Business Promotion Program offers up to $5,000 per event for promotion of business collaboration.
The Danville Town Council has approved a grant program that will allow Danville-based brick and mortar businesses and local organizations to be reimbursed for up to $5,000 for collaborative events and programs that promote patronage of local businesses.
In June, the Town Council approved funds for the Business Promotion Program, which includes $25,000 allocated to this grant program. Applications are now being accepted for events and projects from eligible businesses and organizations. The program is intended to encourage the community to “shop local” by supporting multiple businesses collaborating on a single event or project.
The funds may be used to support marketing, catering, or certain event costs, and are made available through reimbursement after the expenditures are made. In the 2023-24 fiscal year, grants were awarded for collaborative events such as the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce Sip & Stroll, Museum of the San Ramon Valley Shops and Hops, and the Danville Lions Club Restaurant Walk, among others.
A new category has been added, allowing business owners to apply for a $100 grant for digital marketing. Any business is eligible to apply once per fiscal year and this grant category can be used for website updates, online promotions, social media advertising and any other kind of digital advertising.
Applications are open now for events and projects planned for the 2025 calendar year. Grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and businesses will have 60 days after the event has occurred to submit for reimbursement. Applications for events between July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025 will be awarded as they are received. Applications for events occurring July 1, 2025-December 31, 2025 will be awarded in June 2025 after the annual budget process. The Town will focus on awarding grants for events and projects that support:
- Providing opportunity for collaboration among multiple businesses.
- Engaging consumers with experiential events and widespread promotion opportunities.
- Promoting events directly driving business or cooperative marketing programs through print and/or digital mediums.
- Incorporating “Live Locally” branding into all marketing efforts.
Program eligibility details, review criteria, and an online application are available at www.danville.ca.gov/bizpromogrant. Business owners and organization leaders with questions about the program can contact Melysa Vander Mel, Economic Development Specialist, at mvandermel@danville.ca.gov.