A new outreach initiative, in partnership with 36 small, local businesses, encourages Haywood County residents to shop local, eat local, promote businesses on social media and use the Haywood County Public Library (HCPL). Implemented by the HCPL, the purpose of this project is to support local businesses and to encourage use of the public library.
Participating businesses are in Waynesville, Hazelwood, Clyde, Maggie Valley and Canton.
People can pick up a passport at any participating business, a Haywood County Public Library branch, or print out a passport from the HCPL website to take part in this event. Passports will be stamped with a special stamp at participating local businesses or the public library. Stamps can be collected from Aug. 1 through Sept. 30.
Each individual is eligible to submit one passport for a chance to win a small business prize pack. All completed passports must be returned to any library branch by Sept. 30 to be eligible for the drawing.
Visit participating businesses and complete the tasks on your passport. Each business can only provide one stamp on your passport and there are six stamps to collect.
To complete the passport, do the following:
• Shop local
• Eat local
• Promote on social media
• Get/renew a library card or check out two or more items
“The Small Business Passport program provides the library system with a wonderful opportunity to partner with and promote local small businesses, and in return, promotes Library services to the community,” said Kathy Vossler, library director. “We are thrilled to have so much community support for this inaugural program.”
For information, contact Deanna Lyles, Haywood County Public Library’s community engagement librarian, at [email protected] or call (828) 356-2509.