The Pacific Area Chamber of Commerce, Pacific Partnership and city of Pacific are ready to roll out a gift certificate program first announced four months ago.

Area businesses and industries are being encouraged to utilize the gift certificates which can be redeemed at local retailers in lieu of cash as employee incentives, bonuses or outright cash.

The certificates are as good as cash and are bought and sold at face value. They are available in $5, $10 and $20 denominations. Participating businesses are listed on the back of the certificate.

Beneficiaries of the project are the local retail businesses who agree to accept the certificates as cash and redeem them at the Chamber office.

Organizers are calling on retailers to explain how the certificates work and encourage them to be one of the places where the certificates can be spent, according to Mike Bagwell, Partnership president.

The gift certificate program is modeled on a similar successful program in Washington, which promotes shopping in Downtown Washington.

The Pacific group expanded the market area to the footprint of the Meramec Valley R-III School District, which edges into Villa Ridge, Catawissa, Robertsville on the west and St. Louis County on the east.

Once the list of participating retailers is established, the certificates will be printed and will go on sale at the Chamber office and at city hall.

The Chamber, Partnership and city plan a promotional campaign to educate the public, the retail community and the larger businesses that routinely give to employees and donate to civic organizations, about the value the certificates have to the local economy.

“If the program is as successful as we think it can be, it will definitely be a lift to the local economy,” said Bill McLaren, Chamber president. “We’re committed to promoting our local businesses and this is something that’s easy to understand.”

For more information about the gift certificate program, contact Brad Reed, Chamber vice president, at 636-271-2308.