Q. 谁有资格申请?
A. Small tourism-oriented businesses are eligible to apply if they have less than 20 full-time employees, are committed to 市场营销 off-season visitation, (2023年9月至2024年5月), and are partnering with other businesses to promote the region. 组织 such as VTC-recognized DMOs, 商会, 髓样, 主要街道, Downtown Merchant and other associations and organizations that promote tourism-oriented small businesses may also apply.
Q. 需要多少火柴?
A. This is a 1:1 市场营销 match program. 配对可以是现金或实物. Please read the program instructions on how to value in-kind 市场营销 费用 related to owned and earned media channels.
Q. 奖助金的用途是什么?
A. The Microbusiness 市场营销 Leverage Program is only for 合格的营销 费用. A list of eligible and in合格的营销 费用 can be found in the program 条款与条件. 特别活动 & 节日计划 that will open in early 2024 allows for some event production costs. Preliminary information on that program can be found at zqn12pe.mofabook.net/奖助金.
Q. Do we receive grant funds up-front?
A. No. This is a reimbursable grant where you would have to request reimbursement and submit proof of payment and proof of following the required elements as listed in the program 条款与条件.
Q. 资助将如何批出?
A. This is a competitive program so be sure to read all the documents before starting your application. We will not start reviewing any applications until September 29, 2023, so you have plenty of time to review the requirements and apply. Each application will be scored by a Grants Review Team member with the highest scores receiving funding. In some cases, partial funding may be awarded.
Q. 你会颁发多少奖项?
A. Our funding cap is approximately $900,000. We anticipate being able to fund 80-100 applications.
Q. Are non-profits able to apply for this grant?
A. 是的, if they meet the program criteria of for eligibility and engage in 市场营销 tourism-oriented small businesses during the September 2023 to May 2024 off-season visitation period.
Q. When will the applications be reviewed/scored?
A. We will not start reviewing any applications until September 29th. Awards will be announced in late October.
Q. What does promotion of the tourism shoulder season mean?
A. The tourism shoulder season is from September 2023 to May 2024, when tourism travel typically decreases. Applicants are encouraged to think creatively 百老汇会员注册 how to activate their fall, 冬天, and early spring activities for long-weekend travel, retiree and remote worker weekday travel, 假日旅行, and how to entice tailgaters and sports fans to add a few days to game weekends and explore your destination and business.
Q. I already placed some advertisements for the Fall travel season. Can I include those in my 市场营销 plan for reimbursement?
A. 是的. Eligible 市场营销 costs that you have incurred since July 1, 2023, AND that market small businesses/shoulder season travel are eligible for reimbursement. Be sure to include these in your 市场营销 plan line items. Alternatively, you can count these in your cash or in-kind match line-item list.
Q. Who qualifies as a part-time or full-time employee?
A. Employees who work 40 or more hours per week are considered full-time. While the application asks 百老汇会员注册 part-time and seasonal employees, these are not counted toward the full-time cap of 20.
Q. Can I apply if my event is after May 31, 2024?
A. No. This program is to drive visitation between September 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024. 然而, please take a look at the 市场营销 Leverage Program and the 特别活动 and 节日计划 information on zqn12pe.mofabook.net/奖助金. Those programs will open in early 2024 and may be a good fit for events after May 31, 2024.
Q. 我有三家小公司. One location has 25 full-time employees, but the other two only have 10 full-time employees. 我总共有45名员工. 我还可以申请吗??
A. Our programs are based on Federal Employer Identification # or Social Security # (if a sole proprietorship.) If you have more than 20 full-time equivalent employees associated with one FEI# then you are not eligible to apply. If you have 20 or fewer full-time equivalent employees for an FEI#, you can apply for the location with that FEI#.
Q. Our Chamber of Commerce has more than 20 full-time employees, can we still apply?
A. 是的. 组织, such as Main Street organizations, 规划区委员会, and Chambers may apply if their application is focused on 市场营销 small businesses and/or off-peak/shoulder season visitation.
Q. What does it mean that I must spend 25% of my award in an out-of-state market?
A. 如果你要5美元,000年奖, 你必须至少花1美元,250 targeting an out-of-state market. 你可以使用数字媒体, 社交媒体, or other advertising and media outlets, such as print newspaper and magazines.
Q. I have more than seven line items in my reimbursable 市场营销 plan. 我该怎么办??
A. Because this is a microbusiness program with a smaller award maximum, we would like you to concentrate your 市场营销 dollars on no more than seven 市场营销 outlets/initiatives. Review your 市场营销 plan and adjust it so that you do not go over seven line items in your in-kind 市场营销 plan or 市场营销 plan. Be detailed with your placement dates and target demographics in each line item.
Q. If I get funding in this Microbusiness 市场营销 Leverage Program round, can I still apply for the Early 2024 市场营销 Leverage Program, 特别活动 & Festival Program and/or the DMO 市场营销 program?
A. 是的,但是早一点 2043 2024 applications must be for new initiatives under those programs’ 条款与条件.
Q. I live in 维吉尼亚州, but my business is based in Maryland. 我还可以申请吗??
A. No. Businesses and organizations must be in 维吉尼亚州 to apply.
Q. Can I submit multiple applications under the same FEI # or SS#?
A. No. We only permit one application per FEI# or SS#.
Q. Can musicians and performers apply as sole proprietors/small businesses?
A. No. This program is designed to drive visitation to venues, 目的地, 景点, and brick and mortar businesses. 然而, venues that are featuring those musicians and performers are encouraged to apply.
Q. 我们的DMO是一个公园 & recreation and tourism department – should I only be counting the employees that work in the Tourism division?
A. 是的, the only employees that should be counted are the ones in the tourism division.
Q. Are Industrial Development Authorities (IDAs) and Economic Development Authorities (EDAs) eligible for the (VTC) Microbusiness 市场营销 Leverage Program?
A. 是的, IDAs are eligible to apply for the Microbusiness 市场营销 Leverage Program if your 市场营销 plan is promoting tourism-oriented small businesses during the off-peak season and driving overnight visitation.
Q. What is the timeline for the performance measures?
A. Performance measures would be for where you are now and where you want to be in May 2024.
Q: How do I value my email list for in-kind match?
- You can count each email at 10¢ value.
问:我如何评估网络点击量?
- Value them at 10¢ each for 2022-2023 comparative months.
例如, if your Reimbursable 市场营销 Plan has 市场营销 from September 2023 to May 2024, value your web clicks from September 2022 to May 2023 at 10¢ each as in-kind match.
If your Reimbursable 市场营销 Plan is only for November to December 2023 then only value your web clicks from November to December 2022 at 10¢ each.