- Utica Proud app rewards shoppers at local businesses.
- $10 spent at a local business earns one halfmoon reward, worth $1 to redeem at participating businesses.
- The app is available on the App Store or Google Play.
The City of Utica, local businesses and app developer Colu Technologies have joined forces to incentivize residents to shop local.
Utica Proud is an app designed to boost Utica’s economy through redeemable rewards at local businesses. Those rewards are in the form of a digital currency — halfmoons — which are worth $1 at redeeming businesses.
How does the app work?
To access Utica Proud, download the free app at the App Storeor Google Play. You’ll be prompted to put in some personal information like your name. After that, you’ll be prompted to connect a debit or credit card.
Colu uses Plaid, the same verification company as the digital wallet app Venmo, to secure information. It does not store personal information or sell it to other businesses, said Gideon Kafri, operations manager at Colu.
When you shop at a participating local business with your linked card, you automatically earn halfmoons, based on the deal and amount you spend. Active deals include 10% back on retail, dining and beauty and wellness.
If you spend $10 at a local business, you generate one halfmoon, which is equivalent to $1 at participating businesses.
For a limited time, anyone who signs up for the app and connects a payment card receives 10 free halfmoons.
What businesses are participating?
So far, there are dozens of participating businesses across 12 categories, including restaurants, clothing and accessories, and professional services. Every dollar spent at those locations, whether it’s O’Scugnizzo Pizzeria or the Broadway Theatre League of Utica, generates rewards.
Halfmoons can only be redeemed at specific “redeemer” businesses. Those businesses accept halfmoons as currency, saving you money on your bill.
There are about 30 redeemers so far, ranging from Hemstrought’s Bakeries and The Fitness Mill to Golden’s and Mohawk Valley Designs.
How are the rewards funded?
Redeemed rewards are backed by $35,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds from the City of Utica’s allotment. While patron’s bills are cheaper when they redeem halfmoons, local businesses aren’t stuck eating the cost for the discount.
Small businesses struggled during the pandemic and Utica Proud makes shopping local fun, said Derek Crossman, the city’s community development specialist. Using the app and user spending to distribute the federal funds ensures the money goes further than simply distributing the $35,000 directly among businesses.
“We’d be giving less because when you go, even if you’re redeeming halfmoons, that’s probably not covering your entire bill,” Crossman said. “You’re going to redeem $10, $20 off your bill and the rest is coming out of your pocket to support local businesses. It’s a way to keep multiplying that effect.”
Through the end of the year, businesses will be able to get double back on redeemed halfmoons, said Joelle Gringarten, marketing manager at Colu.
“If you’re a business owner and in a month, you redeem 200 halfmoons, the city will actually reimburse you $400 for those transactions,” Gringarten said.
Have similar apps been used in other cities?
Utica isn’t the first city that Colu has worked with in the past. The first city to use an app similar to Utica Proud was Akron, Ohio.
The Akron app, called Akronite, followed a similar formula, though the redeemable currency is blimps instead of halfmoons, a nod to the city’s history with tire manufacturer Goodyear. Rancho Cordova, California, also used the app and had stars for its redeemable, while Boston simply used Boston Points.
Read More:How to get rewards shopping at local stores
2022-11-07 10:11:36
