Seward County residents are being encouraged to show their support for local by nominating their favorite local business for the honor of being the USA’s Favorite Local Business for 2026.
Supported by The Seward County Chamber and Development Partnership, the free competition invites residents to nominate their favorite local business and share why they think it deserves to win. Shops, restaurants, salons, hotels, attractions and services are all eligible to be the USA’s Favorite Local Business 2026.
Donna Hendrickson, membership chair of the SCCDP, said 49 businesses in Seward County are part of the gift card program. Only businesses that accept the Seward County Chamber Bucks are eligible to be nominated for the potential honor.
“It’s national, but we decided to do it,” she said.
The USA’s Favorite Local Business will be the one that receives the most votes in the nationwide competition and will win $1,000 in Downtown Gift Cards, such as the Seward County Gift Card.
One person who nominated the winning business will also receive $1,000 in Downtown Gift Cards.
The SCCDP upgraded its popular Chamber Bucks system for the high-tech Seward County Gift Card in 2022 as part of efforts to keep dollars local and make spending easier in the county. Cards can be spent at multiple participating local businesses in Seward County including shops, restaurants, flower stores and cafés.
“Local businesses are irreplaceable, and if we want to keep them, we have to champion them,” Hendrickson said. “It takes minutes to nominate a Seward County business as the USA’s best and there is a fantastic prize on offer. Restaurants, shops, boutiques, cafés and salons are all eligible. Being nominated as the USA’s Favorite Local Business would be a huge boost for any business.”
The Seward County Gift Card program is part of a broader initiative from Miconex, in partnership with EML Payments.
Colin Munro, CEO of Miconex, said: “We’re pleased to launch the USA’s Favorite Local Business for 2026 in Seward County. We’ll be celebrating businesses that are nominated so we can shine a light on the positive impact our local shops, restaurants, hotels, attractions, salons and services have on our economy, and on the vibrancy of our local communities.”
Nominate your favorite local business for free at www.lovelocalwin.com and watch the video.
The competition closes on Nov. 30, 2026.
