A promotion to boost holiday commerce in downtown Vicksburg is making its debut this month.
Vicksburg Village Manager Jim Mallery provided details related to Burg Bucks during the Village Council’s Oct. 20 meeting. The program is offered thanks to a $25,000 grant the municipality secured from the Vicksburg Foundation.
“It’s a gift card program specific to village of Vicksburg businesses,” he said. “So, if individuals get a gift card under the program – whether it’s in $25, $50 or $100 denomination – they’ll receive a 25 percent bonus card.”
As an example, Mallery said someone purchasing a $100 gift card to use at participating businesses will receive an additional $25 in the form of a bonus card. It means, Mallery said, if $100,000 in retail sales are made through the program, that will mean $125,000 in revenue.
As of late October, about two dozen downtown businesses have agreed to take part in the program.
“We are working on others and we will be sure to list in our promotional materials those retail establishments that are participating in the program,” Mallery said. “I’m not quite certain … why a local shop would not participate in this program; there’s no additional cost to them.”
Burg Bucks and the bonus are set up to be secured online, Mallery noted.
Mallery said he expects the village to use all its social platforms to promote the program as well as encourage consumers to shop local.
“There will be extensive marketing through social media and links to be able to purchase those cards,” he added.
Mike Moore, Vicksburg’s director of community development, has played a key role in securing businesses to participate in the Burg Bucks program.
He said Burg Bucks became available for purchase the last week of October. An awareness campaign, however, kicked into high gear earlier this month, Moore said.
“Our goal was to get every downtown Vicksburg business on board, of course, but getting a couple dozen for a first-year program was considered a good start,” he said. “All the money stays in the village, so that’s a huge benefit of Burg Bucks.”
In other action at the Oct. 20 meeting, Mallery said Christmas in the Burg takes place Dec. 13. Board members discussed putting together a Village Council float.
Also, Mallery shared the weekly Burg Days series this summer averaged close to 4,000 people per event. The village was able to confirm approximately three-quarters of the people who took part in the Wednesday evening program downtown were from outside Vicksburg.
“It’s anticipated well over half a million dollars of economic impact,” were realized as a result of the 2025 Burg Days, Mallery said.
