Talk of an online general store to help businesses in Bainbridge Island hurting due to COVID-19 restrictions has been going on for months.

But now, thanks to the Rotary Club, it’s going to happen, starting Dec. 4, at bainbridgeislandgeneralstore.com.

The Bainbridge Island General Store is a new website making shopping locally as simple as shopping on Amazon.

The BI Rotary has committed $15,000 to fund the site for the first 90 days. The Bainbridge Island Downtown Association and the

Chamber of Commerce will take it from there.

Tom Lindsley, co-chairperson of the Rotary Club’s COVID-19 Response Committee, said, “This project is intended to build community by the community with a total commitment to the island economy.”

A Rotary news release says the community has the will to support small local businesses, but it needed a resource like this to identify what and where gifts/services/experiences are available.

The website will feature local products and links to retailers who offer those products. For example, a shopper could search for apparel. Results would show what is available in the community, whether it is a hoodie from Bainbridge Brewers, a rain hat from Bay Hay & Feed or a scarf from Heart.

Products will not be purchased on The General Store website, but shoppers will be directed to the retailers’ websites where those products are sold.

The only requirement for retailers is that they have a city of Bainbridge Island business license, a Bainbridge Island address and a functioning website.

The project intends to build a new platform that would extend beyond shopping for Christmas. The ultimate goal is for it to be a resource for island organizations of all kinds with links to their websites.

Beyond the 90 days, the General Store intends to expand to more businesses and partner sites. It plans an educational branch for e-learning and workshops, direct B&B connections, promotions and marketing efforts through social media, and extensions such as local delivery.