A city-run cash back program is steering shoppers towards downtown Littleton and pumping local dollars into small businesses, city leaders say.
Open Rewards launched as a pilot in 2023 by Littleton’s economic development office. It gives customers 5% cash back when they upload receipts from participating shops and restaurants to an app. The cash can be spent again at other businesses in the program, creating a cycle of local spending, supported by the city budget.
“We started with a few dozen, then a few hundred, and now we have over 3,000 users for the program,” Littleton’s Director of Economic Development Rachel King said. “Through the program, we have seen almost $2 million in economic activity stimulated by our city investment.”
The program is open to nonresidents as well as those who live in Littleton, encouraging tourists to spend their money in Littleton. Businesses that join receive marketing materials to advertise their participation, and the city proactively reaches out to new businesses to help them sign up.
“Littleton in particular has a really high percentage of local small businesses, and we know that’s a core piece of our economy,” King said. “It helps us retain businesses that have been here for a while, increases shopping activity at those businesses, and it also helps us when businesses want to expand and relocate here to Littleton.”
City-funded program gives shoppers who spend money in Littleton 5% cash back
Mayor Kyle Schlachter said the initiative is part of a broader push to showcase Littleton’s charm as a hub for family-owned shops and unique, small retailers. The cash-back program, while funded by the city budget, encourages shopping which increases sales tax revenue for the city…