Rome DDA Awards 11 Marketing Grants to Downtown Businesses

The Rome Downtown Development Authority has awarded a total of 11 marketing grants to local businesses.

Because of the popularity of those grants they’ve increased the budget over the past year, according to Downtown Development Authority Director Aundi Lesley.

“We’ve bumped it up,” she said. “In the last two years, we’ve awarded $6,000, and last year, they were all great applications. So, we may need to look at these slightly more competitive starting next year. We’ve bumped the budget up from $6,000 to $10,000. Now, we have more applicants, which is a good problem to have.”

Lesley added that the priority went to businesses that have not received a marketing grant in the past.

Eight of the grants are for $1,000. Those recipients are:

♦ Stonehaven — 516 Broad St.

♦ Farrell’s Frame and Design — 519 Broad St.

♦ Scramble Brazilian Jujitsu and Wresting — 216 Broad St.

♦ Honeycream — 4 E. Third Ave.

♦ Living and Giving — 401 Broad St.

♦ Market on 5th — 252 N. Fifth Ave.

♦ Southern Seasons — 118 Broad St.

♦ Harvest Moon Café — 234 Broad St.

Three businesses, which have been past recipients of marketing grants, were each awarded $500. They are:

♦ Schroeder’s New Deli — 406 Broad St.

♦ Blue Willow Boutique — 338 Broad St.

♦ Sunflour Community Bakery — 407B Broad St.

To receive a marketing grant, the business owner must meet with the Small Business Development Center to come up with a marketing strategy and a plan.

DDA awards façade grants

Also during Monday’s DDA meeting, two businesses were awarded $5,000 façade grants.

One was for 233 Broad St., which is the John Henry’s building.

“They are asking to install awnings on the sides and add fans,” said Megan Watters with the DDA. “It would be a marquee, metal-type awning and it would get rid of the broken umbrellas that are out there.”

The design would be similar to that at Mellow Mushroom. The total project cost is $28,500.

The second façade grant, also for $5,000, was awarded for rehab work at 405 W. Third St. The total cost of that project is $37,000.