MARTINSVILLE The renovation of the former Morgan County Courthouse has turned downtown Martinsville into a construction zone. The Worth The Walk initiative hopes to help surrounding businesses survive during the work.

The stamp card program from the Martinsville Chamber of Commerce, Visit Morgan County, and the City of Martinsville rewards people who shop at multiple downtown businesses. If a shopper visits five predetermined businesses in a week, they could win a $50 gift card to the local business of their choice.

"The longer the shops are here, the more sustainable they are," said John Badger, who owns the Martinsville Candy Kitchen. "People learn about them and they keep coming back to them."

In addition to the weekly giveaway, Worth the Walk will award a $500 gift card to a shopper

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