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Applications closed as of March 25
Through the Business Alliance Program, the City will fund ideas that help with the creation of new resources and tools. These resources will benefit the businesses and communities served by business alliances. Federal ARPA funding is administered by the City of Raleigh to support this program.
Businesses interested in participating in the alliance must complete an application that:
- puts forth an idea (see criteria below);
- explains its potential business impact; and,
- demonstrates how the investment can be incorporated with existing resources provided by the City and our partners.
The City will provide up to $20,000 for a single alliance idea. Funds will be allocated based on the impact of ideas, number of businesses served, and capacity. Completed applications will also help the City identify business alliances in the community and certify their existence for potential future collaborations.
What is a Business Alliance?
A business alliance (also known as a business league) is an association of persons having common business interests. Their purpose is to promote those interests, not to engage in for-profit business. It is an organization of the same general class as a chamber of commerce or board of trade. The alliances' activities should improve business conditions of one or more lines of business (goods and services provided by a business).
Business alliances:
- Create infrastructure and resources to attract, retain, and cultivate talented people such as entrepreneurs, small business owners, potential employers and employees, and other supporting partners;
- Link to schools, universities, and the private sector to match talent supply with demand;
- Make connections through individuals and institutions to provide diverse, abundant, and visible resources for entrepreneurs;
- Are champions and conveners that promote entrepreneurship;
- Are catalysts, connectors, co-creators, and changemakers; and,
- Connect, empower, and collaborate with others to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem that helps the community achieve its potential.
Rationale
- To ensure equity in funding, the City will request certain information to assess need and potential impact of ideas.
- To be eligible, business alliances must complete the application process. To obtain funding, applicants must provide supporting documentation or attestation of the criteria outlined in the application.
- Projects that are at or under the Uniform Guidance – Simplified Acquisition Threshold may receive priority.
- This funding will be non-discretionary and a one-time allotment.
Minimum Criteria for Eligibility
- The idea must create a new resource or enhance an existing resource. In other words, it must be “above and beyond” current services and resources offered by the City and our partners. The idea must also alleviate negative economic impacts on the business community due to the influence of Covid-19.
- The business alliance location and area of service must be within the City of Raleigh.
- The business alliance must have active non-profit 501c3 or 501c6 status as outlined by the State of North Carolina and IRS. This status must have been acquired before 2019.
- Business alliance must have no outstanding taxes, debt obligations, liens, or judgements at the local, state, and federal level.
- Business alliance must not be federally disbarred from conducting business.
- Ideas should address but are not limited to these objectives:
- Marketing, promotion, and general support for small businesses; and,
- Creation of small business technical assistance resources, where small business owners can consult and find solutions for business challenges such as accounting, taxes, legal, human resources, marketing, e-commerce, demand generation, profitability, and other business stabilizing matters created or exasperated by Covid-19.
First Virtual Office Hours Feb. 26 Meeting Recording
| Budget Allocation | Amount | Possible Uses | Number of Projects Accepted from This Category | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing | $20,000 | Promotion of business area | 3 | $60,000 |
| Technology | $20,000 | Digital or electronic resource available for business area | 3 | $60,000 |
| Technical Assistance | $20,000 | CPA, Legal, or other assistance | 3 | $60,000 |
| General Business Support | $20,000 | Back-office services, HR, Consulting | 3 | $60,000 |
| Equipment | $20,000 | Shared Use | 3 | $60,000 |
| Supplies | $20,000 | PPE, Cleaning supplies, Office Supplies | 3 | $60,000 |
| Total | $360,000 |
| Budget Allocation | Amount | Possible Uses | Number of Projects Accepted from This Category | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technology | $20,000 | Digital or electronic resource available for business area | 3 | $60,000 |
| Technical Assistance | $20,000 | CPA, Legal, or other assistance | 2 | $40,000 |
| General Business Support | $20,000 | Back-office services, HR, Consulting | 1 | $20,000 |
| Equipment | $20,000 | Shared Use | 1 | $20,000 |
| Total | $140,000 |
*The $140,000 allocated above will be used for the creation and certification of new alliances. Those along the upcoming Bus Rapid Transit route and associated with institutional partners will be given priority.
Key Decision Criteria
In assessing proposals for Business Alliance Ideas, we will prioritize the following:
- Complies with all federal requirements outlined by Uniform Guidance and ARPA funding guidelines;
- Demonstrates and provides proof of negative economic impact of represented business community due to Covid-19;
- Inclusion of underrepresented entrepreneurs, small business owners, or workforce/services targeted to that area as defined by census tract or population information;
- Fulfillment of a resource need or resource gap within the business community;
- Clearly stated goals and measurable outcomes identified;
- Evident potential economic impact on Raleigh businesses or workforce;
- Funding availability for operations and path to sustainability; and,
- Collaboration with other organizations to accomplish goals.
| Criteria | Maximum Points |
|---|---|
|
Resource/Idea
|
20 |
|
Strategic Plan/Performance Measures
|
25 |
|
Organizational Capacity/Fiscal Responsibility
|
20 |
| Resource targets underrepresented entrepreneurs or workforce | 15 |
| Resource fills a resource need or gap within small business and entrepreneurial ecosystem | 10 |
| Resource collaborates with other organizations to accomplish goals | 10 |
| TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS | 100 |