NEW ORLEANS – A group of New Orleans-based creative and media agencies have partnered to create the inaugural V.I.B.E. Creative Marketing Grant. The V.I.B.E. (Venture to Ignite Black Entrepreneurship) grant, which is valued at more than $10,000, was created to help black-owned New Orleans businesses bolster their marketing and give their business a push in the right direction.
The Data Center reported that although Black people own 40% of businesses within New Orleans, they only receive 2% of all receipts, according to data from the most recent year available. The annual V.I.B.E grant was started in the spirit of bettering our community and addressing this systemic issue by continuing our mission to better support the Black community. Partner agencies and businesses include BAMM Communications, Talk Dat NOLA, Comfy Stone and Catchfire Productions.
“Unfortunately, the Black-led businesses and other minority-led businesses are severely underrepresented and receive far less in spending dollars than other businesses. While systemic change will take decades, we’re working to do our small part,” Flynn Zaiger, Online Optimism CEO, said. “We have a responsibility within our community to be leaders in our industry and help the businesses that surround us. We’ve gathered a set of partners, dedicated to providing our expertise, services, and financial backing to support.
“As a black business owner, I know first-hand the challenges that minority-owned businesses face in America,” said Brandon Armant, president and CEO of BAMM Communications, the parent company for Talk Dat NOLATM. “The effects of past discrimination endured by minority-owned businesses, compared to our counterparts, have created huge disadvantages and limited opportunities for success; and unfortunately, many of these disparities continue to exist today. We’re excited to partner with these other New Orleans marketing and media agencies to bestow this grant to a black-owned business in our community. Although the V.I.B.E. grant won’t end racial and business inequalities, our goal is to aid in its repression by providing one of the most essential components for any business’ survival – strategic marketing.”
“The importance of good marketing can not be understated. You can have the best business in the world, but without good marketing you will always struggle,” said Ben Johnson, owner of Catchfire Productions. “The V.I.B.E. Grant is not only a tremendous opportunity for applicants, but for those of us who are looking to build a community of support for black-owned businesses.”
BAMM Communications is a full service public relations and marketing agency. For more information about BAMM, visit www.BAMMCommunications.com
Grant Includes:
- $5,000 in paid digital advertising budget spent over two months.
- Two months of management of one of the following services: Google Ads, Facebook & Instagram, LinkedIn
- Video production package courtesy of ComfyStone Films, including: Full 1-2 minute video production piece and additional edits for social media usage.
- One written article about the company and its services, featured on TalkDatNOLA.com and The New Orleans Agenda ($1,150 value)
10 radio slots/month for two months on WTDN iRadio ($3,000 value) - 1000 banner ad impressions on TalkDatNOLA.com
- One video/audio feature on ‘The Blueprint’ podcast
- 2-hour photo shoot at business, provided courtesy of Catchfire Productions
- 15-second animation produced by Online Optimism
To learn more about the grant requirements and to fill out the online application, businesses can visit www.onlineoptimism.com/vibe now through September 14. The winner will be notified on September 28, and all services will be performed between October 2 and December 23, 2020.
