Small business communities are being brought together with ease with help from a new Frederick, Maryland tech company.

Founded in 2014, Loyal Tap is a mobile loyalty solution that taps into what it means to be a local business community. The company recently teamed up with the Downtown Frederick Partnership to release "Shop Frederick" – a new app that unites the small business community under a single loyalty platform.

"Shop Frederick" features a list of participating businesses in the downtown community. According to Loyal Tap, each business offers its own challenges and rewards, which can range from a free lunch to a high five from an employee. When a customer completes a challenge, they have the option to unlock the reward specific to that business, or collect a "community star." Stars can be put toward a reward, such as a gift card to the downtown area.

The app allows businesses to track customer usage and provides a wealth of customer data. It is the first loyalty app to maintain flexibility for individual businesses while encouraging customer loyalty towards an entire community.

"We designed this app to solve a problem we saw in small business communities," said Tobin Lehman, President and Lead Strategist for Loyal Tap. "Small businesses no longer have to implement a loyalty program on their own. We're excited to see how this app will be used to unite downtown Frederick and business communities across the country."

"Shop Frederick is a win-win for both merchant and users alike. This app is unlike any other as it is completely customized to each unique business and encourages customers to continue patronizing their favorite local businesses and encouraging them to experience other great businesses that they otherwise may never discover," said Caitlin McGrew, Project Lead for Loyal Tap for the Downtown Frederick Partnership. "It's a model that allows small businesses to compete on the same playing field as larger companies and inherently markets not just a single store or restaurant but the whole Downtown Frederick experience."

By creating apps for "Shop Small" areas, Loyal Tap hopes to help strengthen the identities of small business communities throughout Maryland. In return, by using Loyal Tap's technology, business owners and customers alike contribute to the community's identity and promote the area as a great place to do business.

Loyal Tap's technology is easily transferable to any small business community, giving each downtown its own app presence. The company plans to initially focus on Maryland and the surrounding areas and anticipates releasing additional community apps in the upcoming months.

If you work in a small business community and want to learn more about Loyal Tap, fill out this form located on their website.