Unique gift card program aimed at helping struggling uptown Charlotte businesses

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte Center City Partners just launched a unique way to help uptown Charlotte businesses through the holiday season.  The group announced the start of QC Cash, an e-gift card program that allows customers to pay for items using their phone.

QC Cash can be used at more than 50 local businesses including restaurants, shops, salons, spas, hotels, museums and more.

Charlotte Center City Partners hopes people will purchase the e-gift cards for family and friends this holiday season and encourage people to shop local at uptown businesses. 

The e-gift card works just like a gift card, except customers display the QC Cash on their phone at participating retailers. 

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Uptown Charlotte businesses have been struggling as the pandemic drags on. With some of the city's largest companies like Wells Fargo announcing extended work from home orders, fewer people are making their way into the heart of the city on a daily basis. 

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Restaurants like Queen City Q, Halcyon and La Belle Helen have all been forced to close over the past several months. 

"The people who work or live in Uptown know just how important these small businesses are to making this such a thriving neighborhood. We are proud to partner with major employers and residential communities to launch QC Cash to support retailers and restaurants that have felt oversized impacts from the pandemic," said Michael J. Smith, president and CEO of Charlotte Center City Partners.  

QC Cash can be purchased online.  Organizers hope the e-gift cards make great gifts for the holidays or as a thank you gift for companies to give their employees. 

“Our hope is for QC Cash to create more earned income for our small businesses Uptown not only over the holidays but throughout winter, which we know will be a difficult time,” said Rick Thurmond, SVP of Community and Economic Development at Center City Partners.

 “QC Cash also creates new opportunities for people to rediscover Uptown and directly participate in preserving the vibrancy that all of us believe makes this place so special," said Thurmond.