Local Chamber of Commerce a Partner for Unusual Employee Benefit

Looking for new ways to help your employees (and your business) offset the rising cost of gasoline? The answer may lie with your local area Chamber of Commerce. A first across the country, the Dayton, OH Area Chamber of Commerce (DACC) has partnered with the nation's fourth largest company-owned and operated convenience store chain and the largest in the Midwest with approximately 1,600 stores located in nine states. The DACC offers its members gas cards through Speedway SuperAmerica, LLC, similar to gift cards that, when loaded with cash, give member employees 6 cents off per gallon when they use the card to pay at the pump. Chamber members can order cards for all of their employees and family members. There is no cost to participate, except for cash to load the card. Load it with $100 in cash and get $106 in gas!

There are several ways this offer can benefit employer and employee. If the employer pre-loads gas cards for employees to fill their tanks, the money spent stretches a little further. The same is true for employees who wish to have these for their own families. If you spend $500 a month in gasoline, wouldn't saving 6 cents a gallon help? It doesn't seem like a lot, but it buys another $30 in gas. The idea can also be used to help manage or budget fuel expenses. No matter who loads these cards with cash, the benefit at the pump is still one that is worth consideration.

How does it work?

After the DACC Member receives its cards, the employee must go to a Speedway, SuperAmerica or Rich location, hand the card and cash to the cashier, tell them how much to load on the card, use the card to Pay at the Pump to receive 6 cents per gallon discount, and pump your gas.

What states is this program in?

This particular program is good in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and South Dakota; although they do have locations in two other states (West Virginia and Wisconsin) but the discount does not apply.

What's the catch?

• You have to load the card with cash

• You only get the 6 cent discount when you use this card for payment at the pump

• You can't buy preloaded cards

• This card isn't valid in WV & WI

Check with your Area Chamber of Commerce and see what kinds of benefits you may access.