The dollar amount may not be high, but Zelienople's distribution of COVID-19 relief funds to its residents is likely to give some boost to the local economy.

Beginning in late October, the borough sent out a $50 electronic gift card to roughly 3,000 people that can be used at more than three dozen Zelienople businesses as an effort to infuse money into both the pockets of residents and local shops and restaurants.

Don Pepe, borough manager, said that council had been deliberating on ways to stimulate its local businesses and residents who had been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated state-mandated business closures and limitations. Although the idea to use money from its electric fund was nixed — Pepe said that's not an appropriate use of that fund — money the borough received from the state government in a Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act grant fit the bill perfectly.

“Council was thinking of how to help people during times where the economy was somewhat depressed,” Pepe said. “We investigated a couple different things to do there, and we hit upon this gift card program, which is a one-time program, but it allows money to be infused into peoples' hands.”

Pepe admitted the borough may have missed some residents, and invited those who didn't receive a card to contact his office with their name and address. Zelienople used its utility bill lists, lists of senior citizen residents provided by retirement homes, and lists of area businesses. It was a “daunting” task, Pepe said.

It's just one of many efforts the borough has advanced to help both businesses and residents in the long shadow of COVID-19. Matthew Edwards, Zelienople Area Business Association president, said that while previous ideas — such as the erection of temporary outdoor tents at which restaurants could serve food, or the Thursday sidewalk vendors — had come from ZABA's discussions with the borough, this undertaking came from the municipality itself.

“We have to give credit to the borough. This is something they did (on their own),” he said. “My understanding is that these were funds they received from the state for COVID relief, and they decided to use it in this way.”

He added that while businesses have not reached out to him en masse to say they had seen customers using the cards, a small group of retailers had, and the gift card is sure to have a significant, even if monetarily small, impact on area outfits.

“Not only is it a free $50 gift card for all of the residents and businesses of Zelienople, it's also money that has to be spent right here. It's not $50 they sent out to use as you wish; it came with the stipulation that, 'Here's $50 that you have to use in Zelienople,'” Edwards said. “That's a fantastic use of those funds to help Zelienople that not only benefits the consumer, but benefits the local businesses along the way.”

Pepe said while the program is still in its early days, it has benefitted a number of people and should see more success during the upcoming holiday shopping season.

“It's been successful. It's really been successful,” he said. “It's not a $2,000 stimulus, but it is something that would help folks, and it would help people with a number of different things, including paying their utility bills,” although nobody to his knowledge has yet used it for that purpose.

Edwards noted the upcoming Christmas season should have another positive impact on Zelienople shops and restaurants, particularly with the borough's continued cooperation to help find a positive medium between supporting local markets and keeping shoppers safe from the coronavirus.

“The gift card was a great thing,” he said. “There's a handful of things, our holiday events coming up that we're excited about that the borough, again, has worked with us on and allowed us to move forward with so long as we take certain precautions.”