The Kingsburg Downtown BID voted informally to renew its Dollar Dollars credentials (the Yifty-hosted electronic gift-card program) and discussed a renewed promotion push at the Nov. 4 meeting.

Economic Development Director Jolene Polmiak said the program transitioned to electronic-only gift transactions and that merchants must register and activate a merchant account; staff has prepared window clings and a downloadable merchant packet explaining signup, processing and fee information. Polmiak reported modest recent activity on the platform—about 594 impressions in the prior 30 days with one purchase—and encouraged renewed merchant outreach and education to improve adoption.

Polmiak said a local sponsor previously covered convenience fees for buyers and suggested seeking a sponsor again to lower the adoption hurdle. “When you accept it, you’re going to pay a little bit of a percentage just like if you accept a credit card,” she told board members while explaining that some merchants had received clings but had not completed activation. BID staff recommended only distributing clings after a merchant’s account is active to avoid confusion.

Board members emphasized employee training—frontline staff must recognize and accept the cards—and suggested targeted outreach (in-store materials, email) and possible inclusion of a Dollar Dollars link on the downtown website. Staff indicated they will reprint materials as needed, push a second outreach wave to merchants and look for potential sponsors to subsidize fees.

No new policy or binding contract was executed at the meeting; actions were limited to staff direction and renewed credentials and marketing support.