Who is eligible to be a business in the Idea of Haywood County Passport Program?

• Businesses in the area of Restaurants/ Food, Lodging, and Retail/Tourism

• Businesses must have a Brick and Mortar location

• Can non-brick and mortar businesses sign the pledge but not participate in the passport program?  (Yes see below)

• Businesses must sign Diversity Pledge and pay $20 Fee

• All businesses must be within the boundaries of Haywood County

How will customers know which businesses are a part of the passport program?

• Each business will have a print out qr code that will be scannable and be taken to the list of participating businesses for the Passport program. 

• Businesses eligible will display a safe space sticker on their doors

• Businesses will be marketed publicly for participation on the IDEA website.  

• Businesses will be shared publicly through weekly feature posts. 

Where will passports/rewards be available for pick up?

• TBA

How do businesses apply to be a part? 

• Interested businesses will submit an application

• Each business will be reviewed by a committee of local IDEA of Haywood County community members

• Businesses will also be asked if they can offer any free items for the reward program (i.e. free cup of coffee from Sippers).

• Upon review of application each business will receive an acceptance/denial email detailing the committee's decision.

• Approved businesses will be asked to make payment and sign a one page Diversity Pledge in person with a member of the Passport Committee. 

How do we accept businesses? 

• Do they meet the eligibility requirements in question 1?

• Do they have a good reputation with the community?

• Have they committed to the Diversity Pledge? 

• All businesses will receive an approval or denial letter.

How can businesses who do not meet the eligibility requirements of being a Brick and Mortar or Tourism category participate and show that they are a safe place for diverse folks both locally and for traveling visitors?

• Businesses not eligible for the Passport Program can submit an application to be put into our DBD (Diversity Business Directory).

• They will be asked to pay a $10 fee to cover sticker costs.

What if there are repeat types of businesses or competitors? 

• The more the merrier!

How do we vet businesses to make sure they are not just performative and hold businesses accountable? 

• Diversity Pledge

• Quarterly Reviews

• Training Documents

• Community Feedback 

How many levels of stamps will there be in order to get a reward? 

• TBD 

How will businesses “stamp” the Passport? And can you get multiple stamps from one business? 

• Each business will be correlated with a number for stamping.

• Businesses will be provided with their numbered stamp.

• Only one stamp per business in 30 days.