The Ballinasloe Chamber of Commerce in association with the Ballinasloe Credit Union would like to invite you to join in a new Local Currency System for the Town.

The purpose of this scheme is to promote the retail spend in the town by encouraging people to shop local and thereby reducing the leakage to shopping locations outside Ballinasloe.

This scheme is currently in operation in many towns through out the country, including Athlone and has proved to be very successful.

The concept behind a Local currency system is very simple; the currency can be purchased by the general public from the Credit Union and are initially available in denominations of 5, 20 & 50 euros. The new currency can then be used to purchase goods and services in any of the participating businesses around the town. It is hoped that the general public will use this currency as gifts for friends and family and by Employers for Employee bonuses.

In order to encourage the use of the Ballinasloe Local Currency it is hoped that each participating business will use in store promotions or offer a discount on goods or services purchased with the currency. The currency will be presented to the purchaser in a professional card wallet along with a list of participating businesses, where the currency can be spent. Businesses can then present all currency received for reimbursement in the Ballinasloe Credit Union.

The Chamber of commerce will support this scheme with a strong marketing campaign and by maintaining an up to date listing of participating business.

We will also encourage all major employers in the Ballinasloe area to use the Ballinasloe Local Currency as part of their employee incentive schemes e.g. Christmas Bonuses, Staff Retirements and other Reward Incentives. (Employers can give their Staff up to 250 euros P/A in non-cash benefits tax-free!)

To increase the appeal of the Local Currency it is very important that as many businesses as possible should participate in the scheme. The costs to businesses that wish to participate in this scheme will be 30 euros per annum for Chamber members. This is to cover the initial setting up costs of the scheme, which will include marketing and promotional activities.

Businesses who wish to participate in this scheme should fill in the attached form and return it to the Ballinasloe Chamber Office before Friday the 19th of June. This is a strict deadline as the scheme will be officially launched at the Ballinasloe Chamber of Commerce AGM in Gullanes Hotel on the 23rd of June and by the Galway Bay FM Roadcaster at the end of the month.

This is a great opportunity to start making things happen for Business in Ballinasloe! Should you have any further enquires on this subject please contact the following: Chamber President, Damien Clarke on 086 1704241 Chairman of Gift Voucher Steering committee: Dermot Salmon on 087 7708243