Ten lucky winners will each receive $100 per week for six weeks to spend at their favorite places to eat and drink in Everett; transit passes offer connection to the city
Everett connects transit and community to support the economic recovery of its local restaurants and thriving neighborhoods.
The City of Everett and BostonBRT, a research and community engagement initiative spearheaded by the Barr Foundation and managed by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), in partnership with Nift, last week launched the “Love Your Neighborhood” contest that gives back to local restaurants fighting hard to survive winter during the COVID-19 pandemic while highlighting the city’s transit successes and goals.
Building on the BostonBRT Cares campaign, this free open-entry contest gives the greater Everett community the opportunity to share their favorite eateries within Everett for a chance to boost their business during these challenging times. Participants will receive a $30 Nift gift card and are automatically entered to win a $25 MBTA bus pass. Ten winners will be selected over the five-week contest period; each winner will receive $100 per week for six weeks to spend at local restaurants (in-door dining or takeout) within the City of Everett, using the Nift platform.
Created by Ad Hoc Industries, a core member of BostonBRT and led by Creative Director Adrian Gill, the “Love Your Neighborhood” contest incorporates forward-thinking elements of transit and support for neighborhood businesses – both of which anchor local communities when they need it most.
“After a year like no other, we took a deep look at how to continue to prioritize transit as essential to get people where they need to be, especially in a time of crisis, while helping alleviate other challenges that affect our communities” said Julia Wallerce, ITDP Boston Program Manager. “This contest does that. It showcases how transit is not separate from but an essential part of thriving neighborhoods. By making that connection between transit and community, we expanded our focus to do our part in helping local businesses survive the pandemic while bringing awareness to transit goals within the Everett community.”
Said Mayor Carlo DeMaria, “We are in a time of crisis and recovery. Yet, it is initiatives like this one that continue to heal and strengthen our community and its local businesses when they are most challenged. From better transit to thriving and resilient local businesses, Everett is persisting.”
“Transit and community are inextricably linked, the link is people, so it’s important for BostonBRT to recognize the moment and take action in new, creative ways,” said Gill. “The idea for the “Love your Neighborhood Contest” was conceived with the perspective that food is central to most communities, and with that we wanted to create a virtuous circle giving both people and businesses in Everett a helping hand. The contest builds on a sense of community and emphasizes that Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is really about the people it serves.”
Participants can submit their entries on social media by commenting on @BosBRT’s posts across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with three favorite places to eat in Everett. For an extra entry, participants can post a picture of their favorite restaurant on their own channels, tag @BosBRT and use #EverettBRT. Submissions will be accepted from February 1st until March 10th in four different languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese and Haitian Kreyol). Winners will be announced every Wednesday for five weeks, beginning February 1 and ending March 10.
For more information about BostonBRT and the “Love Your Neighborhood” contest rules, visit www.bostonbrt.org/lyncontestrules.