Orland Park, in the south suburbs of Chicago, has launched a loyalty program designed to encourage civic engagement.
In partnership with Chicago startup BondingPoint, an online platform, inour.community/orlandpark, in late January began offering members an initial set of opportunities to earn points and rewards.
The site so far features 18 categories, each with multiple ways for members to earn points. Categories include Community Pride, Supporting Area Businesses, Village Programs and Spotlight On Our Non-Profits.
The Community Pride category, for example, invites members to earn points by trying an Orland Park trivia contest, re-tweeting a congratulatory message for the Carl Sandburg High School Cheer Team, and posting a photo of a favorite Orland Park location on Instagram with a specific hashtag. Points may also be earned by attending events such as the Chilly Willie Chili Challenge, answering village surveys, and fulfilling civic duties such as not waiting until the last minute to register their vehicles.
Points are then redeemed by bidding on numerous items on the website. At launch, rewards included four tickets to see "The Million Dollar Quartet," the first dance at the Daddy-Daughter Dance, skydiving sessions, a variety of gift cards, and lunch with Orland Park's mayor.
"What makes this a novel program is that people can earn points for being more engaged and for things they do all the time in Orland Park, like eating at local restaurants, visiting village buildings, attending village events, shopping at Orland Square," said the town's Trustee Jim Dodge, in a statement.
Area businesses can get involved by providing goods and/or services that would be used as rewards on the site, and can also advertise on the InOur.Community website. Ad revenue will support the program.
"Knowing that communities thrive when their local businesses thrive, we're making it possible for even the smallest of businesses to market themselves," said BondingPoint CEO and Orland Park resident John Calzaretta.
BondingPoint works with the Chicago Park District and private-sector clients, but Orland Park is the first town to use the company's platform, according to the Chicago Tribune. Membership is free and open to Orland Park non-residents.