We are excited to announce the winners of our Midcoast / Southern Region Downtown Dollars Marketing Mini-Grant Competition for small businesses in Cumberland, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Waldo, and York Counties. Priority was given to projects located in or aimed at increased sales/presence in Main Street Maine or Maine Downtown Network communities. Funds for The Downtown Dollars Marketing Mini-Grant Competition was provided in part from The Betterment Fund.
The Winners Are
First place: $400
Senior Planning Advisors, LLC – http://seniorplan.net/
South Portland, ME
Owner: Becky Ness
Grant Purpose: Develop an Info Graphic Fact Sheet to be utilized in marketing to the business community on how caregiving impacts the workplace.
Second place: $300
Buzzwings Marketing and Communications
Freeport, ME
Owner: Valerie Geredien
Grant Purpose: Development of a website to give Buzzwings a platform from which to market consulting services – primarily to Main Street downtown businesses.
Third place: $100
Wheatberry Design – http://www.wheatberrydesign.com/
Portland, ME
Owner: Erin Smith
Grant Purpose: Purchase an ad in MOFGA’s Common Ground Fair publication with readership of 60,000 that will be distributed in downtown-based locales such as natural food stores and bookstores.
These three businesses were chosen from a competitive pool of applicants to receive grants after pitching their ideas for 10 minutes each before a panel of judges. Our review committee consisted of the following:
Patti Spencer-Yost, Brunswick Downtown Association, Marketing and Communications
Delilah Poupore – Executive Director, Heart of Biddeford
Brad Swanson – Maine Certified Master Business Counselor for Maine Small Business Development Center at CEI.
Ellen Thayer – Owner of Love Rocks Me, and a former Marketing Mini-Grant Award recipient.
Eloise Vitelli – Director of Program / Policy Development at New Ventures Maine, formerly known as Women, Work, and Community.
Jenn Dobransky – Microenterprise Specialist in the Midcoast Region for New Ventures Maine, formerly known as Women, Work, and Community.