Juneau-based small business loyalty and rewards application, The Local Frequency, was selected as one of seven Strong Communities Award finalists competing for $15,000, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines announced.

True North Federal Credit Union, an FHLB Des Moines member, partnered with the Juneau Economic Development Council to apply for the Strong Communities Award. This annual award honors the projects, people and programs that promote local small business growth and retention. Winners will be determined through a five-day public voting period beginning on Oct. 4 and ending on Oct. 8, 2021. You can vote once per day.

[New app offers rewards for shopping local]

“Local Frequency is a loyalty program that encourages Juneau residents to shift their spending habits to support local businesses. Loyal small business supporters are rewarded with cashback on every purchase made at participating businesses. Various ‘shop local’ campaigns have existed. Still, we wanted to go a step further and implement a technology-based tool that would incentivize users to spend locally. The user loads Local Dollars from their debit or credit card to the application and spends it at their favorite brewery, wellness shop, or restaurant. A traditional dollar backs a Local Dollar, except that the Local Dollar can only be spent at participating local businesses through the app. It’s simple: carry one loyalty app to use at multiple locations and earn cashback on each purchase, plus other rewards.” said Brian Holst, executive director of JEDC, in a news release.”We strongly believe in Local Frequency’s mission, which connects locals and locally owned businesses. I urge you to go online and vote for this innovative project to win this year’s Strong Communities Award.”

JEDC the first organization in the United States to implement the Canadian developed application, according to the local private, nonprofit corporation.

In a news release, FHLB Des Moines challenged members of the Juneau and larger Alaska community to cast their votes in favor of the Local Frequency project by visiting the Strong Communities Award homepage at www.fhlbdm.com/award.

The voting serves as a component of the selection process to select the winners. Winners will be awarded $15,000 each, and runners-up will be awarded $3,000 each.