Agents of change extending discount plan to stores all over

When store sales are down, it's often small, local businesses that bear the brunt of it, but the city's Department of Neighborhood Development recently announced a plan to soften that blow.

Shops all over the city can now sign up for the Boston Community Change Program, which gives shoppers a cash incentive to spend their money locally. Customers who shop at participating stores get a small rebate on each purchase, with another portion directed to a nonprofit organization or school of the customer's choice.

For the last two years the program has been open only to stores within the city's 19 Main Street districts, but enrollment has now been extended throughout Boston. Already about 10 businesses on Beacon Hill, including Charles Street Supply Co. and Dahn Yoga, have joined.

"It's important," said Steven Rumpler, acting business manager for the program, "to help buffer small businesses in this tough economy and help drive more dollars to our downtowns."

Business owners who register select the size of the rebate they wish to offer. Currently there are more than 200 participants, most of which offer rebates between 5 and 10 percent.

All the business has to do is swipe a customer's card after a transaction. The program takes care of getting the refund to customers and to its 500 nonprofit beneficiaries, Rumpler said. More than 7,000 shoppers have Community Change cards. They're free, at www.bostoncommunitychange.org.

The program is modeled after a similar initiative in Seattle. Boston and Cleveland are the only other US cities that have established such a plan. By opening enrollment citywide, Rumpler says, he hopes to strengthen the connection between residents and the businesses that serve their neighborhoods.

"That's what this is all about. Supporting local residents, local organizations," he said.

KRISTI CECCAROSSI