Holiday Shopping Support for Small Businesses in Oakland County

(CBS DETROIT) – As holiday shopping kicks into high gear, Oakland County is taking steps to encourage residents to support small businesses in the area. To promote local gems, the county has launched a sweepstakes called “Local Gems.” This exciting initiative allows residents to participate by sending a picture of themselves at their favorite small business in the county. In return, they stand a chance to win attractive cash prizes, with $1,000 for the first prize, $500 for the second prize, and $250 for the third prize.

The “Local Gems” sweepstakes, which runs from November 1st to November 25th, is carefully organized and managed by the Oakland County Department of Economic Development’s annual Small Business Campaign. This campaign seeks to uplift and highlight the importance of small businesses in the county.

Last year, the sweepstakes received an impressive 952 entries, generating significant social media attention for 486 local businesses. This demonstrates the impact and reach of this initiative in promoting small businesses.

“The holiday season is the perfect time to patronize and champion the amazing array of small businesses in Oakland County,” said Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter. “These businesses are what make our communities the unique and vibrant places that people want to call home and attract visitors to stop, walk, and shop.”

To participate in the sweepstakes, individuals must be 18 years old or older and a Michigan resident. Photos of their favorite small businesses in the county can be submitted through the website www.OakGov.com/ShopSmall. Participants are allowed to submit only one photo of their favored small business.