Plano's downtown gift card program is entering its second year, according to Downtown and Cultural Arts Manager Michelle Hawkins. Starting Nov. 13, shoppers who buy a gift card from a downtown Plano business will receive an additional card worth half its value. Hawkins said a $50 purchase would earn a $25 card, and a $100 purchase would earn a $50 card. She said the program runs until its funds run out. Last year, it lasted through January.
Hawkins said the program is funded by the downtown Public Improvement District, or PID. The PID also pays for window cleaning for local businesses, holiday decorations, new rooftop lights, and events such as scavenger hunts, movie nights at Haggard Park, Art Fest and Steinfest. A banner art competition for Plano ISD students is expected to return in spring 2027, she said.
Hawkins said the current PID was created in 2023 and will last 10 years, according to the city website. Property owners contribute based on the square footage of their property, she said. The city also contributes up to $120,000 a year, though it is not required to. Plano City Council approved the PID's budget for fiscal 2026-27 in August.