Shop, Taste, Adventure, Your Kearney with the new STAY Kearney Gift Card

PRESS RELEASE.

The Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce has transformed its paper Buffalo Bucks into a

convenient, high-tech Gift Card, offering a fresh and modern way to explore and enjoy Buffalo County.

The motivation behind the new STAY Kearney Gift Card upgrade is to provide greater support for Chamber members – STAY is an acronym for Shop, Taste, Adventure, Your. This versatile gift card can be used at various participating Chamber businesses across the Kearney area, including shops, restaurants, and service providers.

Buffalo Bucks generate almost $100,000 in sales annually, serving as popular gifts for consumers and as employee rewards for organizations.

The STAY Kearney Gift Card is available to buy online at www.staykearneygiftcard.com or in person at the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce, located at 220 11th Avenue.

Derek Rusher, President and CEO of the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce, stated that the new STAY Kearney Gift Card will offer meaningful support to small businesses: “We’re excited for the launch of the STAY Kearney Gift Card. Buffalo Bucks were popular, but they’ve become outdated with many businesses no longer accepting checks. Our aim with the new STAY Kearney Gift Card is to make it easier for businesses to accept and get paid quickly, and easier for consumers to spend with a wide variety of Kearney area businesses. By encouraging shop local, we can give practical support for small businesses.”

Derek adds: “Kearney is one of the larger communities in central Nebraska with around 34,000 residents, increasing to 50,000 during the daytime. Our strong retail, hospitality and accommodation offering brings visitors from miles around. The STAY Kearney Gift Card is a Gift Card for locals and visitors, and for organizations to use as rewards, so recipients can fully experience the Kearney area.”

Barista’s Daily Grind is among the businesses that accept the STAY Kearney Gift Card. Owner Jasmin McGinnis stated: “Barista’s Daily Grind specializes in handcrafted beverages that go beyond the ordinary, offering everything from meticulously brewed coffee and tea to creative seasonal features. Our motto is ‘pure customer love’, and that’s what drives us every day—serving with excellence, appreciation, and a genuine passion for what we do.”

Jasmin continues: “At Barista’s Daily Grind, we are proud to support the STAY Kearney gift card program, which keeps Kearney dollars in Kearney. As a locally owned business, we understand the value of reinvesting in our community and helping it thrive. Programs like this strengthen the local economy and ensure that dollars spent here continue to benefit our neighbors, friends, and families. Every dollar spent at an independent business like ours directly supports local jobs, local partnerships, and community growth. Unlike corporate chains, we’re not just part of the community—we’re rooted in it. Supporting STAY Kearney aligns perfectly with our mission to serve with excellence and appreciation, and we’re thrilled to be part of an initiative that helps our town flourish.”

Builders, a business that offers both retail and service-based solutions, accepts the new STAY Kearney Gift Card. Stacy Andersen-Bivona, the chief executive officer at Builders, said: “Builders is a family-owned and operated business which started in Kearney. We have been proudly serving the Kearney community for nearly 50 years, offering high-quality materials and expert guidance for construction, remodeling, and home improvement projects.”

Stacy adds: “The STAY Kearney Gift Card is a fantastic initiative that simplifies the process for both businesses and customers. As a local business, we’re always looking for ways to support and strengthen our community, and this program makes it easier to keep dollars circulating right here in the Kearney area. The STAY Kearney Gift Card program will encourage more people to shop local and discover all that Kearney businesses have to offer. It’s also a great tool for employers to show appreciation to their teams while making an economic impact. Ultimately, it’s about building a stronger, more vibrant community, which is something we’re proud to be a part of.”

FNBO is another organization that supports the STAY Kearney Gift Card. Nathan K Dorsey from FNBO commented: “For more than 165 years, FNBO has proudly served individuals, families, and businesses across the Midwest, with a steadfast commitment to building strong, vibrant communities. As a strong advocate for local businesses and community development, FNBO is proud to support the STAY Kearney Gift Card Program. This initiative represents an innovative step forward from the traditional Buffalo Bucks program, offering a modern, streamlined solution for both businesses and customers. By participating, we are not only reinforcing our commitment to Kearney’s economic vitality but also helping create a convenient, user-friendly experience that benefits everyone involved.”

Nathan continues: “The STAY Kearney Gift Card program is a game-changer for our local economy. It encourages residents and visitors alike to shop locally, discover new businesses, and invest in our community. For employers, it’s a fantastic tool to recognize and reward employees while keeping dollars circulating within Buffalo County. This program has the potential to strengthen Kearney’s business network, foster local pride, and ensure long-term economic success for our community.”

The STAY Kearney Gift Card is part of the Downtown Gift Card concept from fintech Miconex in association with payments technology solutions provider EML Payments.

The STAY Kearney Gift Card is issued by Pathward®, N.A., Member FDIC. Funds do not expire, are non-reloadable, and have no cash access. For Cardholder Agreement or Customer Service: www.getmybalance.com or 1-833-558-1088.

Pathward ®, N.A., a national bank, is a subsidiary of Pathward Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq:CASH). Pathward is a U.S.-based financial empowerment company driven by its purpose to power financial inclusion. Pathward strives to increase financial availability, choice, and opportunity across our Partner Solutions and Commercial Finance business lines. The strategic business lines provide end-to-end support to individuals and businesses. Learn more at Pathward.com.

Press information

For media inquiries, please contact: 

Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce, 220 11th Avenue, Kearney, NE 68845 drusher@kearneycoc.org