May122025
BlogDowntown Pittsfield Grant Opportunity: 2025 Downtown Pittsfield “Hey Neighbor!” Summer Marketing Grants

Downtown Pittsfield Grant Opportunity: Downtown Pittsfield “Hey Neighbor!” Summer 2025 Marketing Grants

Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. (DPI), with funding from MassDevelopment’s Transformative Development Initiative (TDI), is launching the 2025 “Hey Neighbor!” Marketing Grant to spotlight and support downtown storefront businesses through coordinated cinema and radio marketing campaigns.

The program will award marketing grants to ten businesses in downtown Pittsfield. Grantees will receive custom video ads displayed before films at the Beacon Cinema from June through August 2025 and radio advertisements aired on WUPE/WBEC FM during the same period. This initiative aims to drive foot traffic, build community awareness, and showcase the diverse stories of Pittsfield’s small business community.

This grant is open now, and applications are due Friday, May 30, 2025 at 11:59 PM. Grant awardees will be announced on June 6, 2025.

Eligibility:

  • Must be a for-profit, storefront business located on or within a five-minute walk of North Street in Downtown Pittsfield
  • Must have an active lease on or own/operate a storefront in the district
  • Independently owned (no franchises or chains)
  • Retail, restaurants, hospitality, bars and other customer-facing service businesses (such as repair, salons, barbers, and massage therapy) are eligible

Selection Priorities:

  • Strong storytelling and positive representation of Downtown Pittsfield
  • Ability to highlight another neighboring business
  • Availability for filming between June 9–13, 2025
  • Responsiveness to radio content production team

Grant Awards by Business Size:

  • 4 awards for businesses with 1–3 employees
  • 3 awards for businesses with 4–9 employees
  • 3 awards for businesses with 10+ employees

Each selected business will be required to participate in filming coordination and provide input on campaign messaging. A final review meeting will be held at the end of the summer campaign.

To apply, visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdwh65aj-kOEZF8x1xhLiTauGYEjeaEjuhEzSM9hOGlNf3Osw/viewform 

Any grant-related questions may be directed to Rebecca Brien, Managing Director of Downtown Pittsfield, Inc., at 413-443-6501 or rbrien@downtownpittsfield.com or Julie Copoulos, TDI Fellow, at jcopoulos@massdevelopment.com

 

 

Category: Blog