ByHaines
The ByHaines program started as a collaboration between the Haines Chamber of Commerce and Haines Economic Development Corporation to promote the power of buying locally and to call individuals to increase their local shopping.
A small grant from the Chilkat Valley Community Foundation supported the creation of posters and advertising, and the Haines Borough Assembly has supported tax-free holidays as a means to boost local spending during PFD and Christmas events. The ByHaines Facebook page supports these events and also promotes local business happenings such as First Fridays and sales. as well as a video spotlight series on individual businesses.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the ByHaines program was funded by the Haines Borough Assembly to incentivize local shopping. By spending $300 on discretionary products or services individuals received a $100 voucher redeemable at participating businesses of their choice. The program’s goal is to encourage local spending habits and stimulated nearly half a million dollars in local business purchases over the three separate rounds of funding.
In addition, the program was used to distribute emergency funds donated during the 2020 landslide and flooding disaster to ensure that money donated to the community was also spent in the community.