Options For The Support of Small Businesses

TUCSON, ARIZONA, US – BULLETIN In an effort to continue supporting small businesses as they navigate the impacts of COVID-19, the City of Tucson is partnering with Pima County to make an online marketing platform available to businesses at no cost to help drive customers back through their doors. 

The platform, known as Hownd, is designed for local brick-and-mortar businesses to generate immediate cash sales and future foot traffic as businesses work to recover from the impacts of the pandemic.

According to a City of Tucson press release, the campaign, dubbed “Shop Our Local Deals,” invites merchants to join the platform in order to offer customers the opportunity to purchase support vouchers, much like digital gift cards, and take advantage of promotional offers from local businesses. 

According to City of Tucson Director of Economic Initiatives, Barbra Coffee, this program is one more way the City is assisting businesses that have struggled due to forced closures and challenges created by COVID-19. “What better way to help businesses get back on their feet than by driving foot traffic through their doors,” said Coffee. “Hownd provides the business a user-friendly way to engage with consumers and invite them back in.”

John Moffatt, Pima County Director of Economic Development, agreed that the Hownd platform will benefit businesses throughout the County. “Many of our small businesses have little to no digital or online presence,” said Moffatt. “This partnership creates a pathway for those business to engage with consumers online and encourage residents to shop local.”

“The campaign encourages the practice of shopping local to help support our small businesses which are the very heart and soul of Tucson,” said Coffee. “We know Tucsonans are passionate about the locally owned businesses in our community, and this is a way to support them when they need it most.”

Through their partnership, the City of Tucson and Pima County have established a combined fund of $50,000 to cover Hownd administrative fees that would ordinarily by charged to the participating merchant. The fund is anticipated to generate a substantial return on investment by generating revenue for local businesses from thousands of consumers through the sale of vouchers, gift cards, and coupons purchased through the MyHownd mobile app, email, social media, or a participating business’s website.

Businesses based in Tucson and within Pima County can learn more about the program, request information, and sign up by visiting hownd.com/Tucson-Pima. They can also visit the City of Tucson’s website at https://connecttucson.com/hownd, or Pima County’s website at pima.gov/SOLD. Consumers who want to support Tucson and Pima County businesses through this program can download the MyHownd app from their favorite app store.

About the City of Tucson Office of Economic InitiativesThe City of Tucson Office of Economic Initiatives coordinates the City’s economic development programs for the purpose of attracting jobs and investment to the City of Tucson. It also offers local small business and entrepreneurial assistance and encourages workforce development in order to foster a long term sustainable and diverse local economy. For more information or to contact the Office of Economic Initiatives, visit ConnectTucson.com.