Small Business Scholarship
A partnership with Hills Bank.
Overview
What is the purpose of this scholarship?
A membership with the Iowa City Area Business Partnership, the local chamber, provides access to the following:
- Resources to help you grow your business
- Increased visibility and promotion
- Connection to a community of fellow business owners and leaders
- A collective voice to advocate on issues important to area businesses
The Business Partnership and Hills Bank are partnering to ensure that any business can have access to a membership and the opportunities that come with it. We realize the price of an annual membership can be prohibitive for some, and want to eliminate cost as a barrier to entry. This scholarship is designed to provide recipients with the typical benefits of membership, as well as additional support to ensure recipients are fully leveraging their membership.
What does the scholarship entail?
Businesses who are selected to receive the scholarship (SEE eligibility criteria and application process below), will receive a FREE annual membership for their first year, and will be eligible to receive a discounted membership (50% less) for the second year, if certain engagement activities are completed. We believe businesses get the most out of a membership when they engage in various events, programs, and services offered by the Business Partnership. The goal is for recipients to be full-paying (self-paying) members in year three.
In addition to a free membership in year one, business will receive a $100 discount towards any Business Partnership event.
Eligibility
To be eligible to receive a discounted membership in year two, scholarship recipients must engage in the following activities by the end of their first annual membership year:
- Attend scholarship onboarding meeting with Business Partnership staff
- Attend at least two (2) Business Partnership events
- Attend a reception with the Hills Bank Commercial Banking department
- Give a 5 minute presentation to the Board of Directors or our Ambassador committee
Am I eligible?
If you are a small business (1-3 full-time employees) who is currently not a member of the Business Partnership, and believe you would find value in membership but cannot afford current membership dues, you are eligible to apply for this scholarship
How do I apply?
There is a simple application to complete so that we can learn more about you and assess how membership may benefit your business. Applications will be reviewed by staff and kept confidential. Applicants will be notified within 5 businesses day of applying. A maximum of 15 scholarships are available in this 2022 inaugural year.
Application