Northalsted 2021 SSA 18 Digital Marketing Rebate Program

Program Guidelines

This is the online application to apply for a rebate through the Northalsted SSA 18 Digital Marketing Rebate Program. If you have any questions while completing this application, email [email protected] or call 773-883-0500.

1. Description

The Digital Marketing Rebate Program (the “Program”) was created and approved by the Northalsted Special Service Area 18 (“SSA 18”) Commission in emergency response to COVID-19. The Program is funded by SSA 18 and administered by the Northalsted Business Alliance (“Chamber”). The goal of the Program is to support local businesses adversely impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak by providing incentives in the form of rebates to businesses located on the SSA 18 service corridors that invest in a digital marketing and social media strategy through working with a digital marketing or social media consultant, purchasing online ads (e.g., Google ads), or use of social media boosting. Communities have been confronted with the need to quickly adapt to the current environment and shift their operations to an online presence, and these measures are meant to support this transitional period so that locally-owned businesses can continue to promote their work, keep local dollars local, and stimulate economic activity across Boystown.

Applicants that meet all Program requirements outlined in this application may receive a rebate of up to 50% of eligible costs, not to exceed a total rebate of $250 per project. Due to the evolving nature of COVID-19 and its impacts on businesses, the SSA 18 Commission reserves the right to implement additional Eligibility Requirements as it deems reasonable, and change or end the program at any time.

 

2. Eligible Applicants

  1. Applicants must be located on the following SSA 18 service area corridors:
    • Halsted Street (Belmont to Grace)
    • Broadway (Grace to Irving Park)
    • Clarendon Avenue – West Side (Broadway to Irving Park)
  2. Applicants may only seek a rebate for the below measures that are used to promote their business:
    • Use of an outside digital media, digital marketing and / or social media consultant
    • Purchasing online ads (e.g., Google ads; Facebook ads)
    • Social media boosting (defined as: paying to have your posts show up as sponsored content on non-followers’ timelines in order to increase digital exposure and audience-reach.)
  3. Applicants must be the entity paying for the project. 
  4. Applicants must comply with all requirements and deadlines set forth in these Guidelines and Application and respond to any questions in a timely manner.

 

3. Eligible Projects

Applicants may apply to receive rebates for the payment of an outside digital media, digital marketing and / or social media consultant, purchase of online ads, and purchase of social media boosting. Projects related to organizational re-branding, including working with a brand consultant, graphic designer, or print vendor, are not eligible. The Commission reserves the right to reject any questionable estimates, as well as implement such additional Program rules and regulations as it deems reasonable. Additional conditions that may determine Program eligibility are outlined below.

  1. Applicants may only use funds for the promotion of their business approved by the SSA 18 Commission and located on the SSA 18 service corridors.
  2. Projects must meet Program guidelines and are subject to review by the SSA 18 Commission.
  3. Projects must comply with all applicable city, state and federal laws and requirements.
  4. Projects must be completed in accordance with the specifications described in the approved application, following the scope in the application, reflecting submitted costs by a vendor (if applicable) whose estimate was submitted with the application.
  5. Only purchases made during the rebate period will be eligible. The rebate period for this Program is January 1, 2021 – June 30, 2021.
  6. Purchases will only be eligible for the program if they are used to clean their business and reinforce a safe and clean environment:

Applicants or projects that are not eligible to receive a rebate include:

  1. Limit one Digital Marketing rebate per rebate period per business.
  2. Businesses not located on the SSA 18 service corridors.
  3. Co-branded marketing featuring businesses located outside of our service area.

 

4. Rebate Amounts

Applicants that meet all Program requirements outlined in this document may receive a rebate of up to 50% of eligible costs, not to exceed a total of $250. Rebates are awarded only after the project is approved by the SSA 18 Board of Commissioners, completed in the allotted time, paid in full, and all required documentation has been submitted to the Chamber. In case applications exceed current funding, the SSA 18 Commission and the Northalsted Business Alliance will ensure fair and impartial distribution of rebates by employing a lottery system to determine funding order and creating a waitlist for funding should it become available. The SSA 18 Board of Commissioners may award a rebate at an amount less than the allowable maximum.

In order to provide as many businesses within SSA 18 the opportunity to participate in these COVID-19 business rebate assistance programs as possible the applicant must wait 10 business days prior to applying for the Health and Sanitation Rebate Program.

 

5. Application Process

All Applications must be submitted by July 31, 2021.

Applications are subject to review and approval by the SSA 18 Board of Commissioners and a business shall only be awarded a rebate once, subject to funding availability. To apply for a rebate through the Digital Marketing Rebate Program, applicants must complete the following online application. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and applications will be considered in the order that they are received until all the Digital Marketing Rebate Program funding is disbursed for the fiscal year. Paper applications submitted via mail will not be considered eligible.

 

6. Review Process

Due to the sudden and pressing need to provide businesses with urgent relief, applications will forgo a formal SSA 18 Commission vote and will be reviewed and approved in writing by a minimum of two SSA 18 Commissioners. The SSA 18 Commissioners will review and accept or reject each completed application in their sole and absolute discretion, including determination as to which proposed projects meet the Program guidelines, and how much funding to award each project. Upon receipt of application, the SSA 18 Commissioners will have five business days to review and issue inquiries related to the application. Once applicants respond to all inquiries in full, the SSA 18 Commissioners will issue their final decision to applicants via email.

 

7. Project Implementation

Projects should be completed prior to application submission the applicant may request that the Commission review qualifying expenses beginning February 15, 2021 through the application submission.

 

8. Rebate Request and Distribution

Once an eligible application has been submitted and approved by the SSA 18 Commision in accordance with the rules herein, the Chamber will consider the approved application as a Rebate Request.

A rebate check will be processed within 30 days following receipt of the Rebate Request.

 

Program Application