MIDTOWN EAST — The East Midtown Partnership is planning to launch a free "passport" to local businesses next month, issuing tens of thousands of reusable discount- and special-offer cards for shoppers to use at neighborhood stores.
"Every business can set its own individual deal for people using the card," said partnership president Rob Byrnes. "They'll be able to use their specific business knowledge, knowledge about what consumers want, to bring people to their businesses."
The organization will distribute 20,000 of the free passport cards when the program launches on or about April 1. The cards will largely be given out through local community groups, such as block associations and community boards, Byrnes said.
"It's beyond just getting a card printed and getting it out to the people in the area. We're going to be working with community groups and distributing it through them, so community groups have something to give to their members in their catchment areas," Byrnes told DNAinfo.com New York.
Participation for local businesses is free — the partnership has simply asked neighborhood shops and restaurants to submit details about the deals they plan to offer, which will then be listed on the organizations's website.
To learn more, visit the East Midtown Partnership website.
