This passport will let you travel to shopping destinations in Lee’s Summit

Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street has launched a new program to bolster business in the area this summer.

The Love Local Summer Passport program also is designed help offset losses with the canceling of events such as Downtown Days because of COVID-19. Downtown Days is a cornerstone fundraiser for Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street, a nonprofit that promotes and preserves the area.

“We thought of the program as a way to get shoppers into downtown safely over the summer months,” says Ashley Nowell, assistant director of Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street. “We had discussed doing a passport previously, and had seen it done in other locations.”

Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street holds hundreds of events annually, Nowell said.

“Downtown Days is the largest fundraiser for our organization and typically occurs the first weekend of June. Since we were unable to have that, the passport was a great way for us to raise support as well. Many of our businesses benefit from Downtown Days and other shopping events that we plan. These events bring in increased traffic and not being able to have them has hurt our businesses financially.”

For $35, a person receives a Love Local T-shirt and a passport. The passport includes offers from more than 40 locally owned businesses in Downtown Lee’s Summit. Proceeds from the sale of the T-shirt and passports go to Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street.

Each offer is good for one use per passport holder, and is valid through Sept. 21.

The program’s length and the flexibility businesses have in creating offers are intentional as businesses begin to reopen their doors in earnest.

“Each business is different, and it is up to them to decide if the deals can be used online or with curbside,” Nowell says. “One of the main reasons we decided to offer the passport for so long was so customers could determine how and when they were comfortable shopping.”

Even the shirts have a purpose, as they’re printed with the names of participating businesses.

“We also have seven sponsors that supported the program financially: Lee’s Summit Medical Center, Local Foundry and Fossil Forge, Arvest Bank, Security Bank, Midwest Property Resources and Freestyle Graphics.”

Barb Keller, owner of All A’Bloom Flowers & Gifts, is thrilled with the idea – especially since it also helps Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street.

“I love the idea of the passport program,” Keller says. “I am excited to see our customers come in and start using it. It’s going to bring everybody back downtown and they don’t have to come back in a big group because it’s spread out.

“Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street does so much. We’ve all been talking about how can we continue to support the organization, especially when we are not able to have big events.”

Like all business owners, this year has been rough for Keller to navigate. She shut down the retail business in March but continued to do bridal consultations. Orders for the Easter holiday and Mother’s Day were made, but often limited because of lack of supply.

But in mid June, All A’Bloom is open with a strong supply chain, safety protocols in place, and the entire staff back and healthy.

“It’s beginning to feel like a new normal,” Keller says.

It’s possible the program will be repeated.

“We have discussed bringing it back,” Nowell says. “We have already had a large number of pre-orders and the community seems really excited about it. Once we see how the summer goes with our retailers and restaurants, and if they remain supportive of the program, our staff will discuss doing another one.”

For more information about the passport program, go to downtownls.org/passport