Could your business use a marketing boost? Women, Work, and Community’s marketing mini-grants program is helping small businesses across Aroostook County put their best foot forward through professional, effective marketing materials and projects. The deadline for mini-grant applications is Dec. 17, with grants to be awarded by early January.
Contributed photo
Brenda and Alan Jepson of Crown of Maine Productions were one of three local recipiants of last year’s mini-grant, which helped them purchase a banner for their trade show booths.
Thanks to support from KeyBank and the Key4Women program, Women, Work, and Community will be awarding grants of up to $400 to help Aroostook County entrepreneurs promote their businesses through targeted marketing projects.
Recent mini-grants awarded in the fall grant cycle include the following Aroostook County entrepreneurs: $200 to Jill Doucette of Aroostook Photo Services (www.aroostookphoto.com) in Van Buren for logo design, business cards, and signage; $100 to Brenda and Alan Jepson of Crown of Maine Productions (www.crownofmaineproductions.com) in Stockholm for a trade show booth banner; and $100 to Samantha White of Samantha Marie Photography (www.samanthamariephotog.com) in Presque Isle for brand development, including business cards and collateral materials.
Erica Quin-Easter, Aroostook microenterprise coordinator for Women, Work, and Community, noted, “A small grant can make a big difference, especially when it comes to marketing. By building their brand and putting forth a professional image in all their marketing materials, these businesses are securing a strong market position and putting their best foot forward to potential customers.”
The winter deadline for applications for Women, Work, and Community’s marketing mini-grant program is Dec. 17. The quarterly application cycle is open to entrepreneurs throughout Aroostook County. Applications are welcomed from individual entrepreneurs as well as business partnerships, and successful proposals will focus on marketing, branding, and access to markets for Aroostook County microenterprises. Men, women, and all entrepreneurs are welcome to apply.
Past grant recipients have used mini-grant funds to build websites; develop logos, business cards, and brochures; promote their products and services at trade shows and events; and collaborate with other small businesses to reach new markets.
The marketing mini-grants program at Women, Work, and Community is funded by the Maine Women’s Fund and the Maine Community Foundation, and the winter cycle of Aroostook County grants is sponsored by KeyBank and the Key4Women program. For more information or to request a mini-grant application for your business marketing project, contact Women, Work, and Community at 764-0050 or email erica.quineaster@maine.edu.
