May 20, 2009

Thank you for your interest in the People's Stimulus Package. We've been inspired by the following story to do our own stimulus package for our community. We've given each of our 200+ employees a packet of $2 bills to spend at their community businesses to help stimulate the local economy. It's not much but we hope that it will help some of you through these tough economic times. And as you see these $2 bills circulating around town, we hope it may inspire you as well.

Alabama pharmacist launches homegrown stimulus
Associated Press
By CONNIE BAGGETT
Friday, March 06, 2009

A small-town pharmacist intrigued by the government's economic stimulus plan decided to launch his own version with $16,000 in $2 bills, and area stores have already felt the impact.

Danny Cottrell gave each of his full-time employees $700 and part-timers $300. He asked them to donate 15 percent to charity and spend the rest locally, particularly downtown, where store owners say that business has been lean.

"I wanted to do something for my employees, let them know our business is not in jeopardy, and for the local merchants," said Danny Cottrell, owner of The Medical Center Pharmacy with its main store in Brewton and a second in Atmore. "This seemed like a good way to do it."

Cottrell said he paid his employees with $2 bills so he and the rest of the Escambia County business community could see how the money circulates...Full Story