A Layered Success: How Arlington County and Local BIDs Team Up to Maximize Open Rewards

Located on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River directly across from Washington, D.C., Arlington County, Virginia, is a vibrant community with a rich history and a dynamic local economy. Home to major national landmarks like the Pentagon, the county also boasts bustling commercial corridors and a population of roughly 240,000 residents. Arlington is known for its strong community engagement and innovative approaches to economic development, making it an ideal environment for initiatives that uplift local commerce.

To stimulate the local economy and encourage residents to shop small, Arlington Economic Development's BizLaunch partnered with Open Rewards, giving residents and visitors a county-wide rewards app to earn rewards simply by supporting local personal service, restaurant, and retail businesses anywhere in the County.

The Unique Layered Approach

What makes Arlington County's implementation of Open Rewards truly remarkable is its innovative County/BID layered structure. By default, Arlington County provides a base 5% reward on purchases made at eligible local small businesses. However, individual Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) have stepped up to contribute an additional 5% reward for purchases made within their boundaries.

This collaborative model means shoppers can earn a 10% total reward when supporting businesses in participating BIDs. National Landing, Ballston, Columbia Pike, and Rosslyn have all participated in this layered structure.

Spotlight: National Landing BID

National Landing has distinguished itself as a leader in creative, community-driven engagement, using Open Rewards as a vehicle to actively celebrate the diversity and cultural richness of its business community throughout the year.

Their promotional calendar is a standout example of how thoughtful programming can amplify a shop local program's reach.

During Black History Month, Women's History Month, Pride Month, and Hispanic Heritage Month, National Landing BID spotlights local businesses and encourages customers to show up and shop with purpose by giving customers an extra 5% at the select businesses during each of those months,

Seasonal campaigns around major holidays give residents even more reason to shop local, turning celebrations into opportunities to support their neighborhood businesses.

By tying Open Rewards campaigns to cultural moments that matter, National Landing has transformed the program from a loyalty tool into a meaningful community connector. This approach not only drives foot traffic to local businesses but also fosters a deeper sense of belonging and pride among residents.

Partnering with Major Employers

Perhaps the most creative initiative to come out of National Landing's Open Rewards program is its official partnership with Amazon titled "Welcome Back Amazonians." As Amazon employees returned to Metropolitan Park — the vibrant heart of National Landing and Amazon HQ2's home — the National Landing BID and Amazon joined forces to roll out a special promotion designed to connect those employees with the local small businesses right outside their doors.

Through this collaboration, Amazon employees received a $15 Open Rewards Cash voucher (redeemable with the code AMAZON15) to kick-start their local shopping journey. But the incentive didn't stop there: on top of the standard 10% layered reward (5% from the county + 5% from the BID), shoppers also earned an extra 5% bonus on purchases at businesses within Met Park itself — making it one of the highest-reward shopping experiences in the entire program.

This public-private partnership is a model of innovation: it harnesses the scale of one of the world's largest companies to drive foot traffic and spending to the smallest businesses in the neighborhood, ensuring that the economic energy of Amazon HQ2 radiates outward into the local community.

A Playbook for Counties and Regions

The partnership between Arlington County and its local BIDs demonstrates a powerful blueprint for maximizing the impact of the Open Rewards program. By layering county-wide funding with BID-level investment, Arlington has created a model that goes far beyond simple cashback. It's a community-building engine that keeps dollars local, celebrates the diverse fabric of the area, and delivers measurable economic returns that any local government would be proud of.

To explore how this model could work for your county or region, schedule some time here.