As part of the Flint & Genesee Chamber’s “Spread the Cheer Sweepstakes,” held at the end of 2020, community members were asked to answer the following question: “If you could give some extra love to any independently owned business in Flint and Genesee County this holiday season, which would it be?”

Over the course of five weeks, the Chamber received thousands of unique entries recommending businesses from all over the county and randomly selected five winning submissions. In each case, the business listed on the entry received $1,000, and the person behind that submission won a $500 Visa gift card to put toward their holiday shopping budget.

“We were blown away by the winners and their stories,” said Tyler Rossmaessler, the Chamber’s director of economic development. “The most phenomenal part of this experience was to call the business owners and hear what they were passionate about.”

Among the winners was Bambi Kelley of Grand Blanc, who nominated B-Dogs Hot Dog Cart at the Flint Farmers Market and spent most of her winnings locally.

“We will be visiting (owner) Tim Bishop at B-Dogs as soon as he is back up and running, and we are able to do so,” Kelley said. “We also supported amazing restaurants such as Dom’s Diner in Flint, Antonio’s Coney Island on Fenton Road and MD’s Tavern in Davison—they have amazing pulled pork nachos! We shopped at local small businesses in the community as well.”

According to Rossmaessler, that sentiment captured the goal of the program, which aimed to lift up area businesses and the people who support them.

To learn more about the businesses that won the holiday sweepstakes, scroll down!

B-Dogs Hot Dog in Flint

Bear Soup Deli in Davison

Great Lakes Smoothie Co. & Eatery in Swartz Creek

Cancun Mexican Restaurant & Cantina in Fenton

Kicker’s Sports Bar & Grill in Grand Blanc

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