The City of Santa Fe Office of Economic Development leads the Go Local, Go Different initiative to encourage spending at locally owned businesses. Programs like the Go Local Rewards Pass offer incentives while helping keep money, jobs, and economic activity rooted in Santa Fe.
What Is the Go Local, Go Different Initiative?
In short: Choosing local businesses in Santa Fe helps keep more money in the city, supporting jobs, small businesses, and long-term economic stability.
Go Local, Go Different is a City of Santa Fe initiative that encourages residents and visitors to support local businesses and keep more economic activity within Santa Fe. The initiative connects residents, businesses, and neighborhood groups through shared participation in local commerce.
The mission is simple: when spending stays local, more of that money continues circulating within Santa Fe. That circulation supports jobs, public services, and the small businesses people rely on every day.
The initiative also provides structure, including incentives, promotional tools, and community-wide participation, which makes local spending easier to sustain.
Sign up your business for the Go Local, Go Different initiative! See the full list of participating businesses.
Locals, tourists, and consumers of all kinds can sign up for the Rewards Pass Program.
Why Supporting Local Businesses Matters in Santa Fe
In short: Spending at local businesses keeps more money in Santa Fe, supports employment, and contributes to long-term economic stability.
Economic research from organizations such as the American Independent Business Alliance shows that locally owned businesses recirculate a larger share of revenue within their communities than national chains. That pattern is directly relevant in Santa Fe.
Here is what that looks like in practice:
1. More dollars stay in Santa Fe
When a purchase is made at a Santa Fe business, a larger portion of that money is reused locally. It pays employees, supports nearby vendors, and contributes to local tax revenue that funds services.
2. Local jobs are supported
The U.S. Small Business Administration identifies small businesses as a primary source of job creation across the United States. In Santa Fe, those jobs include hospitality, retail, creative industries, and skilled trades.
3. The local economy becomes more resilient
A strong network of independent businesses helps buffer Santa Fe against national retail shifts, tourism fluctuations, and supply chain disruptions.
Instead of relying heavily on outside corporations, Santa Fe benefits from a more self-sustaining economic model supported by its own businesses.
How the Go Local Rewards Pass Works
In short: The Go Local Rewards Pass allows users to earn points by visiting Santa Fe businesses and redeem them for rewards.
The Go Local Rewards Pass is designed to make local spending more interactive. It operates through a mobile system that tracks engagement and offers incentives for participation.
Instead of a one-time transaction, the experience builds with each visit. The process works in three simple steps:
- Check in at participating Santa Fe businesses
Each visit adds points to your account, turning everyday stops into measurable rewards. - Complete activities for additional points
Users can earn bonus points through quizzes, featured promotions, and campaign prompts tied to local businesses. - Redeem points for rewards
Accumulated points can be exchanged for gift cards, local offers, or branded items connected to Santa Fe businesses.
The structure encourages repeat visits while also introducing users to businesses they may not have visited before. Over time, that pattern builds stronger connections between customers and local storefronts.
How to Participate in Go Local, Go Different
Businesses use the sign-up process to join and receive updates, tools, and promotional opportunities.
How do Santa Fe businesses participate in Go Local, Go Different?
Local businesses gain structured support that helps increase visibility and customer engagement. Participation includes access to promotional campaigns, inclusion in marketing efforts, and branded materials that identify businesses as part of the Go Local initiative.
How can neighborhood groups and community partners get involved?
Neighborhood associations and community organizations can use the initiative to organize events, strengthen local identity, and encourage participation at a district level. These groups help connect residents and businesses through coordinated community activity.
All groups connect through the same entry point on the City of Santa Fe’s Go Local, Go Different page.
Stay Connected Through the Go Local Campaign
The Go Local, Go Different initiative shares ongoing updates through digital channels that highlight local participation and keep the program active across Santa Fe.
What can you expect to see on the Go Local
Instagram page?
The Go Local Instagram page highlights the people and businesses behind Santa Fe’s local economy. Instead of static promotion, the feed focuses on real, day-to-day activity across the city.
Content typically includes:
- Short profiles of business owners and artists
- Behind-the-scenes moments from local shops and studios
- Updates on events, promotions, and seasonal activity
What do participants receive after signing up?
After signing up for Go Local, Go Different, participants receive regular updates that help them stay engaged with the initiative and connected to local opportunities.
These updates include notifications about Rewards Pass opportunities, invitations to events and campaigns across Santa Fe, and information about new partnerships and participating businesses.
Opportunities for Businesses and Community Partners
Businesses that join the initiative gain access to a structured set of resources. These are designed to increase both visibility and engagement without requiring complex onboarding.
How does participation translate into real support?
- Visibility: Businesses are featured in Go Local promotions across digital and print campaigns
- Events: Participation in neighborhood strolls, holiday walks, and community events that increase foot traffic
- Tools: Access to branded materials such as decals, signage, and promotional assets
- Collaboration: Opportunities to host artists, pop-ups, and community programming
- Incentives: Inclusion in the Rewards Pass system to encourage repeat customers
Rather than operating independently, businesses become part of a coordinated network that encourages local spending across Santa Fe.
View participating Go Local, Go Different Santa Fe businesses.
A Simple Way to Support Santa Fe Every Day
Supporting local businesses in Santa Fe does not require a major shift. It starts with everyday decisions: where to shop, where to eat, and which businesses to return to.
The Go Local, Go Different initiative turns those choices into something larger. Each purchase at a Santa Fe business helps support local jobs, strengthen small businesses, and keep more economic activity within the city.
Getting involved takes only a few minutes. Sign up, start earning through the Rewards Pass, and stay connected to what is happening across Santa Fe.
Join the Go Local, Go Different initiative to get started and follow along on the Go Local Instagram to see the businesses, people, and moments that keep the program active every day.
Frequently Asked Questions About Go Local, Go Different
What is the Go Local, Go Different initiative in Santa Fe?
Go Local, Go Different is a program led by the City of Santa Fe Office of Economic Development that encourages residents and visitors to support locally owned businesses. The initiative focuses on keeping money circulating within Santa Fe while strengthening small businesses, local jobs, and community-based economic growth.
The program connects individuals, businesses, and neighborhood groups through a shared system that includes a public pledge, promotional campaigns, and incentives like the Go Local Rewards Pass. Participants receive updates about events, offers, and opportunities to engage with local businesses.
The initiative also provides businesses with tools such as branded materials, marketing exposure, and access to city-supported promotions. By aligning everyday spending with local businesses, the program supports a more stable and self-reliant economy in Santa Fe while reinforcing the city’s identity through independent commerce.
How does the Go Local Rewards Pass work in Santa Fe?
The Go Local Rewards Pass is a mobile-based program that allows users to earn points by checking in at participating Santa Fe businesses. Those points can be redeemed for rewards such as gift cards, local offers, and branded merchandise, all within the digital pass system.
After signing up, users can check in at businesses across Santa Fe, including shops, restaurants, and galleries. Additional points may be earned by completing short activities like quizzes or campaign prompts. Over time, points accumulate and can be exchanged for incentives tied directly to local businesses.
The system is designed to encourage repeat visits and help users build familiarity with different parts of Santa Fe’s business community. Instead of a one-time reward, the program creates ongoing engagement that supports local businesses while offering tangible benefits to participants.
Why is supporting local businesses important in Santa Fe?
Supporting local businesses in Santa Fe helps keep a larger share of money within the local economy, which supports jobs, public services, and long-term economic stability. Locally owned businesses are more likely to reinvest in Santa Fe through wages, local sourcing, and tax contributions.
Research from the American Independent Business Alliance shows that independent businesses recirculate more revenue locally compared to national chains. In Santa Fe, this means spending at local businesses helps fund infrastructure, schools, and community services through local tax revenue.
Local businesses also contribute to employment across industries such as hospitality, retail, and the arts. By choosing locally owned businesses, residents and visitors support a network of entrepreneurs and workers who live and operate within Santa Fe, strengthening both the economy and the city’s day-to-day function.
How can I sign up for Go Local, Go Different?
Signing up for Go Local, Go Different is done through a single application used by residents, businesses, and community groups. After submitting the form, participants are connected to campaign updates, promotions, and opportunities to engage with Santa Fe’s local business network.
Residents can take the Go Local pledge and begin using the Rewards Pass to earn points. Businesses gain access to marketing support, promotional campaigns, and branded materials. Neighborhood groups can use the platform to organize events and encourage local participation within their districts.
The sign-up process is designed to be simple and accessible, allowing anyone in Santa Fe to participate without multiple steps or separate systems. Once enrolled, participants receive ongoing communication about events, rewards, and new ways to stay involved in the initiative.
What types of businesses participate in Go Local, Go Different?
Go Local, Go Different includes a wide range of locally owned businesses across Santa Fe, including restaurants, retail shops, galleries, service providers, and artisan studios. The initiative focuses on independently owned businesses that contribute directly to the local economy.
Participating businesses can be found throughout Santa Fe, including areas like the Plaza, Canyon Road, and neighborhood commercial districts. These businesses vary in size and industry, but all share a connection to local ownership and community-based operations.
By including a broad mix of businesses, the program allows participants to engage with multiple parts of Santa Fe’s economy. This variety also supports different types of spending, from dining and shopping to services and cultural experiences, making it easier for participants to consistently choose local options.
Article produced by SantaFe.com. Visit Go Local, Go Different for official program information and updates
This article was posted by Jess
