Marketing and Digital Connectivity Grants

Program Overview

The Marketing and Digital Connectivity Grant Program (MDCG) Program aims to improve the digital marketing presence of Decatur businesses by supporting the design and production of marketing materials and content for digital platforms. The program offers the opportunity for approved business owners to receive a reimbursement, in the form of a grant. The maximum MDCG grant is $2,500, and the minimum grant is $250. The program will provide a 75/25 matching grant, with 75% of the project expenses reimbursed through the MDCG program, up to $2,500, and 25% of expenses incurred by the applicant. The DDA will reimburse back to the applicant after all necessary project expense documents have been submitted and approved by the program review committee. Projects must be started within six months of grant approval and completed within 12 months of grant approval.

The grant awardees and their proposed projects must meet certain eligibility criteria and commit to specific funding requirements as a result of the award.
 

Applicant Eligibility Criteria

Eligible applicants must be City of Decatur business owners who meet these criteria:

  • The business must be located in the City of Decatur.
  • The business has paid all appropriate taxes, fees and other assessments, including property taxes, business license fees, occupation taxes, ad valorem taxes.
  • There are no outstanding judgments against the business.
  • There are no current proceedings in bankruptcy instituted by or against the business and no current assignment by the business for the benefit of creditors.
  • There are no state or federal tax liens currently pending against the business.
  • Financial ability to commit matching grants
  • For the purpose of receiving the grant, a small business is a business that does not operate more than three stores in the state of Georgia nor has more than 25 employees, and further qualifies under these criteria:
    • Retail and Restaurant: Annual receipts do not exceed $3.5 million
    • Personal and Professional Service: Annual receipts do not exceed $3.5 million

 

Eligible Scopes of Work

These project types are eligible for consideration for the MDCG:

  • Brand and logo design
  • Website design
  • Video shoots/photo shoots
  • Ad campaigns (e.g. Instagram, Facebook ads)

 

Grant Review Committee

The Development Authority appoints a Grant Review Committee comprising:

  • Two representative of the DDA Board
  • The Business Development Manager for the City of Decatur
  • The Communications Manager or staff representative for the City of Decatur

The Grant Review Committee establishes qualifying criteria and standards for grant applicants, requirements for applications and documentation submissions, and makes recommendations to the DDA board for final action of grant applications. It also establishes oversight and on-going submission obligations for each grantee. The committee meets quarterly to review requests for grant applications.

 

Grant Review Procedures

The committee grant review procedures include:

  • Proposals being considered for funding must be submitted by the 15th of the month before the beginning of a quarter in which the Grant Review Committee will meet.
  • The applicant must complete and submit a MDCG application with all supporting documentation, as required by the committee. The Business Development Manager confirms that submission is complete and that the applicant meets eligibility criteria prior to further review by the committee.
  • The committee reviews each application for qualifying project criteria, and in the case of rejection provides a written reason to the applicant.
  • The committee provides a recommendation of approval for qualifying projects to the DDA board for final action.
  • The Business Development Manager notifies each applicant in writing of the final action taken by the DDA board.

 

Qualifying Project Criteria

  • Project Feasibility: The project must be specific, realistic, relevant, measurable and timely.
  • Project Compliance: Applicant must submit a written marketing plan with the budget for the project that identifies the 3- 6- and 12-month goals.
  • Project Scope: The project improves brand awareness, identifies target audiences, creates better online marketing materials and content to attract more digital interactions and potentially bring more customers to City of Decatur businesses.  

 

Application

Click here to apply.

Available 8 am, Apr. 1, 2024 through 5 pm, Apr. 21, 2024.

 

Questions?

Please contact Shirley Baylis, Business Development Manager, City of Decatur.

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