Mason, Ohio is home to Fortune 500 campuses, advanced manufacturing, and innovative healthcare companies. But in a big business climate, Mason wanted to ensure that small businesses were still thriving.
So Mason partnered with Yiftee to launch the Come Together Mason Card, a closed-loop digital card accepted only at participating Mason businesses. Recipients can add the card to their Mobile Wallet, and tap-to-pay at 62 shops and restaurants in Mason.
Cities often spread their Community Cards far and wide with consumer marketing, tourism campaigns, and Shop Local rewards programs. But in Mason, Ohio, city leaders took a different angle: they encouraged local employers to purchase the cards in bulk to give back to the small businesses around them. And it worked; more than $1,430,000 was generated for local Mason businesses.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, small businesses in Mason were among the hardest hit. With foot traffic down and local dollars flowing to online retailers and big-box chains, the city needed a way to support its independent shops, restaurants, and service providers.
“The City of Mason wanted to find an efficient, and equitable way for the community to get out and support our small businesses that we see as a valuable amenity that makes Mason an attractive place to live, work and play,” said Jenna Pantling, Assistant to the City Manager at City of Mason.
The original idea behind the Come Together Mason Card was to keep spending local during uncertain times. But as the city saw how flexible and impactful the program could be, it evolved. What started as a recovery tool became a strategic solution, one that allowed Mason’s largest employers to use their existing reward budgets to drive dollars back into the small business community.
Mason is home to global brands like Procter & Gamble, Luxottica, and Atricure; companies that employ thousands of local workers. Those employees needed holiday bonuses, appreciation gifts, and workplace perks.
As part of their onboarding efforts, Mason gives new employees a Come Together Mason Card to encourage them to explore local shops, restaurants, and services. It’s a warm welcome that also drives foot traffic to small businesses. In some cases, employers even choose to match the city’s contribution, doubling the impact and creating a shared investment in supporting the community.
By offering the Come Together Mason Card as a turnkey employee reward that could only be spent at neighborhood shops, restaurants, and service providers, businesses could support the city’s buy-local goals, give employees a flexible and appreciated perk, and strengthen ties to the community where their workforce lives and works.
One reason the program gained traction quickly among corporate teams was how simple it was to implement.
With Yiftee’s platform:
Even better, HR managers could preload cards and schedule their delivery, perfect for holidays, milestone anniversaries, or employee appreciation weeks.
The Come Together Mason program succeeded because it hit a sweet spot; employees loved the flexibility, local businesses welcomed new foot traffic, and employers saw it as a statement of corporate citizenship.
Ready to explore how a local card could work in your city? Schedule a demo with our team.
Because when big employers come together with small businesses, entire communities win.