card at any participating business until all funds are the card are exhausted. 

The City is inviting local businesses to sign up to participate. Certain businesses, such as restaurants and hospitality-based businesses, automatically qualify to participate in the program. Other businesses, such as store front retail, personal care services, automotive, etc. can participate but must attest to having a negative economic impact from COVID-19. If your business can accept Mastercard credit card payments over the phone, you already have the technology that can accept the community gift card!

At this time, the City is collecting applications from local businesses to participate in the program.

Business Application for Lake Forest Shop & Dine Community Gift Card Program

To purchase a gift cards or view participating businesses:

Shop & Dine Community Gift Card Program Page

For assistance or to receive more information, please email tcampbell@hdlcompanies.com  

Why should your business participate?

• Drive more business into your store.
• Keep customers spending local.
• Cards can only be used by participating merchants.
• No special technology or administration is required to participate! (Must accept Mastercard and be able to key in the transaction like a phone order.)
• No back-office administration! Funds are automatically paid to you, via your usual Mastercard processor.
• There is no fee to participate. Review the eligibility requirements below to see if your business qualifies for the program.

What businesses qualify?

The program is being supported, in whole or in part, by the City of Lake Forest Strategic Economic Investment Project ("SEIP").  The SEIP is designed to assist businesses in the community that were financially impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lake Forest businesses must be pre-qualified to be eligible to be a business recipient in the Shop & Dine Community Gift Card program.  The specific eligibility criteria are outlined below. 

• Businesses must have a physical location within the boundaries of the City of Lake Forest
• Business Types that are categorically ineligible to participate include tobacco-only stores, liquor-only stores, and adult material-only stores. 
• Restaurants and hospitality-related businesses automatically qualify for participation. Hospitality-related businesses include Hotels, Travel agencies, Rental car agencies, and Caterers.
• Businesses other than restaurants and hospitality-related businesses are eligible to participate in the program. but must submit a self-certification form describing that they were financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.   Examples of COVID-19 impacts that would qualify a business to participate in this program include:
  • A significant drop in retail sales beginning March 4, 2020
  • Documented hardship in recruiting and retaining employees as a result of COVID-19 illness or inflationary factors that arose from the pandemic.
  • Evidence that the business qualified for and /or received funding through a COVID-19 relief program administered by a Federal, State, or local agency
  • Other documentation evidencing COVID-19 created significant hardship for the business

Prospective business participants must complete an eligibility application form to participate in the program. Your application will be reviewed, and you will be notified if your business is eligible to participate as a recipient merchant in the Shop and Dine Card Program.

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