In an imaginative new program designed to stimulate the revenue growth of underrepresented artists and makers in Frederick County, MWBC proudly presents the Creative Capital Microgrant Program, in partnership with the Frederick County Office of Economic Development (FCOED).
Donor Name: Maryland Women’s Business Center
State: Maryland
County: Frederick County (MD)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 12/31/2024
Size of the Grant: Less than $1000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The Creative Capital Microgrant (CCM) Program offers a financial microgrant of up to $1,000 to qualified businesses in creative industries to support specific projects that use traditional business practices—such as marketing, social media, and online sales platforms—to accelerate a short-term return on investment and can be replicated for ongoing growth.
The Creative Industry is generally defined to include arts, crafts, pottery, wood working, jewelry, fibers and fashion, photography, videography, film, podcasting, visual effects, animation, virtual reality, music, performing arts, and dance.
The program aligns with MWBC’s and FCOED’s strategy to support underrepresented business owners through projects that support Frederick’s vision for small business and economic development:
- Generating additional revenue, with an emphasis on traditionally under-employed populations
- Retaining and expanding local business services
- Supporting business-to-community engagement
- Establishing a foundation for future business success
- Creating a social impact.
Proposed training classes include topics such as:
- Legal Issues for Creatives
- Accounting for Your Creative Business
- Marketing & Storytelling for Creatives
- Participating in Farmers’ Markets
- Best Branding Practices
Funding Information
Applicants can receive up to $1,000 for their proposed project.
Project Eligibility
To be eligible, CCM projects must yield a short-term return on investment and be replicable for future business growth. These include but are not limited to:
- Marketing initiatives with a call to action
- Social media setup and enhancement
- Search engine optimization (SEO) strategies
- Targeted advertising on Facebook, Instagram, or Google
- Direct mail or drip email campaign implementation
- Web development, design, and/or copywriting
- Establishment of new sales channels, including online shopping platforms
- Video production
- Professional photography for online galleries or portfolios
- Promotional expenses for studio open houses or in-house shows
- Support for show entry fees with sales opportunities
- Branding and logo design or redesign.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the CCM Program, prospective businesses must:
- Be located in Frederick County
- If the business is registered with the State of Maryland, the business must be in Good Standing
- Establish eligibility as an underrepresented community
- Have earned less than $55,000 for artists and $60,630 for makers of gross revenue in 2023 from the art associated with the business.
- The following groups are eligible to apply: American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian American, Black or African American, Biracial, Hispanic or Latino, LGBTQIA+, Middle Eastern, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Person of Color, Person with Disabilities, and Woman.
Ineligible Applicants
- Nonprofits
- Entities engaged in activities deemed illegal under federal, state, or local law.
- Businesses generating over one-third of their gross annual revenue from legal gambling activities.
- Entities involved in hosting live performances of a prurient sexual nature.
For more information, visit MWBC.
