TRUMBULL – A Covid-era shop-local effort called Main Street Dollars is returning for a fifth year, First Selectman Vicki Tesoro announced this week.
The town’s Economic and Community Development Department will give out 275 certificates to residents on a first come, first served basis starting Thursday, Dec. 4. The Main Street Dollars can be used at participating small businesses until Jan. 31, 2026. The program is designed to promote locally run businesses that offer gift, entertainment or personal wellness options for families to take advantage of during the holidays and winter months.
This year each certificate is worth $15, and a customer must spend a minimum of $30 at one of the participating businesses to redeem the certificate. Up to two certificates per household will be offered this year. Residents can pick up certificates Monday through Friday at the Economic and Community Development Office at Trumbull Town Hall (7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.), or at the Trumbull Senior Center on Priscilla Place (9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.).
They can be applied toward any services, goods or merchandise at Plasko’s Farm, Pure Poetry, Next Chapter Bookstore, City Line Florist, Xperiment Virtual Reality, Naturally U, and Intrinsic Wellness Studio.
“I want to encourage everyone to visit our shops and buy local as often as possible this holiday season and every day,” Tesoro said. “Buying local keeps money in our economy to generate even more benefits to our community. We are excited to announce our fifth year of the Main Street Dollars Program, supporting seven of our local businesses.”
The first four years of the program facilitated over $33,000 in sales at participating businesses, according to Tesoro.
The Trumbull Rotary Club and the Mustard Seed Foundation have sponsored the program again this year, according to Tesoro. The Trumbull Celebrates Local initiative also had a part in bringing the program back.
“As proud members of the Trumbull community, we appreciate our small businesses and all that they do in our town,” stated Kathleen Eigenrauch, Trumbull Rotary Club president.
“We are happy to participate in this wonderful season of giving and we wish our town leaders, businesses, and residents a happy and healthy holiday season,”
Rina Bakalar, director of Economic and Community Development, has evaluated the impact of the program each year.
“We are always looking to drive bottom line benefit to our businesses to help them to expand their customer base and profits,” she said. “Approximately 71% of certificates issued last year were utilized. This is a high return rate for coupon programs, but we feel it can be even higher.
“We are adding Intrinsic Wellness Studio this year for residents interested in personal care services as gifts or for themselves. We will continue to grow this program over time and add additional businesses in the future.”
