If you’ve visited Kempsey’s CBD recently, you may have noticed a bunch of empty shopfronts.

From Smith Street in the centre, along Belgrave Street to West Kempsey, you’d need more than two hands to count the number of empty stores - some side by side.

We asked business owners in the area why they think this is.

Word on the street is rent is too high for many people to afford, and the rise in cost of living means people are spending less.

Some store owners are concerned there is not enough parking in the CBD for people to stop and shop. Others who have been around for years have noticed a decrease in tourism traffic since the Kempsey Bypass came to be.

All agreed on two things: the empty windows are doing anything but encouraging businesses to open doors in Kempsey and the CBD is in urgent need of revitalisation.

Enter Kempsey Cash

One of the initiatives launched to try and kickstart the local economy again has been Kempsey Cash. These gift cards, launched in late November as part of the Kempsey CBD Activation Group, aim to help support local small business and revitalise the area.

Organiser of Kempsey Cash, Tara Howard, told the Mid North Coaster the gifts cards are a way to promote local shopping and encourage people to participate in the growth of the local economy.

There are currently more than 40 businesses located in West, East and South Kempsey where Kempsey Cash is accepted.

“Over $15,000 of Kempsey Cash gifts cards have been purchased… so far over $4,000 has been redeemed and returned to the local economy,” Ms Howard said.

Where to purchase a card

Kempsey Cash gift cards are available to purchase at five stores in Kempsey;

• 6 Cats Gift Emporium

• Dee-Amber Rural Supplies

• Echo Voice & Data

• Macleay Valley Gems

• Mahogany Collective

How to get involved as a business

Business owners in Kempsey can get involved in two ways;

1. Join Kempsey Cash so cards can be used in their store. The cost to join is $100 for three years which covers set-up costs and advertising.

2. Sponsor Kempsey Cash so it can continue to run promotions and engage with the community.

Owner of Finding Grace Wellness and Sustainability, Grace Gorman said the process of signing up to Kempsey Cash was “super easy.”

“Tara pretty much covered everything, all you had to provide was your business details,” Ms Gorman said.

“It was very straight forward and I would definitely encouraged other businesses to get involved, because why not? You could get extra sales out of it.

“It’s about supporting the initiative and seeing that money move through the community.”

For more information on how to get involved and where to find participating businesses visit www.kempseycash.com.

Kempsey Cash is sponsored by Learning the Macleay, Macleay Valley Business Chamber and Kempsey Shire Council.