Derry MLA Sinead McLaughlin has urged people to spend their High Street Voucher in those local businesses who faced long closures during lockdown.
The High Street Voucher Scheme was launched last week as part of the Executive's covid recovery programme. The first set of vouchers are set to arrive in the coming weeks, with shoppers having until the end of November to spend their £100.
The SDLP's economy spokesperson, in addressing the Assembly, urged those applying for the voucher to think of those local businesses that faced months of closures over repeated lockdowns.
With the end of the furlough scheme, those local businesses face a fresh set of challenges easing out of covid restrictions.
Ms McLaughlin said: "Our independent locally owned retailers and hospitality businesses are on their knees. While the big supermarket chains survived without losing turnover, in fact many increased their takings, it was the small independents that have been in crisis throughout the pandemic, and still are today.
"Despite the support from rates relief and furlough, I can tell you that many, many local businesses have been contacting my office in dire situations.
"Some business owners have been crying as they told me they couldn’t afford to keep paying staff who have been loyal to them for year after year.
"I am now pleading with consumers to show that loyalty in their use of the new £100 High Street Vouchers, spending them in our independent locally owned businesses. We need these independent traders today and we need them in the future."
McLaughlin added that both Derry city centre and the Waterside's Spencer Road area now have a large number of charity shops, because so many consumers are buying goods online.
She urged shoppers to spurn the online giants and shop local both for the long term and with their High Street Vouchers.
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