Funding Opportunities for Brand Building & Website Development
Many small businesses in our seven-county service area find it challenging to budget for marketing and website development. Both are essential for building brand recognition and increasing customer awareness. A strong brand identity, backed by a long-term marketing plan and a solid online presence, is crucial for business success. OzSBI understands these efforts can be costly, particularly for startups.
In January 2025, OzSBI received a small grant from Rural LISC through Mastercard Strive to support small businesses in developing a strong digital brand identity through website development and radio advertising. Understanding both the importance of marketing and the financial constraints faced by many businesses in our seven-county service area, OzSBI created a three-part Brand-Building Program. This initiative includes two scholarships and a generous discount program designed to support essential brand development efforts. Small businesses can apply for a scholarship for either a radio broadcast campaign or a new website design project. Additionally, through our partnership with Ozark Marketing, qualified OzSBI members can access a substantial discount of approximately 60% even without a scholarship for radio marketing.
Brand Building Scholarship & Discount
Brand recognition is about building top-of-mind awareness for your business. Brand building does not happen quickly, but builds momentum over time, creating positive long-term results for good businesses. OzSBI and Ozark Marketing will help business owners understand how to
build a brand, the importance of creating the words and images used to brand a business, and how to market consistently. Radio can be an effective tool for building a brand when done correctly.
OzSBI is proud to partner with Ozark Marketing to offer our clients two incredible cost-saving opportunities.
Brand Building Discount
OzSBI and Ozark Marketing are thrilled to offer a generous discount program for eligible businesses. Approved businesses will receive expert brand guidance and can enroll in a 12-month Brand Building campaign at a dramatically reduced monthly rate of approximately $265–$365, depending on the station. Participants are responsible for covering the discounted monthly balance to keep their campaign active.
Brand Building Scholarship
In addition to the discount, OzSBI is also offering twelve (12) needs-based scholarships to area businesses for a 12-month Brand Building radio campaign with Ozark Marketing. Each scholarship provides a $65 monthly bill credit toward the campaign on the station of the recipient’s choice. Awardees will collaborate with an expert Brand Advisor to define their target audience, business goals, and brand identity. Since the credit does not cover the full cost, recipients must pay the remaining $200–$300 per month to maintain the campaign.
Website Development Digital Impact Scholarship
OzSBI Mentors often work with small business owners who either can’t afford a website or don’t appreciate its value. However, in today’s economy, a website is essential for brand recognition and digital impact. It works in tandem with social media, Google Business Profiles, and Google Maps to create a strong, easily discoverable online presence. Simply put, without an online presence, a business is effectively invisible to an increasing number of potential customers.
OzSBI is proud to offer a $1,000 scholarship for website development to twelve (12) qualified small business owners. We have partnered with two local website developers who specialize in small business websites, providing high-quality design, competitive pricing, and strong support services.
Idyllic Solutions, owned by Katie Vetter, builds websites on the user-friendly, brand-focused Squarespace platform. These websites feature elegant design, strong brand identity, custom photography, copywriting, and basic SEO (Search Engine Optimization).
Rural Marketing Service, owned by Emma Hohenberger, creates websites on the powerful and scalable WordPress platform. These sites offer functional design with unlimited expansion potential, limited photography and copywriting, basic SEO, and optional branding and logo development.
Scholarship recipients may choose to work with either of the two website developers listed above or identify their own vendor. The scholarship may cover all or part of the website development cost. Any remaining balance must be paid in full before work begins.
How to Apply
To apply for the Brand Building Scholarship, Brand Building Discount or Website Development Scholarship, please select one of the options below. Note that clients may apply for a Website Development Scholarship and a Brand Building Discount, but may not apply for both scholarships. The application for the Brand Building Scholarship and the Discount is the same. Be sure to carefully review our Frequently Asked Questions for full eligibility requirements and additional details about the programs.
