Explore Ypsi $10 gift cards are still available until 4 p.m. Friday Dec. 19, 2025. According to Sam Carter, communications and operation manager at Engage@EMU, there are about 150 gift cards left.
Recipients must be EMU students, faculty, or staff to receive the gift card, which can be retrieved at Boone Hall 203 anytime between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. One gift card will be distributed per university email address.
Gift cards can be used at one of the 45 participating businesses, which can be found on the Explore Ypsi website. The list includes restaurants, shops, entertainment and services.
University office staff will be out of office next week due to university closing so recipients must come before that final day. All gift cards expire Dec. 25, 2025, as the program finishes for the year.
Businesses looking to join the list of participating businesses for next year can apply to join on the website's gift card informational page. Businesses need to be located in a physical building in Depot Town, downtown Ypsilanti, or West Cross Street.
Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority partnered with Engage@EMU and GameAbove to make this community gift card program.
The 12-person team at YDDA, along with Ypsilanti Mayor Nicole Brown, work to strengthen the Ypsilanti community and local businesses, its website said. YDDA's website attributes its mission to “fueling development and growth that benefits business and residents.”
The 2025 gift card distribution started with 2,000 gift cards in August.
