ESCANABA — On this final day of November, it seems like the perfect time to wrap up the season of thankfulness by showing appreciation for our Delta County businesses. Throughout our waterfront community you will find businesses and individuals who have chosen to invest in Delta County.

These businesses are the heartbeat of our towns and are also those who contribute to our events and fundraisers time and time again.

As we prepare for the hustle and bustle that December brings and we dive headfirst into our Christmas preparations, the Delta County Chamber again encourages you to try to increase your focus on shopping locally.

We all know it is important, but it is helpful to get a reminder now and again. In addition to a friendly reminder, wouldn’t it be nice if you could even be rewarded for shopping locally? Thanks to the wonderful sponsors of our Sleigh the Deals promotions, shoppers can do just that.

That is right – now through December 24th shop and dine locally for a chance to win $1,000.

The goal of the game is to assemble the best possible standard poker hand using cards earned by bringing receipts from Delta County Businesses into the Chamber of Commerce for verification.

Players are given one playing card from a multi-deck shoe for every $100 worth of receipts that they bring in. There is no limit on the total amount of receipts that players may bring in, however there is a limit of five cards that may be received for any given receipt.

As you assemble your shopping list, I encourage you to check out our membership listing (and a complete list of contest rules) at deltami.org and stop into one of the many fine businesses to check those names off your list.

I assure you that the faces that greet you within will be as happy to see you as the recipient of your gift. Give the gift that keeps on giving, the gift of supporting Local. And while I am confident that investing in your community is reason enough to celebrate, who knows ~ you may just end up with $1000 worth of reasons to celebrate!

Special thanks to the Escanaba Downtown Development Authority, Community Foundation for Delta County, Crawford Funeral Homes, Island Resort & Casino, Radio Results Network and Delta County EDA for their sponsorship of Sleigh the Deals!

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Sheila Krueger is associate director of the Delta County Chamber of Commerce.