Welcome to Cypress University's Level Up! Digital Marketing Program!

Program Overview

In partnership with the Orange County Inland Empire Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the City of Cypress proudly presents the Level Up! Digital Marketing Program. This program is the first of two training programs under the Cypress University initiative, approved by the Cypress City Council in April 2024. Cypress University empowers local businesses with the knowledge and tools to grow and succeed.

The Level Up! Digital Marketing Program offers an incredible opportunity for eligible businesses to boost their digital marketing skills through four virtual training sessions and one-on-one business consulting. Upon successful completion, the business will receive a $2,000 grant for a digital advertising campaign. Don't miss this opportunity to learn digital marketing strategies, enhance your online presence, and "Level Up!" your business with a $2,000 grant!

Eligibility

We invite all eligible businesses to apply. To qualify, your business must:

• Be a for-profit business;
• Operate in a physical commercial location within Cypress (no residential addresses, PO Boxes, or home occupations);
• Employ between 2 and 100 full-time employees (part-time employees count as half), including the owner;
• Hold an active Cypress Business License for at least one year prior to participating in the Program; and
• Be in good standing with the City and State (current on bills, no liens or judgments, etc.).

Please note, the following businesses are not eligible:

• Residential or real estate projects, including short-term rentals;
• Cannabis-related businesses, gambling facilities, adult entertainment, massage parlors, and largely cash-based businesses; and
• City employees, elected, and appointed officials.

Only one participant per business within Cypress is eligible to participate in the Program and receive the $2,000 grant. City retains the discretion to deny any participant who conducts or is affiliated with multiple businesses in Cypress.

Application Process and Timeline

Applicants must apply online and submit the business's most recent monthly bank statement and current Cypress Business License. The submission window opens at 8:00 a.m. on September 10, 2024 and closes at 11:59 p.m. on September 24, 2024. Visit https://ociesmallbusiness.org/cypress-level-up/ to apply. Late applications will not be accepted.

SBDC will review applications for completeness and eligibility. After eligibility approval, selected businesses must submit a completed W-9 Form and signed City of Cypress Business Grant Agreement by October 11, 2024.

Note: If the number of eligible applications exceeds available funding, a lottery system will be used to select participants.

Curriculum and Consultation

Participants must attend four virtual training sessions beginning on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Subsequent sessions will take place each following week on the same day and at the same time. Sessions are conducted in English only. Sessions will cover the following topics.

• All About Google: Discover how customers find you, why Google is essential, and how to create a Google profile.
• Reaching an Audience through Social Media: Learn to use Facebook and Instagram, capture media, and create effective calls to action.
• First Social Media Post: Post videos or pictures, attract a fan base, and run successful sales-boosting campaigns.
• Advertising on Social Media: Explore Facebook/Instagram ad campaigns, costs, metrics, and evaluate Twitter and TikTok ads.
• Setting Up a Social Media Campaign: Create and launch campaigns, define your business offerings, target audiences, select keywords, set goals, and budget.

Each participant must also attend a one-on-one consultation with an SBDC business consultant for customized assistance with their paid advertising platform. If a participant misses a mandatory training session, they must meet with their SBDC consultant for an additional one-on-one consultation. A participant that misses two or more mandatory training sessions will not be eligible for a grant.

Grant

Upon completing the training and one-on-one SBDC consulting session, the participant will receive the $2,000 grant, which shall be used to develop a paid digital and online advertising campaign to boost the social media presence of participant's business. Each participant must sign a verification that the funds will be spent on a paid advertising campaign.

Note: Please be advised that you will receive a Form 1099-NEC for the grant amount you receive from the City.

Follow Up

SBDC consultants will continue to work with Program participants after Program completion, if requested. The SBDC will track and measure business success as they deploy their marketing campaigns. Approximately four months after finishing the Program, the City requests participants complete a provided survey to assess the impact of the Program.

City Reserved Rights

The City reserves the unqualified right, in its sole and absolute discretion at any time: (1) to amend or terminate this program with no recourse for any proposing applicant; (2) to choose or reject any or all applications received in response to this program; (3) to modify the application deadlines; (4) to request additional information of the applicants as deemed necessary and appropriate by the City; (5) to conduct further due diligence with applicants or any third party; (6) to modify the City's objectives or the scope of the program; (7) to modify program requirements, general terms and conditions, or eligible activities; and/or (8) to disqualify any proposing applicant on the basis of any real or perceived conflict of interest that is disclosed or revealed by materials submitted or by any data available to the City.

Equal Opportunity Policy

The City of Cypress and the SBDC shall not discriminate upon the basis of sex, age, race, creed, color, religion, national origin, marital status, ancestry or physical handicap in accepting applications and processing program applications.

Contact Information

For more information about the Level Up! Digital Marketing Program, please contact:

• City of Cypress, Community Development Department
• Christopher Wong, Business Development Manager
• Office: (714) 229-6753
• E-Mail: cwong@cypressca.org

• Orange County Inland Empire SBDC
• Manal Richa, Director CSUF SBDC
• Office: (657) 767-5903
• E-Mail: manal.richa@ociesbdc.org