![Through the new Akronite app, participants can earn blimps that can be used for purchases in Akron. [Akronite]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d3497ef/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1440x757+0+0/resize/840x442!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fimages%2Fnews%2Fnpr%2F2020%2F08%2F901471566_1681772848.png)
One Akron business owner is optimistic about the potential impact of a new app launched by the city to support local businesses.
Called Akronite, the app aims to increase community engagement and connect residents with local retailers. It incentivizes “Akronites” to shop locally with a rewards system featuring a blimp. Blimps can be collected and used for purchases around Akron.
Charlie Somtrakool, who owns Cilantro Thai and Sushi in Downtown Akron, hopes the Akronite app can help him rebound from the pandemic and ongoing construction projects nearby.
“It’s really a lot of rewards to be getting back to the user at low costs, and I like that the business is actually not losing anything, because the city actually subsidizes those discounts,” he said.
Somtrakool said business has started to pick back up with dine-in customers, and he hopes the app will bring in new ones.
The city partnered with tech company Colu to design the app.
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