Across our waterfront communities, you’ll find shops, restaurants, small businesses and service providers that have chosen to invest right here at home. They’re the ones who add life to our towns, who sponsor our events, and who show up time and again when this community needs them.

As holiday shopping ramps up and to-do lists start piling up, the Delta County Chamber of Commerce encourages you to take a moment and put local businesses at the top of your list. Supporting them matters more than we often realize, and this season there’s a little extra reward waiting for doing just that.

Our Sleigh the Deals promotion is back, and it’s as simple as this: shop or dine locally now through Dec. 25. Bring your receipts to the chamber by Dec. 29 and you could win $1,000. For every $100 you spend at a Delta County business, you’ll get one playing card from a multi-deck box. Gather the best standard poker hand, and you’re the winner. There’s no limit to how much you can submit, though only up to five cards can be earned from any one receipt.

As you’re out picking up gifts, grabbing dinner or running errands, be sure to check out our membership directory (and a complete list of contest rules) first at deltami.org. You might discover a business you haven’t tried before that would truly appreciate your business.

Sheila Krueger

And here’s the best part — the friendly faces behind those counters will be just as happy to see you as the person receiving your gift. When you shop local, you’re giving twice, once to someone on your list, and once to the community we all call home.

And who knows? On Jan. 5, when the winning hand is announced, you might just pick up $1,000 reasons to celebrate.

A huge thank you to Gladstone and Escanaba Downtown Development Authorities, Community Foundation for Delta County, Crawford Funeral Homes, Island Resort & Casino, Radio Results Network, Lakestate Industries, Delta County Economic Development Alliance and Escanaba Radio Group for sponsoring Sleigh the Deals and supporting our community this season.