Restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars are being encouraged to get involved with the Shop Local First campaign, which aims to give residents and visitors a real reason to shop locally in Thanet.
The scheme was developed by the council, with support from local traders, and brings together businesses in the five pilot areas of Birchington, Broadstairs, Cliftonville's Northdown Road, Margate and Ramsgate.
Since Shop Local First was launched in November 2009, nearly 30,000 incentive cards, with offers from more than 120 shops, have been given out.
Now the council is looking to expand the scheme to include more food and drinks businesses in the five pilot areas, with the aim of getting 50 signed up by Friday 19 February. The next phase of Shop Local First, introducing these businesses, would then launch in time for Easter. Letters and forms are being sent out by the council to local businesses to gauge the level of interest.
Leader of Thanet District Council, Cllr. Sandy Ezekiel, said: "Shop Local First is the council's way of supporting local businesses. We're aiming to get the message across to both local people and visitors to the area about the superb variety of shops you can find in the area's towns and villages. There are so many unique businesses to be found across Thanet, all offering great services and products. Having successfully launched the scheme, we now want to try and extend it to cover more food and drink businesses in the run-up to the busy summer season. There are so many wonderful places in Thanet to go out and enjoy a meal, snack or a drink and it's those businesses we now want to join Shop Local First."
Local people can pick up their Shop First Local Incentive Card from over 100 businesses taking part, in libraries and Thanet's Gateway Plus in Margate.
The scheme is running initially run for a year, but if successful, it could be extended for longer and into other parts of Thanet. Businesses taking part in the scheme display a Shop Local First sticker in their window. Businesses who want to join the scheme should call 01843 577050. For more information about the scheme and to find out which businesses are signed up to Shop Local First, visit www.thanet.gov.uk/shoplocal
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