Butte Bucks already going fast

Buy now, spend later

Think of it as a homegrown economic stimulus plan. The popular Crested Butte-Mt. Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce Butte Bucks promotion has started and will run through January 15. Under the program, people can buy so-called “Butte Bucks” at a 20 percent discount to cold, hard cash and spend them at participating local businesses. The list of businesses stands at about four dozen but will likely grow.

“We started selling them on Tuesday and probably sold $3,000 in the first couple of hours,” said Chamber of Commerce Operations and Member Relations Manager Kristen Van Hoesen. “Given the history, I’d anticipate that we’ll sell them out by this coming Monday.”
The chamber is selling $35,000 of the Butte Bucks this winter. Van Hoesen said normally, the chamber sells $20,000 in Butte Bucks. “It really works as an active stimulus for the local economy,” she said.
The Bucks can be spent starting on Light Up Night, Saturday, December 5 until January 15.
The 20 percent discount ($7,000) is made up by the chamber and participating businesses and through contributions from the towns of Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte. Crested Butte donated $2,000 to the winter program, while Mt. Crested Butte chipped in $1,000.
Buy Butte Bucks at the Chamber Visitor Center. There is a $100 limit per person per day. Essentially, you can hand over $80 and get $100 in Butte Bucks. They will be sold until all $35,000 is gone.
For a list of participating businesses, please click here or call the chamber at 349-6438.