There are more COVID-19 relief funds heading to local consumers and businesses.
The Relief across Downtown (RAD) program authorized by the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors is taking $1million in federal COVID-19 relief funds by matching up to $100 that consumers place on debt gift cards.
When matched with $1 million from the county relief funds, it will interject $2 million into participating small businesses throughout the county.
The RAD card endeavor requires small businesses such as restaurants, personal care services and small retailers to sign up to participate. There is no cost to the business.
Consumers that want to take advantage of the matching funds to shop or dine at participating locations can upload $25, $50, $75, or $100 to the card. Then when the money on the card is spent, the county will match it up to $100. It can be used at any participating business in San Joaquin County and its seven cities.
The Manteca Chamber of Commerce is working with small businesses and restaurants in Manteca to get them set up. The businesses will be listed on a website and part of a downloadable app. There are not any Manteca businesses currently enrolled in the RAD effort.
Currently there are participating concerns in Ripon, Stockton, and Tracy. Ripon businesses include Coit & Studio, Divine Salon, My Garden Café, The Shoppe, Ripon Jewelers, Natural Path Wellness Center, Ripon Round Table Pizza, Therapy Hair & Salon, Faux Glow Spray Tan & Boutique, The Little Cottage Antiques, Togo’s, Ladybird Boutique and Smallcakes Ripon.
Lodi businesses will soon be part of the app shortly. Coordinators are also in the process of securing business participants in Lathrop, Escalon Linden, and Lockeford in addition to Manteca.
San Joaquin County has contracted with the Downtown Modesto Partnership to roll out the RAD program locally.
The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors funded the RAD effort in Modesto and throughout their county several months ago. The cards are accepted at locations in Modesto, Turlock, Ceres, Denair, Oakdale Patterson, Riverbank, Salida, Newman, Waterford, Hughson, and Knights Ferry.
Even though Manteca businesses aren’t on the app yet, you can download the RAD Card app by going to theradcard.com to double your consumer dollars at participating concerns in communities previously mentioned.
Once you download the RAD card app in the Apple App Store or Google Play you can use it to select the jurisdiction you want to spend your RAD card in. Then you purchase increments of $25, $50, $75 or up to $100 that will then be matched at the point pf purchases.
When you go to the participating business, you simply show your unique QR that was downloaded to your phone via the app to participating businesses. Funds will then be deducted from your RAD account.
“The RAD Card Program has brought us close to 100 new customers and has provided a boost to our daily revenue,” noted Erin Doran of the downtown Modesto restaurant known as The Farmacy. “This is a great program for downtown Modesto restaurants during a challenging time for business owners and consumers alike.”
Businesses that would like to participate can contact the Manteca Chamber of Commerce at 823-6121 or email joann@manteca.org.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
