Shawnee creates Shawbucks contest to draw business downtown during construction

Shawnee has launched “Shawbucks,” a contest that encourages customers to shop and eat at the businesses and restaurants downtown.

Lauren Grashoff, neighborhood planner, said the extensive construction with Nieman Now! has impacted many of the businesses along Nieman Road and Johnson Drive.

“We wanted to appreciate the patience that they’ve had with the city and the ongoing construction,” Grashoff said. “This is just kind of a way to support them and offer an incentive for people to visit the businesses downtown.”

Here’s how it works: Customers can visit any of the 29 participating businesses. While shopping or grabbing a bite to eat, they can fill out a free entry slip to have a chance at winning $25 worth of Shawbucks. City staff will draw four winners at a time, twice a month. Winners can spend their Shawbucks at any of the participating businesses. Shawbucks expire when the contest ends at the end of construction next year.