San Luis Obispo’s Small Gift Card Program Brings In $737K for Local Businesses

The City of San Luis Obispo’s 2025 Buy Local Bonus program generated $737,676 in local economic impact during the holiday season, the City said in an announcement.

The City invested about $100,000 in $25 gift cards purchased from local businesses, which led shoppers to spend an additional $638,300.
Officials said the program generated a 642% return on investment.

For the sixth consecutive year, the City partnered with the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce to run the holiday shopping incentive program and support small businesses during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year.

The program generated $737,676 in total economic impact, including $638,300 in shopper spending, the City said in the statement. Customers were required to spend at least $100 to qualify for a $25 gift card, with the average qualifying purchase totaling $160.42.

In total, 3,975 entries were approved based on 6,357 submitted receipts.

The results are in, and the City of San Luis Obispo’s 2025 Buy Local Bonus program funneled $737,675 into the local business community. Read the announcement: https://t.co/CmlbrcyHre pic.twitter.com/Y93jGOq8v3

— City of San Luis Obispo (@City_of_SLO) February 12, 2026

City officials said the program sold out four days earlier than anticipated.

“This is just one of the many ways your local government supports SLO-grown businesses,” said San Luis Obispo City Manager Whitney McDonald.

What is San Luis Obispo’s Buy Local Bonus Program?

Launched in 2020, Buy Local Bonus has generated a return on investment of more than 600% each year, according to the City. Between 2020 and 2024, the City invested more than $600,000 in gift cards, and more than 13,000 participants submitted receipts totaling nearly $3.7 million in local purchases.

Since 2020, the program has generated more than $4.2 million in economic impact and more than $5 million in direct local impact to businesses, according to the City.

Under the program model, the City purchases $25 gift cards from qualified local businesses and distributes them to shoppers who meet the spending requirement.

In 2025, 159 businesses participated, including 49 first-time participants. The program ran from Black Friday, November 28, through December 20, when all incentives were claimed.

According to Garret Olson, president and CEO of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, the Buy Local Bonus program benefits both businesses and residents. He noted that the community’s response to supporting local shops during the holiday season has been encouraging.