Illuminate Summer 2026 Business Marketing Grants

What would your business do with an extra $1,000, $1,500, or $2,000 for marketing?

Monroeville Main Street is excited to announce the Illuminate Summer 2026 Business Marketing Grants, a new opportunity designed to help local businesses strengthen their marketing, reach new customers, and continue growing in Monroeville’s Main Street District.

The Illuminate program is powered by AL*SPARK, a Main Street Alabama initiative created to energize emerging and growing businesses in Designated Main Street Alabama Districts across the state. Illuminate Summer 2026 is supported through funding from the Main Street Alabama Designated Community Grant 2026, with additional funds from Monroeville Main Street.

Through this program, 16 eligible businesses in the Monroeville Main Street District will be selected to receive grants of $1,000, $1,500, or $2,000 to invest in approved marketing products, services, and activities. Applicants are encouraged to submit grant expenditure requests in all three award categories for the best chance to win:

$1,000 grants: 9 awarded
$1,500 grants: 4 awarded
$2,000 grants: 3 awarded

Eligible uses include advertising, print and digital marketing, social media promotion, video marketing, business cards, rack cards, brochures, branded packaging, signage, window and door graphics, A-frame sidewalk signs where permitted, branded customer premiums, product samples, incentive programs, and other marketing tools that help businesses increase visibility and attract customers.

This is a competitive grant process. Applications will be reviewed by out-of-town judges, and businesses are encouraged to be thoughtful, creative, and specific in their marketing plans. Judges will give extra credit for creativity and for plans that spend grant funds with other local businesses, especially businesses located within the Main Street District. Monroeville Main Street hopes this approach will multiply the impact of the grants by supporting award recipients as well as local printers, sign makers, designers, media outlets, photographers, and other businesses that help bring marketing ideas to life.

To be eligible, businesses must be members of Monroeville Main Street and physically located within the Main Street District. Applicants must be legally formed for-profit businesses and/or sales tax collecting retail establishments, have an Employee Identification Number, hold a current City of Monroeville business license, and be up to date on sales tax remittance. Businesses must also complete the required online AL*SPARK Illuminate Branding Course, submit a business eligibility checklist, provide the required compliance form, and submit a marketing plan.

Important Dates

Interested businesses should contact Anne Marie Bryan with Monroeville Main Street by July 10, 2026, to indicate interest and provide contact information.

Grant applications and qualifications must be completed by noon on July 31, 2026.

Applications will be reviewed by out-of-town judges, and winners will be announced in early August.

Grant checks are expected to be delivered by August 11, 2026.

Recipients must use grant funds for eligible marketing expenses and submit a final report with paid receipts and copies of checks by August 31, 2026.

The City of Monroeville is also supporting the program by helping verify business license and sales tax compliance for applicants. This partnership reflects the shared commitment between the City and Monroeville Main Street to support entrepreneurship, strengthen existing businesses, and encourage continued investment in downtown Monroeville. This is a "quick grant for fast results".

For more information about Illuminate Summer 2026, contact:

Anne Marie Bryan
Executive Director, Monroeville Main Street
monroevillemainstreet@gmail.com
Subject line: Illuminate Summer 26