OGDEN -- A merchants organization has inserted in water bills a voucher for discounts at Historic 25th Street establishments as part of a cooperative effort with the city to bolster business downtown.
The Historic 25th Street Business Association placed the voucher in August bills free of charge because Ogden co-sponsors the organization, said John Patterson, the city's chief administrative officer.
Non-profit events and associations co-sponsored by the city, activities in municipal-owned buildings, and other governmental entities are generally permitted to place inserts in water bills provided the mailer doesn't increase the cost of postage, Patterson said.
Weber State University, the annual Hot Rockin' 4th event and the George S. Eccles Dinosaur Park have placed inserts in water bills, he said.
Commercial businesses are not permitted on an individual basis to insert mailers in water bills.
Dave Davis, president of the Utah Retail Merchant's Association, said Thursday the concept of government partnering with business is good but it's concerning if establishments not affiliated with the Historic 25th Street Business Association are excluded from using water bills for promotional purposes.
The Historic 25th Street Business Association spent more than $1,000 to print 30,000 vouchers and to pay a company to insert them in the bills, said Thaine Fischer, who handles marketing for the organization. About 24,000 vouchers were inserted in the water bills and the remaining 6,000 will be available at 25th Street businesses and distributed downtown.
The voucher seems to an effective way to attract customers to businesses on 25th Street which bolsters the local economy, said Steve Conlin, president of the Historic 25th Street Business Association.
"Judging from the reaction we are getting, it appears to be a great way to reach the community," he said.
It makes sense for the city to promote 25th Street businesses as part of its commitment to revitalize the downtown area, Patterson said.
Mayor Matthew Godfrey agreed.
"Clearly the success of 25th Street is important to the city," he said.
This story is the subject of comments at the Weber County Forum
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