Geneva gift card project aims to increase sales, positivity

GENEVA, NE — Residents of one southeast Nebraska city can give double the boost to local businesses this weekend.

The Geneva Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a Gift Card Bonanza on Friday and Saturday. Director Jill Schmidt says the Chamber and the city have had to downsize or cancel their annual celebrations this year. She hopes this effort can perk up businesses and the community.

“We just felt that we needed to utilize the money that we had, enhance our business and just try to get some good feels going on,” Schmidt said.

Here’s how it works: people purchase a gift card at any of 20 Geneva businesses on Friday or Saturday and the Chamber will match that business’s sales up to $500. Schmidt says the program is a way for the Chamber to be good stewards of their money.

“It’s very important to keep (the money) here locally," Schmidt said. "These guys are the ones that support our football teams, support our schools, support our backpack programs. We just want to keep the money as local as we can.”

The event helps kick off a series of Geneva holiday events. The Geneva Holiday Blitz is on Saturday and the city’s lighted Christmas parade is the following Sunday.