Sue Howard won the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce’s Buy Mower, Grow Mower prize drawing.

Sandy Forstner, executive director of the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce, drew Howard’s name from between 700 and 800 entries in the contest.

Howard won $340 in Chamber Bucks based on receipts she provided for shopping in Austin between Dec. 14 and 20.

Howard said she and her husband, Steve, shopped at such stores as Hy-Vee, Pro-Build and LA Nails, among others.

She registered for the prize drawing last August at the 2008 Mower County Fair.

According to Forstner, the promotion emphasizes how shopping locally can help the economy.

He has obtained endorsements of the promotion from the city of Austin and Mower County.

Forstner said it is an attempt to generate more awareness among the public and private sectors at the “leakage” of retail tax dollars to other counties and cities outside Mower County.

Howard said “shopping at home” was a “bait” for her husband, retired Mower County Sheriff’s deputy Steve Howard, and herself.

Forstner said the promotion has had a “very positive impact.”