Bridge Bucks

The Bridge Bucks Program was developed:

• To provide an innovative way to encourage repeat customers and increase sales for the businesses affected by the bridge and road construction in Haddam and East Haddam.
• To show the state and local commitment to the businesses located within the bridge and road construction areas.
• To maintain a healthy business community within the bridge and road construction radius, leading to maintained and increased employment opportunities for local residents.

Bridge Bucks coupons will be printed, sequentially numbered, and distributed in a $10 denomination. The recipient businesses will distribute the Bridge Bucks in amounts relating to the amount of the original purchase. For example, $10 Bridge Bucks can be given to a customer following a $50 purchase, and/or the $10 Bridge Bucks can only be redeemed with a subsequent $50 purchase. The specifications on how Bridge Bucks are to be given out will be determined by the individual recipient business.

Once the Bridge Bucks have been redeemed, the business will submit for reimbursement to the Middlesex County Revitalization Commission, the administrator of the program.  Beginning in the spring of 2024, this program will be available to businesses through 2025.  Fifty percent of the program funding will be distributed in the first year of the program, with eligible businesses able to apply for and receive up to $750.00 each year.

The Bridge Bucks Program is a program of the Middlesex County Revitalization Commission (MCRC). A subcommittee of the Commission will review applicant eligibility, and if an applicant is eligible, the MCRC Administrator will manage the distribution, tracking, reporting, and reimbursement of the Bridge Bucks.

Applicant Eligibility

Eligible businesses are defined as a business that produces, sells, or services any type of consumer goods, and has a significant reliance on drive-by traffic, generally, defined as retail, retail service, and restaurants.

• The business may be a for-profit United States Corporation, LLC, partnership, sole proprietorship, or a non-profit organization [501(c)3 or 501(c)4] and possess good character and reputation.
• Be located within the towns of East Haddam or Haddam, and within 10 miles of the East Haddam Swing Bridge.
• The applicant must be in good tax standing with the State of Connecticut Department of Revenue Services.
• The applicant must be compliant with the Connecticut Department of Labor Office of Unemployment Assistance and all applicable state and federal employment laws and regulations, including but not limited to minimum wages, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, and child labor. Proof of good standing will be required.
• The business must be in good standing with the town where they are located.
• The business must be up to date on all prior MCRC and state lending programs, if applicable.
• Please note even if the business meets these conditions, it will be disqualified if it has any of the following:
  • Active bankruptcies or eviction proceedings
  • Owners with unpaid child support
  • Outstanding tax liens/judgments

 Ineligible businesses include:

• Corporate-owned chains or franchises with two or more locations (single-location franchises are eligible to participate)
• Payday loan businesses
• Adult-oriented businesses
• Passive real estate investments
• Pyramid schemes or multi-level marketing firms

Application and Distribution Process

MCRC will distribute up to 50% of the funding during the first year, and 50% of the funding, and any re-allocated unredeemed funds in the second year. Each Bridge Buck will have a six-month expiration date from the date of distribution to allow for funds recovery and redistribution of all unredeemed funds.

Given the six-month expiration date on the Bridge Bucks, MCRC anticipates up to four rounds of the program, depending on the amount of unredeemed “Bucks” returned following expiration.

Businesses within a 10-mile radius of the Swing Bridge/Bridge Street area in Haddam and East Haddam may apply for up to a maximum distribution of $750.00 Bridge Bucks through an online application in a secure portal. Participating businesses can re-apply for a second or third round only if the business has successfully participated and all reporting requirements have been fulfilled in a previous round.

Applications will be reviewed for accuracy and eligibility as they are submitted, and a MCRC sub-committee will review the applications on a bi-weekly basis and make approvals.  The MCRC Administrator will notify the business and distribute the approved Bridge Bucks in person to the business point of contact.

Compliance

A formal agreement between the assisted business and MCRC will be required. This agreement will constitute the means by which MCRC monitors and enforces compliance with the grant program requirements.

All applications are to be submitted online.  You will receive a confirmation of receipt.

There are five sections to the application:

1. Business information
2. Description of the impact of the DOT projects on the business to date
3. Description of how the business plans to use the Bridge Bucks – develop a new promotional campaign or incorporate the Bridge Bucks into an ongoing promotional campaign, including a narrative on how the Bridge Bucks will be distributed
4. Description of how the business plans to track/monitor the redemption of the Bridge Bucks
5. Certification

All applications must include the following documentation:

• IRS Determination Letter (nonprofit organizations only)
• Letter of Good Standing from the CT Department of Revenue Services
• IRS Form 941 for the previous calendar quarter

Please make sure you have these documents as PDF files to upload during the application process.  Please remove all password protection.

Click here to download the MCRC Bridge Bucks eligibility requirements and application questions.

Applications will be reviewed for accuracy and eligibility as they are submitted, and a MCRC sub-committee will review the applications on a bi-weekly basis and make approvals.  The MCRC Administrator will notify the business and distribute the approved Bridge Bucks in person to the business point of contact.

We highly recommend all businesses that are interested in participating in the Bridge Bucks Program attend an information session before starting the application. Each session includes a discussion on eligibility, application requirements, how the distribution and reimbursement process will work, and tips for submitting a successful application.

The information session schedule is listed above. If you are not able to attend a live session, you may watch a recording here.

The MCRC Administrator is available to help answer your questions ONLY AFTER you have attended a live or on-demand information session. Please click here to schedule an appointment.  

*Applications will be reviewed by a panel of MCRC Commissioners and experts from the community. The MCRC Administrator will not be making the decisions on who receives the Bridge Bucks.

Please request your letter from the CT DRS myconneCT online center: myconnectCT

Here is a tutorial on how to request the status letter:  Requesting a Status Letter (of Good Standing)

Click for an example of what your status letter should look like. Please note that if it does not look like this – it is the wrong document.

Every month all businesses that have been provided with “Bridge Bucks” will be reminded via email to report on usage and will have until the 15th day of the month following to provide a usage report.  Reporting must include:

• Total number of “Bridge Bucks” provided to business
• Total number of redeemed “Bridge Bucks” within that period
• Certificate number of all redeemed “Bridge Bucks”
• Submission of images of all redeemed “Bridge Bucks” along with receipts showing the transaction associated with the “Bridge Bucks” redemption
• Percentage increase/decrease in sales/revenue from the previous month
• Increase/decrease of employees from the previous month

Middlesex County Revitalization Commission will report to the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, every quarter, the total amount of all redeemed “Bridge Bucks,” an accounting of all outstanding “Bridge Bucks,” and the balance of funds remaining to distribute. In addition, information on the businesses will be submitted to include the increase/decrease in employment and the increase/decrease previous month’s sales.

Once the reimbursement request has been reviewed and approved by the MCRC Administrator, it will be processed for payment and sent to the business within a week.

Eligible businesses are defined as a business that produces, sells, or services any type of consumer goods, and has a significant reliance on drive-by traffic, generally, defined as retail, retail service, and restaurants.

• The business may be a for-profit United States Corporation, LLC, partnership, sole proprietorship, or a non-profit organization [501(c)3 or 501(c)4] and possess good character and reputation.
• Be located within the towns of East Haddam or Haddam, and within 10 miles of the East Haddam Swing Bridge.

Full eligibility, application, and reimbursement requirements can be downloaded here.

A Bridge Buck is a printed coupon with a value of $10.00 redeemable for a discount on purchase. They may only be used during a subsequent purchase at the business listed on the coupon. Bridge Bucks may be distributed in multiples to increase the total discount on the next purchase. Each coupon is numbered and has a six-month expiration date assigned.

Bridge Bucks are to be distributed and redeemed per the process as outlined in the approved application.

All questions regarding distribution, redemption, and reimbursement should be addressed to the MCRC Administrator via email at rebecca@middlesexchamber.com.

No, the business does not need to be a member of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce to apply for or participate in the Bridge Bucks Program.

The Middlesex County Revitalization Commission (MCRC) is an independent organization with members representing the 15 towns in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along with a representative from the Chamber.

One aim of the Bridge Bucks Program is to help maintain a healthy business community within the Swing Bridge and road construction radius, leading to maintained and increased employment opportunities for local residents. Obtaining employment numbers before, during, and after the funding is important to gauge program effectiveness.