South Carolina Town Takes Cue From Ardmore on ‘Downtown Dollars’

Citing the success of Ardmore’s “Downtown Dollars” program in recent years, officials in the coastal town of Beaufort, South Carolina (south of Charleston and just north of Hilton Head) are following Ardmore’s lead and introducing sell $15,000 worth of “Main Street Dollars,” The Beaufort Gazette recently reported.

“The idea is borrowed from a program started in Ardmore, Pa., a few years ago, where ‘Downtown Dollars’ has become so hot, the organization raffles them away,” wrote reporter Erin Moody.

“They got buzz, and got people talking, and that’s what we want,” Main Street Beaufort Executive Director LaNelle Fabian told the newspaper. “We hope it pays a payroll, pays a rent.”

The scrip can be used through March 31 at participating businesses.

“We’re thrilled to know that our Downtown Dollars program is being used by other communities, and we appreciate that they acknowledged us in their marketing,” said Christine Vilardo, executive director of the Ardmore Initiative.

“Downtown Main Street organizations ... are generally all understaffed and under-funded. ...A rising tide floats all boats.”—Christine Vilardo

Vilardo added that when the Downtown Dollars program won a Townie Award last year—from the Pennsylvania  Downtown Center—for Best Retail Marketing Initiative, the National Trust for Historic Preservation picked up the story and the Ardmore Initiative to write a “how-to” manual for other communities.

Ardmore can now say it has literally written the book on the local currency innovation.

“We were happy to comply,” Vilardo said about the request. “Downtown Main Street revitalization organizations across the country are generally all understaffed and under-funded, and we all do our best to help each other however we can.”

Main Street Beaufort is paying for the program with $7,500 from its marketing fund, according to the report, but the hope is that—as it was with Ardmore—additional funding will come from local banks. Purchases with Main Street Dollars are limited to $100 to increase participation within the community.

Beaufort officials are targeting a traditional slow season for downtown businesses. If it works, they may do it again in late summer.

Evidently, not everyone in town is in love with the idea.

“Using parking fees (government funds) to fund downtown shopping (private business) smacks of socialism,” commented “thinkingengineer,” below the story. “... In this strong Republican state one would think that his sort of government intrusion in the private market would be frowned upon.”

“Things are slow this time of year!” said “Blk97.” “But with all of the crime, I`m afraid to take my family shopping. Everybody [is] packing. No thanks, you can keep your ‘Main Street Dollars’.”

“I don't get it,” wrote “scbebo.”

Vilardo sees it in terms of trying different ways to boost the bottom line—in a word, initiative.

“It is very rewarding to see that our program is benefiting other communities and small businesses across the country,” she said. “A rising tide floats all boats.”