Marketing Grants Available for Small Businesses in Chautauqua County

(February 11, 2022) The County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce (CCCC), the Small Business Development Center at Jamestown Community College (SBDC), and Insyte Consulting have partnered to offer grant funding to small businesses of 50 employees or less to help them with their marketing efforts. Assistance is being made available to help businesses evolve, primarily as a result of the pandemic, to develop new ideas and methods for attracting customers and retaining employees.

The pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges and local business owners must adapt to survive and prosper. This includes methods for them to communicate with customers and prospective employees in new and innovative ways. In an effort to continue supporting our small business community, Chautauqua County has committed a portion of the funding they received through the American Rescue Plan Act to assist businesses with their marketing and talent attraction initiatives.

Businesses will have the opportunity to receive up to $10,000 in reimbursable marketing funds to implement upgrades to their website, social media, branding, and other marketing-related initiatives. In addition, qualified manufacturers of less than 500 employees can opt to work with Insyte Consulting to improve their company culture by implementing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) programs and initiatives, thereby positioning them to attract and retain more employees. Insyte Consulting will do an assessment of select manufacturers, resulting in recommendations that address some of the easier to achieve ESG aspects. 

Evolving and expanding a business’s marketing reach will increase foot traffic and boost sales, and implementing ESG initiatives will benefit company culture, thereby improving the ability to attract and retain talent. Businesses can elect to apply for either program or just one according to their needs. Funds will be allocated based on a first come, first served basis.

In order to apply for either program, contact the Small Business Development Center at 716-338-1024 to schedule an appointment with an advisor, or by going to the SBDC website at http://www.sbdcjcc.org.