Barry Bucks boost county's economy

HASTINGS, Mich. (WOOD) - At Walldorff Brewpub & Bistro, customers have been using Barry Bucks every day, and they have made a huge difference for the Hastings business.

"We've been redeeming them pretty much on a daily basis and we will for a while, especially around the holiday time," said Michael Barnaart, the brewpub's owner.

Barry Bucks is a gift certificate program purchased through the Barry County Chamber of Commerce, partnered with Hastings City Bank. The bucks are intended to make shoppers spend locally.

The money is kept in Barry County and the program is considered a nonprofit.

"The account for the Barry Bucks is held at Hastings City Bank, but ... it's a pass-through account, it's a nonprofit account, so the bank makes no fees on that," said Nancy Goodin, a bank employee.

Other cities and counties have tried to mimic programs such as this, but Chamber of Commerce officials say Barry County is different.

In 2007, Barry Bucks sales were less than $14,000. Toward the end of 2009, sales were estimated to be around $35,000.

The program is a nice trade-off for local shoppers, as well as business owners.

"I think it's really nice because it's one-size-fits-all local shopping for our downtown district," Barnaart said. "We're able to keep money here, and with the wide variety of stores that redeem them, you can get what you truly want with your certificates."

Shoppers can redeem their Barry Bucks at chamber members, and they are good at more than 140 locations throughout Barry County, said Valerie Byrnes, the Barry County Chamber of Commerce president.

The idea isn't new.

Groups in Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Holland sold similar gift certificates with Certificheck, but when the Ohio-based company declared bankruptcy, it was stuck footing the bill.

The finance director for the Holland Chamber of Commerce said the city has set aside $120,000 this year to pay for outstanding certificates from 2008, and $83,000 already has been redeemed at local businesses.

It's a gift business owners like to give and receive.

"I give them to my employees usually at Christmas time, because ... they don't have to spend them at one particular store," said Anne Ellis, the owner of Anne's Health Foods. "They can spend them anywhere in the whole town. So, it's convenient for everybody."