City of San Luis Obispo, CA

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.

Through Buy Local Bonus in 2025, the City invested in local businesses by purchasing about $100,000 in gift cards that community members could then earn for shopping local during the holiday season. This resulted in shoppers spending an additional $638,300, a 642% total return on investment.

“This is just one of the many ways your local government supports SLO-grown businesses,” said San Luis Obispo City Manager Whitney McDonald. “We are happy to invest in local businesses each year through Buy Local Bonus and we thank community members for continuing to ‘support local’ during the holiday shopping season.”

For the sixth year in a row, the City partnered with the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce to bring the Buy Local Bonus Program to the community and incentivize local spending during the holiday season. The City purchased more than two dozen $25 gift cards from 159 qualified local businesses, including 49 businesses participating for the first time. Then, from Black Friday on November 28 until it sold out on December 20, 2025, shoppers who spent $100 or more at local retailers and saved their receipts were eligible to qualify for a $25 gift card as a reward for supporting local businesses in the city of San Luis Obispo. 

“The Buy Local Program is really popular with our customers,” said Jenny Kompolt, co-owner of Junk Girls. “Many of them save their holiday purchasing for the Buy Local Bonus program to take advantage of the benefits for both their wallets and supporting our community. It's a win-win all around, and we're grateful to be a part of it.”

This year’s program was so successful that it sold out four days sooner than anticipated. Combined with the City’s investment, the total direct local economic impact reached an impressive $737,676. While $100 in local spending was needed to qualify for a $25 gift card, the average amount spent per qualification was $160.42. In total, there were 3,975 qualified entries from shoppers who submitted 6,357 receipts.

“The Buy Local Bonus program is a true win-win for our community,” said Garret Olson, President & CEO of the SLO Chamber of Commerce. “It’s fantastic and incredibly impactful to see so many people rally behind their favorite local businesses during the holiday season, and we’re thrilled to ignite our local economy in partnership with the City.”

Buy Local Bonus has demonstrated consistent success in driving local spending over the last six years, with a return on investment regularly exceeding 600%, highlighting the program’s ability to deliver significant lasting impact on the local economy. Since 2020, the Buy Local Bonus program has generated more than five million dollars in direct local impact to businesses in SLO.

MEDIA CONTACT: Hollie West, hollie@slochamber.org, (805) 786-2777.