Greater Hammond Chamber’s Small Business Express has 50 small retail stops

The Greater Hammond Chamber of Commerce is encouraging people to gift shop with 50 participating member small businesses and have a chance at $2,500 in prize packages during a 24-day holiday shopping event. The second annual Small Business Express event will run through Dec. 17.To participate, community members purchase a $5 event card from the chamber office at 400 NW Railroad Ave., Hammond, online at hammondchamber.org, or from a participating nonprofit organization. They then visit the 50 featured storefronts.Stamped cards must be returned to the chamber office by 4 p.m. Dec. 17. The drawing will take place Dec. 18.Chances to win prize packages are based on the number of businesses visited and purchases made. Cardholders visiting more than 20 stores and making purchases at 15 of them will be entered to win the $500 grand-prize package. Shoppers also could win one of three $250 packages, one of 10 $100 packages or one of five $50 prizes, depending on a descending number of stores visited and purchases made.