The Westbury Business Improvement District (BID) has launched a special advertising campaign this holiday season to promote the Village of Westbury's downtown shopping district, BID Executive Director Geraldine Sweeney announced this week.

The BID spent $10,000 on radio spot advertising on WLIR KJOY 98.3 FM, and donated $8,000 in gift certificates for listener prizes. The gift certificates are for $100 each, and are redeemable at Westbury village stores. They are being given out to Long Islanders in need through radio station caller contests.

"It's advertising money that's spent, but it's guaranteed to go back to our merchants. So it goes right back to the village," explained Sweeney.

She urged local residents to listen to the radio station to "Try to enter the contest. Or if they know someone in need and want a Christmas wish granted, they can win a $100 gift certificate, to be used at any of over 100 Westbury village merchants."

The BID has also done newspaper advertising to encourage shopping in the local business district this holiday season, and has put up new and improved decorations. The organization purchased 50 new 48-inch wreaths, with candles in the center, at a cost of $16,000. The wreaths have been placed on lampposts throughout the village, including Post Avenue, Maple Avenue and Union Avenue. They have gotten rave reviews from local residents and businesspeople, according to Sweeney.

"We spent a lot of money this Christmas. But it's been well worth it," she said. "The response has been really great. People have been shopping. We've had people report back to the village that the village just really looks phenomenal this year. Merchants who are assessed in the BID really feel that their tax money is showing up in improvements in the village."

The Westbury BID has been in operation for almost 10 years. Its annual budget of $70,000 comes from a special BID fee assessed to all commercial property owners within the district.

Sweeney encouraged local residents to continue to patronize their local merchants, as village stores are holding a special holiday sale, featuring discounted merchandise, this weekend.