The Alexandria Marketing Fund is a grant program providing seed money in the form of matching grants for new and innovative marketing programs. The Fund also provides grants for the expansion of ongoing or pre-existing programs. The Fund is designed to increase revenues within the City by fostering public/private partnerships that promote Alexandria as a destination for visiting, shopping and dining, and doing business. The Fund seeks to support marketing programs that demonstrate how they will become financially self-sustaining over time.

The Fund is administered by the Alexandria Marketing Fund Committee. City Council appropriates monies for the fund on an annual basis and the Alexandria Marketing Fund Committee reviews and approves applications for funding. The Marketing Coordinating Council provides advisory support to the Marketing Fund Committee, providing preliminary application review and feedback to applicants and to the Marketing Fund Committee.

The guidelines for the Alexandria Marketing Fund have been recently updated and revised. The revised guidelines include:

• An updated application form and budget pro forma
• A clarified description of Marketing Fund goals and objectives, and a clearer description of the application process
• An explanation of applicant funding responsibilities and repeat funding consideration

Applications are now being accepted; applicants are urged to review the new guidelines before applying for funding.  The first deadline for Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 grants is June 21, 2011; the second deadline is August 16, 2011. A third deadline, to be announced, will be scheduled in January 2012.

To view the new guidelines and application form, visit alexandriava.gov/MarketingFund or contact Andrea Blackford at 703.746.3959 or andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov