Liz White, Publisher & Executive Vice President of Record-Journal Publishing Company (R-J Media), states during this “E&P Reports” interview, "I got the idea from reading my own newspaper." White explains how she learned that their city of Meriden, Connecticut was receiving $36 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to help the community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

White said upon learning that the funds would be allocated by a local American Rescue Plan Steering Committee, she reached out to the Meriden Economic Development Director to see if they could put together a program that would allow local businesses to tap some of the funds to drive business through local advertising. Soon, the local chamber of commerce came on board, and the “Meriden Business Boost” program was presented and subsequently approved by the committee.

“Meriden Business Boost” is a simple program that allows any local business or non-profit organization, regardless of size, if they need to market to the local community, apply to receive a $4,000 advertising program placed across R-J Media. $2,000 of funding for each business campaign will be paid from federal funding, and $2,000 will be matched by the R-J Media Group. Plus, the Chamber of Commerce will provide a $50 discount for new members or a $50 credit for existing members to use towards advertising as well. The initial round of the program will be limited to the 1^st 150 businesses that apply. Once this round is completed, there is a pending plan to allow a second group of 150 to participate as well.

In this 129^th episode of “E&P Reports,” Liz White, Publisher & Executive Vice President of Record-Journal Publishing Company (R-J Media), is joined by Strategic Sales Manager Jaime Gianini to explain how they developed, presented and eventually gained approval for the “Meriden Business Boost” program, that allows 150 local businesses to tap into American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to advertise with their company for free!