WilmingtonMADE is seeking more businesses as it launches billboard campaign

The WilmingtonMADE campaign, a project by Wilmington Alliance, Cornerstone West and Downtown Visions, launched early this year as a way to simplify supporting small businesses in Wilmington through the COVID-19 pandemic. It drew dozens of local restaurants, retailers and makers, including Makers Alley, Squeezebox Records and Addi Naturals, just to name a few.

Last week, the project launched a citywide billboard campaign to boost awareness and draw in even more local businesses to participate:

“SHOP SMALL. SUPPORT LOCAL.”

“Wilmington is full of hidden treasures and we are uncovering them one by one and adding them to our WilmingtonMADE list of businesses,” said a recent call-to-action email from Wilmington Alliance. “The best part of shopping small and supporting our Wilmington restaurants and business owners is that YOU are helping to strengthen the economy as we all rebound and rebuild from a tough year.”

Currently listing over 80 businesses in nine categories, the WilmingtonMADE website is a portal for shoppers, diners and Delawareans looking for service providers. If you have a local businesses that is consumer-facing on any level, you can sign up to be added to the list for free.

Users are incentivized to buy from the participating businesses with a rewards program where those who upload or text their receipts from a transaction are entered to win gift cards and other prizes, through April 30.

The website also features resources for Wilmington small business owners — including the Wilmington Strong Fund, which is still awarding $1,000 grants — and an events and attractions page for making plans as COVID-19 restrictions start to loosen.