How Michigan’s downtowns survived the pandemic
Updated 12:25 PM;
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Within days of the first COVID-19 case being reported in Michigan, Sue Huggett walked door-to-door asking downtown Kalamazoo businesses to participate in the Gift Card Stimulus program.
As the events director for the Kalamazoo Downtown Partnership, Huggett’s duties became solely focused on business support. Doors were closing and the weight of the novel coronavirus was setting in.
In five days, Huggett collected 2,000 gift cards from 66 businesses. She set up a mailing station in her home and sent the gift cards directly to purchasers. The downtown partnership added $10 to every $25 gift card purchased. The initiative brought $70,000 to downtown businesses within a week.