CONTACT: Joe Jennison, (319) 210-9935 or [email protected]
The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group (CDG), a Main Street Iowa organization, has announced three community-wide shopping events on three different Saturdays this holiday season: Saturday, Nov. 4, Saturday, Nov. 25 and Saturday, Dec. 9, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
Each Saturday Shopping event will include a sign-up fishbowl event, where shoppers are encouraged to stop by Shop Small HQ (110 1st St. SW, Mount Vernon), fill out a form with a cell phone number, drop said form into a fishbowl and begin shopping. At the top and bottom of every hour, volunteers will reach into the fishbowl and call one registered shopper via cell phone. If the shopper can get back to the fishbowl in 10 minutes, they will receive $25 in Community Cash good for any business in Mount Vernon and Lisbon. At the bottom of the hour on all three shopping days, prizes and gifts from local retailers also will be given away.
Holiday Open House Giveaways on Nov. 4
In addition to the fishbowl giveaways, on Nov. 4, Mount Vernon Bank & Trust Co. will be handing out a total of $1,000 in Community Cash to patrons at their facility at 206 1st St. SW (until supplies last; one per family).
Shop Small Saturday Giveaways on Nov. 25
On Saturday Nov. 25, the traditional Shop Small Saturday event, Lynch Ford Chevrolet, 410 Business 30 SW, will give away 10 – $50 worth of vouchers redeemable for Community Cash gift certificates at the dealership. Lynch will draw five winners at 9 a.m. and five more winners at 10 a.m. The vouchers can be redeemed for Community Cash gift certificates at Shop Small HQ (110 1st St. SW) on Saturday, Nov. 25. Also on Saturday, Nov. 25, Bauman’s (124 1st St. SW) will be sponsoring a $100 Early Bird Prize at Shop Small HQ (110 1st St. SW). The Early Bird $100 giveaway will be inside one of 25 Shop Small bags given away at Shop Small HQ beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 25. Early Lineup is encouraged.
Last Chance Holiday Giveaways on Dec. 9
On Saturday, Dec. 9, participating businesses will have a laminated sheet posted inside their businesses. One business will have the winning number on display 798146. Be the first shopper to discover the laminated number on display in one of the 32 Main Street Retail businesses and win an additional $50 in Community Cash.
“In all, more than $2,500 in cash and prizes will be given away over these three days to give everyone the opportunity to love on our small businesses,” said Joe Jennison, Director of Main Street and Marketing for the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group. “Small businesses are the lifeblood of these two communities, and this is a day that all of us who love having access to 32 Main Street mom-and-pop small businesses can show their appreciation with their patronage. Mount Vernon-Lisbon is your Shop Small HQ this holiday shopping season.”
Shop Small Mount Vernon-Lisbon is part of the national Small Business Saturday campaign initiated by American Express and taking place throughout the country. As part of the local Mount Vernon-Lisbon event, shoppers will have opportunities to win prizes each of the three Saturdays.
“Small businesses, like small Iowa towns, are the backbone of our nation and our economy,” said Catherine Kennedy, Chair of the Mount Vernon-Lisbon project. “Support for small businesses and small towns is necessary now more than ever. Please plan on joining us on November 4, 25 and Dec. 9 to give back to our small businesses!”
About Mount Vernon
Historic Mount Vernon, Iowa, is home to 4500 residents, including 1200 college students enrolled at Cornell College. Located in Eastern Iowa at the intersection of Highways 30 and 1, 20 miles north of Iowa City and 15 miles east of Cedar Rapids, it boasts a vibrant uptown business community with numerous antique and specialty stores, restaurants, coffee houses, commercial art galleries, and three National Historic Districts.
About the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group
The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group exists to improve the social and economic well-being of Mount Vernon and Lisbon by capitalizing on their unique identity, assets, and character. Mount Vernon was selected as a Main Street community in 2008, and practices economic development within the context of historic preservation.
About Main Street
The Main Street Approach is a copyrighted process of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Program has been used in Iowa since 1986 with a total of 56 communities having participated. Mount Vernon was selected as a Main Street community on March 4, 2008, by the State of Iowa, after submitting a comprehensive application and presenting to a select board of reviewers.
