The Grand Haven Chamber of Commerce has launched a locally controlled gift check program it says will be safer than a similar program that had been managed by an out-of-state company that filed for bankruptcy.
Officials say "Dune Dollars," which hit the streets this week, will encourage people to buy locally -- specifically at 60 participating retailers, restaurants and other businesses.
Years ago, the chamber managed a similar program, but later worked with Dayton, Ohio-based CertifiChecks Inc. That company filed for bankruptcy without warning earlier this year, leaving chambers of commerce across the country stuck with checks that would bounce if a merchant tried to cash them.
While the Grand Haven chamber continues to honor unexpired CertifiChecks through March 31, 2010, officials decided to launch a new gift check to help Grand Haven area businesses and restore confidence in such programs.
When it comes to the CertifiChecks fiasco, Gaasch said the Grand Haven chamber stands to lose $77,000 that will come from its general fund. That's because CertifiChecks Inc. was no longer able to back a myriad of unredeemed checks.
"Our board agreed to do that because they felt like it was the fair thing to do," Gaasch said.
Meanwhile, the chamber worked with a Muskegon artist, Stacey Bierling, to design the Dune Dollar checks that are backed by deposits at the Grand Haven Fifth-Third Bank.
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