Become a verified vendor.
Guardians of the AV routes Guardian Credits — meal credits, gear credits, grooming credits, laundry credits — to verified Antelope Valley businesses. Residents redeem during fixed windows. You receive weekly reimbursement. No cash handling, no upfront cost.
How the credit model works
Credits issued to residents
Community navigators issue Guardian Credits to residents based on need and trust-ladder standing. Credits are digital — no paper vouchers.
Resident redeems at your business
During redemption windows (8:30–10:30 AM, 2:00–4:00 PM, 7:30–9:00 PM PT), residents present their credit code. You confirm on the Guardian app or web interface.
You record the redemption
One tap or click in the vendor portal. The system logs the redemption against your account. No cash changes hands.
Weekly reimbursement
Every Friday, Guardians of the AV reimburses verified vendors for the prior week's confirmed redemptions via ACH or check. No paperwork required.
Redemption windows
Credits are only redeemable during three fixed daily windows. This prevents abuse and keeps redemptions manageable for your staff.
All times Pacific. Windows may be adjusted as the program scales — verified vendors receive 14 days notice of any change.
Credit lanes you can accept
Prepared food, groceries, café. The highest-volume lane — residents use meal credits most frequently.
Examples: Restaurants, cafés, grocery stores, food trucks
Transportation to appointments, work, or services. Coming in Phase 2.
Examples: Ride-share drivers, taxi operators (Phase 2)
Work boots, tools, work clothing. One-time purchase credits.
Examples: Hardware stores, thrift stores, work-clothing retailers
Haircuts, hygiene services. Dignity-restoring and interview-ready.
Examples: Barbershops, salons, nail shops
Laundromat access or drop-off service.
Examples: Laundromats, dry cleaners
Short-term housing, motel deposits. High-value credits, tightly controlled.
Examples: Motels, short-term rental operators (verified only)
The small-business revenue case
Guardian Credits fill capacity gaps during off-peak windows. If your café is quiet at 8:30 AM or 2:00 PM, a handful of guaranteed redemptions per week — fully reimbursed — fills that gap without discounting or marketing spend.
Verified vendors are listed on guardiansoftheav.com/map and in the resident app, accessible to every person navigating services in the Antelope Valley. Verified vendors appear publicly on the Guardian Supporters page. That’s a community-visibility benefit, not just a credit-redemption relationship.
The trust-ladder model means residents who redeem at your business are vetted by a community navigator — not anonymous. Fraud risk is structurally low.
Guardians of the AV is in Phase 0 field validation, operating in Lancaster and Palmdale. We have met with county stakeholders including the office of a county supervisor, the county Veterans Service Office, and the regional Community Action Partnership. The vendor program launches alongside Phase 1 — currently in partner onboarding. Verified vendors confirmed before Phase 1 launch receive founding-vendor status and priority listing on the resource map.
Apply to become a verified vendor
The application takes about 5 minutes. We review every application and schedule a brief verification call before approving. Free to apply — no cost to join the program.
Apply now →Already applied? Check your application status