NewTown Macon launched Love Local, a campaign to collect love letters for downtown business owners, on Friday, February 5. Community members can now write a love note to their favorite downtown business and NewTown Macon staff, with assistance from Main Street Macon board members, will deliver the letters to downtown business owners throughout the month of February.

The campaign was modeled after a similar program created by the Downtown Frederick Partnership in Frederick, Maryland. The purpose of Love Local is to express appreciation for downtown business owners who invest their profits in the local community and to encourage Macon-Bibb citizens to shop small year-round. For every $100 spent at a local, independently owned business, $68 stays in the local community, compared to just $43 for every $100 spent at a franchise or chain store.

“2020 was one of the most challenging years downtown Macon business owners have collectively faced,” said Emily Hopkins, Director of Place and Main Street Macon Manager at NewTown Macon. “The COVID-19 pandemic is not over, and downtown businesses are continuing to adapt their business models to serve their customers safely, which can be costly and exhausting. We hope this campaign will help encourage business owners and their employees during this difficult time and remind them of the positive impact they have on their customers.”

To incentivize participation in the campaign, NewTown Macon will enter participants’ names in a drawing to win a $100 gift card to the downtown business of their choice. Each valentine a citizen submits is an entry into the gift card drawing. The winner of the gift card will be announced March 1.

Maconites can drop off their love letters in the red mailbox at NewTown Macon’s office at 555 Poplar Street in downtown Macon through February 28. Letters should be placed in an envelope provided by NewTown Macon that lists the business’ name and contact information of the person sending the note. Citizens also have the option to send a virtual valentine to their favorite business by filling out a form on NewTown Macon’s website at www.newtownmacon.com/love-local.