Preparations have started for what has become an annual holiday event: drawing a $10,000 winner in the Shop Saint Joseph program.

Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ted Allison says it’s designed to stop “retail leakage,” shoppers taking their business to Kansas City. He says it gives shoppers an incentive to buy locally. The incentive is the chance to win $10,000 with one of the tickets given by participating merchants for shopping in their stores.

Allison says participation in Shop Saint Joseph grew since its start in 2007, then flattened last year. He expects participation to increase again this year as the recovery picks up steam.