More than 500 Cowra Ca$h Cards were loaded during the month of December, with 300 of those cards redeemed in local stores.

The program, which is an initiative of the Cowra Business Chamber, sees participating stores given loadable EFTPOS cards that can be used in any of Cowra's 48 participating stores.

Cowra Shire Council, as a major sponsor of the program can see the benefit to Cowra business.

Cowra Business Chamber committee member Julian Larsen said with the current success of the program, they would like to increase the number of business participating in the program to at least 50 in the short term.

"We'd like to see participating stores more proactive in the cards promotion using print, online, and social media to get people and other businesses interested in the program," he said.

Since its inception, over $32,000 has been loaded on to cards and over $16,000 already spent in participating stores.

"It's not just people who can give the cards as gifts, some of our participating business' have used the cards as Christmas gifts or as bonuses."

More than $2000 has been redeemed at Cellerbrations, Inside Out, The Aussie hotel and Shoes 4 You. The Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant has also had more than $1000 redeemed.

Ginger and Gelato, Sportspower and Hippity Hop have also had over $600 spent in store.

The Cowra Guardian's own Christmas Cracker Draw included $2000 worth of cards.

The cards can be purchased and loaded from, Leading Edge Computers, Cowra Newsagency, Cowra Tourism, Hippity Hop, Lachlan Valley Paint Place, North Cowra General Store, Re'Lish Home and Living, Shoes 4 You, Kendal Street Newsagency, Cowra Bowling Club and Cowra Services Club.

Participating businesses in which the cards can be used include all stores they can be purchased from along with: All Service Motors, Aussie Hotel, Biz-E Bizness Essentials, Blondies Bunches, Breakout Brasserie, Cafe Ruze, Cellerbrations, Cowboy Guns & Gear, Cowra Concrete Products Pty Ltd, Cowra Glass Service, Cowra Guardian, Cowra Motors, Cowra Paint Plus/ Phill's Blinds & Awnings, Cowra Physiotherapy and Health Supplies, Cowra Plasterworks, Cowra Toyota, Datavoice Communications Cowra, Dream Body Retreat, Furphy's Brasserie, Ginger & Gelato Trading Co, Helloworld Cowra, Holmwood Wreckers, Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant, Imperial Hotel, Inside Out Cowra, Lachlan Engineering Services, Lamps 'N Things, Mr Embroidery, Rourke & Henry Kids Boutique, Perfect Health Centre /Yoveda, Skinners Butchery, Sovereign Inn, Sportspower Cowra, Style for Women/ Studio Menswear, The Closet, The Oxley and Webster Optometrists.

The Cowra Business Chamber would like to make a special mention of the efforts of Simon Davis, Julian Larsen and Ben Casey for all their hard work implementing the scheme.

The Business Chamber would also ask that if residents have any suggestions on businesses they would like to see in the program to contact them via phone on: 0499981889 or by email: julian.larsen@elders.com.au