Next round of stimulus money: Herriman Bucks?
Jun 03, 2020 01:02PM ● By Justin Adams
A Herriman Journal imagining of what a “Herriman Buck” might look like.
By Justin Adams | [email protected]
By the time this newspaper reaches your mailbox, you’ll likely have already received your next round of economic stimulus money. No, not another $1,200 from the federal government but $10 worth of Herriman Bucks.
The idea came from Assistant City Manager Tami Moody as a way to help stimulate the local economy as Herriman businesses contend with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As shoppers are starting to venture out into the public, we want to connect our two greatest resources: our residents and our businesses,” Moody said. “We’re providing a little incentive to the shopper and the business as well.”
Residents will receive a $10 Herriman Bucks voucher card in the mail that they can spend at participating Herriman businesses on a purchase of $20 or more. Those businesses can then turn in the Herriman Bucks to the city for a reimbursement.
At the time of Herriman Journal’s press deadline, it wasn’t yet known which businesses will be participating, but Moody said that several businesses had already signed up within 24 hours of receiving a letter explaining the opportunity.
And it won’t be limited to the brick and mortar stores that line Herriman’s busier streets. The offer to participate is extended to all of Herriman’s 600-plus businesses, many of which are conducted out of residents’ own households — businesses such as basement hairdressers or landscaping services can take advantage of the program as well. All you need is a Herriman business license.
The estimated cost to the city ranges from $110,000 to $190,000. The final cost will depend on how many residents take advantage of the program.
This is just one of the ways that Herriman City officials have been trying to help local businesses since the beginning of the pandemic.
Early on, city leaders loosened sign restrictions so businesses could place banners and A-frames near roadways to inform residents about their status. As previously closed businesses have opened more recently, city officials have celebrated them with extra signs and balloons, which have been so successful that Moody said several businesses have asked to keep the signs up for longer than originally planned.
City leaders also hosted a virtual lunch meeting to which they invited local business owners, where they were able to listen to state economic development experts as well as a lobbyist with extensive knowledge of the work being done at the federal level. They helped explain all the resources being made available to business owners and how to take advantage of them.
Why go to all this effort to help the people and businesses of Herriman when it might be easier to say, “We’ll let the federal and state governments come up with the solutions?” Moody said it’s because the city is a family.
“I think it definitely comes down to the culture in Herriman,” she said. “Our motto is ‘We are Herriman.’ Everyone is included in that: the staff, the schools, businesses, residents. Herriman is family, and family supports each other, especially through tough times.”
