DESCRIPTION:
The MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau (MBVB) seeks to support the marketing efforts of other entities in MetroWest whose goals align with our mission of generating revenue in any of the 19 towns that comprise MetroWest Boston, as designated by the RTC legislation. (Our region includes: Ashland, Bellingham, Framingham, Franklin, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Hudson, Marlborough, Medway, Milford, Millis, Natick, Northborough, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland and Westborough)
The MBVB will consider mini-grant applications for advertising projects devoted to marketing a MetroWest event, attraction, business, service, or cultural or recreational offering. The marketing project must be targeted, at least partially, at potential visitors to our area. (“Visitor” is defined as one who travels more than 50 miles or who stays overnight.) The applicant does not need to be a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The applicant must be a member of the MBVB and based in one of the 19 towns that comprise MetroWest or be devoted to attracting potential visitors to the 19 towns.
REQUIREMENTS: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
Size of mini-grants: Grants of $1,000 - $10,000 will be awarded during this grant cycle. Non-profit organizations: grants will cover up to 25% of your advertising campaign, not to exceed $10,000 of grant funds. (example: apply for a project that totals $50K, and you can receive $10K in grant funds. Apply for a project that totals $10K, and you can receive $2500 in grant funds.) For-profit organizations: grants will cover up to 10% of your advertising campaign, not to exceed $10,000 of grant funds. (example: apply for a project that totals $100K, and you can receive $10K in grant funds) The MBVB must be the agency of record for your contract. We will not reimburse for advertising contracted for or run prior to the award of your mini-grant.
Eligible applicants: The applicant must be based in one of the 19 towns that comprise MetroWest Boston or be devoted to attracting potential visitors to the 19 towns. Applicant must be a member of the Visitors Bureau, at any level of membership. If not currently a member, please sign up online here before submitting your application.
Eligible projects: These are marketing and advertising grants. You may use your grant for:
- Print advertising
- Digital advertising
- TV advertising
- Radio advertising
- Brochures, fliers, direct mail pieces, and printed collateral when the intended audience is OUTSIDE of your town
- Billboard or outdoor advertising as long as the signage is OUTSIDE of your town
- Email campaigns through an agency or provider
- Social media campaigns ONLY through an agency (you cannot apply for social campaigns that you contract directly with Facebook, Instagram, etc for, as those campaigns cannot be invoiced)
- Website design
- Photography used for advertising and marketing purposes
- Co-op advertising with the MBVB Co-op program (print ads or sponsored content articles)
All campaigns must be targeted, at least in part, to reach visitors more than 50 miles outside of your location. All campaigns must be focused on marketing tourism and hospitality attractions and/or events. These include, but are not limited to, hotels, restaurants, arts, historical & cultural attractions and events, entertainment, sports & recreation attractions, and shopping/retail focused on visitors. You may use your grant for a media campaign of your own devising, or use it to participate in the MBVB Co-op Advertising Program.
Ineligible projects: You CANNOT use your grant funds for:
- Non-advertising projects
- Operational expenses including operation of an event
- Food or beverage
- Event signage
- T-shirts or other clothing
- Giveaway items UNLESS the MBVB logo can also be on the item
- Any marketing or advertising product where the MBVB logo cannot be included
Budgets: Please note, a detailed, line item budget is required to be submitted for each project. This means that if you are placing ads in several publications, each ad needs to be listed separately. Applications that submit a single, lump sum amount without detailed breakout will be rejected. We only need the budget for this project, not your organization's total operating budget.
Ad contracts: While you may plan and negotiate your media buy yourself, the MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau must be the agency of record on the ad contract. The MBVB will sign said contract and invoice you for the contract amount, less your grant award. If you choose to use your grant towards the MBVB Co-op Advertising Program, your co-op contract will reflect the contract amount less your grant award.
Funding acknowledgement: Grantee must include the MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau logo and/or the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism long on the advertising that is funded through these grants. For instances where a logo will not fit within the advertisement, the line "Funded, in part, by the MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau." will need to be included. Please refer to your grant award letter to understand what logo you must include or inquire before designing. ALL PROJECTS MUST BE SUBMITTED FOR LOGO APPROVAL PRIOR TO RUNNING THE CAMPAIGN, OR GRANT FUNDS WILL NOT BE PAID OUT.
Deadline: Applications open October 1, 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with award decisions sent via email as decisions are made. Due to the rolling nature of the review process, we encourage you to apply early. Grant applications will be closed once funds are exhausted. All projects must be invoiced from the vendor no later than April 15, 2026. Grantee must pay their portion of the campaign to MBVB no later than May 1, 2026, or they will lose their grant award.
FAQ's: We strongly encourage you to read our FAQ's prior to applying.