The Marketing and Digital Connectivity Grant Program (MDCG) is designed to support business owners in Decatur, Georgia, by enhancing their digital marketing presence. Administered by the Decatur Development Authority (DDA), this program provides a matching grant of up to $2,500 to eligible businesses to offset the costs of projects that enhance digital connectivity and visibility. The MDCG reimburses 75% of approved project expenses, with business owners covering the remaining 25%. Grants range from $250 to $2,500, and funds are disbursed after project completion and submission of all required documentation. Approved projects must begin within six months of the award and conclude within 12 months.

To qualify, applicants must be business owners located in Decatur who have fully paid all taxes, fees, and assessments, such as property taxes and business license fees. Applicants cannot have outstanding judgments, tax liens, or bankruptcy proceedings, and they must demonstrate the financial ability to cover the matching portion. Eligible businesses include small retailers, restaurants, and personal or professional service providers with no more than three locations in Georgia, 25 or fewer employees, and annual revenue not exceeding $3.5 million.

The MDCG supports a range of digital marketing projects, including brand and logo design, website creation, video or photo production, and ad campaigns for social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. The purpose of these grants is to help local businesses increase brand awareness, identify target audiences, and improve digital engagement to attract more customers to Decatur businesses.

The DDA’s Grant Review Committee, composed of DDA board representatives, the Business Development Manager, and the Communications Manager for the City of Decatur, oversees the application review process. This committee meets quarterly to evaluate applications and makes recommendations to the DDA board for final approval. Applicants must submit their proposals by the 15th of the month before each quarter to be considered at the upcoming review session. Proposals are first verified by the Business Development Manager to ensure completeness and eligibility before being reviewed by the full committee.

Projects are evaluated based on their feasibility, compliance with program requirements, and alignment with MDCG goals. Qualifying projects must be well-defined, realistic, and measurable, with a written marketing plan outlining specific objectives for 3, 6, and 12 months. The scope of each project should aim to improve brand recognition, foster engagement with target audiences, and generate increased digital interactions that drive customer traffic to Decatur businesses.

Applicants are notified in writing of the final decision following the DDA board's review, and successful applicants must adhere to ongoing documentation and oversight requirements as stipulated by the Grant Review Committee.