In an imaginative new program designed to stimulate the revenue growth of underrepresented artists and makers in Frederick County, Maryland Women’s Business Center (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: 06/30/2024
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.
A CCM Review Committee has been established to review applications and select grantees based on their eligibility, overall business assessment, evaluation of proposed project, and the ability to replicate it for future revenue. 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.

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.

Program Eligibility
To be considered for the CCM Program, prospective businesses must:

Be located in Frederick County
Be registered and in good standing with the State of Maryland
Establish eligibility as an underrepresented community
Have earned less than $55,000 of gross revenue in 2023 from the art associated with the business

Applicants will have three months to complete their projects and, to further support the businesses, grant recipients will receive personalized business counseling and attend training classes designed for creative business owners. Upon conclusion of the program, will be invited to participate in a community event to showcase their work.
For more information, visit Maryland Women’s Business Center.