The city of Pinole has launched a digital gift card program meant to encourage people to spend money at local businesses.

The Pinole Perks program for a limited time is offering people who purchase a digital gift card an additional 50 percent in money based on their purchase, according to the city.

More than 20 merchants around Pinole have signed up to participate in the program, which allows users to buy a card between $20 and $200.

“The Pinole Perks program is designed to promote small independent merchants, encourage shopping and dining at local businesses, and incentivize residents to resume and continue their patronage of services in Pinole,” city community development director Lilly Whalen said in the announcement about the program.

More details about the program and all participating businesses can be found online.

Dan McMenamin is the managing editor at Bay City News, directing daily news coverage of the 12-county greater Bay Area. He has worked for BCN since 2008 and has been managing editor since 2014 after previously serving as BCN’s San Francisco bureau reporter. A UC Davis graduate, he came to BCN after working for a newspaper and nonprofit in the Davis area. He handles staffing, including coaching of our interns, day-to-day coverage decisions and management of the newswire.