Consumers Energy Lends Support to Buy BC Gift Card Program

With the extension of state restrictions on businesses, Consumers Energy is supporting the Buy Local Buy BC gift card stimulus program developed by two Bay County non-profits, Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and Bay Future, Inc., by offering an additional value to community members.

Consumers wants to help community members get more for their holiday dollars while supporting local businesses. Double your money, double your support for small businesses at the same time. It’s a win, win! While supplies last, you can purchase a $25 gift card and receive a free $25 gift card!

Lauren Youngdahl Snyder, Consumers Energy’s vice president of customer experience. “Small businesses are the backbone of the communities we serve, and every community has seen those businesses feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said “With ‘Our Town,’ we want to end the year by spreading cheer. We are putting dollars directly into shoppers’ hands to help them stretch their budgets and give a boost to shops and restaurants in their hometowns.”

This special promotion started Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. Gift cards may be purchased here. Quantity is limited to 5 gift card purchases per individual. It’s important to note, the special promotion will not work on purchases of more than 5 gift cards. Gift cards are available on a “first come-first serve” basis while supplies last.

The gift card stimulus program “Buy Local Buy BC” went live, November, 25, 2020 at noon. This program is made possible by the generous sponsorship of 1st State Bank, Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, Bay County Growth Alliance, Bay Future, Inc., Huntington National Bank, HYMMCO, LLC., Independent Bank, Michigan Sugar, and Weinlander Fitzhugh. The program has sold over 1,000 gift cards since it launched just two weeks ago with a financial impact of $25,000 to the participating Bay County businesses.

The program continues the effort to engage community members in supporting small businesses by buying local. Once the special promotion, made possible by Consumers Energy, is exhausted, customers can purchase a $25 and for $20 on a first-come-first serve basis, at no added expense to the purchaser or business.

The gift cards are available for purchase online and are provided to customers with an option to download instantly and via email. They can be redeemed electronically or customers may print them off and use them. The full amount of the gift card does not have to be utilized in one transaction and multiple gift cards can be utilized in a single transaction.

For questions regarding the Buy Local Buy BC program, please contact Jodi LaMont [email protected] or (989)893-4567.