Amplify Your Brand Promotion $17K Marketing Services Prize

Grant Overview

Most pages ranking for this opportunity won't tell you this upfront, so I will. The Amplify Your Brand Promotion doesn't pay cash. Five winners receive professional marketing services valued at $17,000 from a creative agency called The LemonAd Stand. That's videos, content plans, landing pages, and launch assets. No check hits your bank account. For some businesses, that's exactly what they need. For others, it's a disappointment. Let's figure out which camp you're in before you invest any time in this.

The agency behind this prize is run by Calvin and Vanessa Jackson, two people who also serve as subject matter experts for Verizon's Digital Ready platform. They've spent years helping small businesses tell their stories online. Now Verizon is paying them to do it for five winners. The package includes a 2-3 minute promotional video, 3-5 short-form reels optimized for social media, a strategic content plan, a custom landing page, and launch-ready email or social assets. That's real production work, not a template. If you were to commission these pieces separately from a quality agency, you'd likely pay well into five figures.

But here's where it gets tricky. You can't just apply. First you have to complete three courses or virtual events on the Digital Ready platform, specifically in the online marketing, branding, or website design categories. That's an education prerequisite layered on top of a contest with five winners total. The odds aren't published. The selection criteria aren't public. And the award is services, not unrestricted capital you can spend on rent, inventory, or payroll. This opportunity asks for your time before you can even compete. Whether that tradeoff makes sense depends entirely on where your business stands right now.

Key Grant Information

Active

8 days left

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Amplify Your Brand Promotion

Funded by Verizon | Next Street | The LemonAd Stand

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Grant Snapshot

Grant Award

$17,000

Application Deadline

March 18 2026 8 days left

Eligible Region

United States

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Eligibility and Benefits

Eligibility Criteria

• For-profit business in 50 US states or Washington DC
• 18 years or older
• Market-ready product or service already selling
• Verifiable online presence required
• Established brand with logo or color palette
• Marketing channel such as email list or social media

Grant Benefits

• $17000
• Professional marketing services valued at $17000
• 2-3 minute promotional video plus 3-5 social reels
• Strategic content plan from agency discovery process
• Custom landing page featuring your video
• Launch-ready email series or social assets

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Focus Areas

small business marketing branding services content production

Wait - This Is Not Verizon's Cash Grant

If you searched "Verizon small business grant" and landed here, you might be confused. That's understandable. Verizon runs multiple funding programs through its Digital Ready platform, and the distinctions matter.

The Verizon Small Business Grant that offered $10,000 in unrestricted cash closed its national cycle in December 2025. That was actual money you could spend on anything. Separate from that, Verizon offers $5,000 state-specific grants in New York, California, and West Virginia, administered through LISC. Those are also cash. The Amplify Your Brand Promotion is neither of those things. It's a prize. The award is professional services delivered by an agency, not a wire transfer to your business account.

I'm emphasizing this because most search results blur the distinction. Some even imply this is a grant. It isn't. If you need unrestricted capital, this is not your opportunity. Close this tab and check those other programs instead. But if what you actually need is professional marketing content you couldn't afford to commission yourself? Keep reading.

What Winners Actually Receive

The $17,000 valuation refers to a content package, not a cash equivalent. The LemonAd Stand produces all of it. Here's what's included based on the official program description.

Could you buy these services yourself? Absolutely. But you'd pay real money, and you'd have to find and vet an agency, manage the production process, and coordinate multiple vendors. The value here isn't just the deliverables. It's having a known quantity - an agency that specializes in small business storytelling - handle everything. Whether that's worth competing for depends on how badly you need this specific kind of help.

Who Is The LemonAd Stand?

Calvin B. Jackson II serves as CEO and leads digital growth strategy. Vanessa M. Jackson serves as VP of Marketing and Operations, focusing on brand storytelling. Together they've run The LemonAd Stand for over a decade, describing their approach as "big city talent with neighborly care." The agency is based in Chicago and works with small businesses on branding, web development, digital marketing, and video production.

They're not strangers to the Verizon Digital Ready ecosystem. Both serve as subject matter experts and instructors on the platform. That means they already understand the curriculum, the audience, and what small businesses struggle with when it comes to marketing. For the five winners, they're not starting from zero. They've seen what works.

The Course Requirement Changes Everything

Here's where most applicants will disqualify themselves without realizing it. You cannot apply until you've completed three courses or virtual events on the Digital Ready platform. Not any courses - specifically ones in the online marketing, branding, or website design categories.

This isn't a suggestion. It's a hard prerequisite. The application unlocks only after your account shows three completed eligible resources. That means you need to create a Digital Ready account, browse the catalog, select courses that qualify, and actually finish them. Some courses run 15 minutes. Others take 30-plus. Live virtual events count too, but you have to attend them when they're scheduled.

Is that a barrier? Yes. Is it insurmountable? No. You could reasonably complete three short courses in a single evening if you focused. But it does mean you can't just fill out an application on a whim. You have to invest time first. That investment filters out people who aren't serious. It also gives Verizon and The LemonAd Stand a signal: applicants who complete the coursework have demonstrated some level of commitment to learning.

If you're already a Digital Ready user who's completed courses in eligible categories, you might be closer than you think. Check your dashboard. The platform tracks your progress. If you're new to the platform entirely, factor in that setup time before the March 18, 2026 deadline.

Eligibility: Are You Actually Ready?

The eligibility requirements reveal something important about this opportunity. It's designed for businesses that already have their act together. Not perfectly together, but together enough to benefit from professional marketing content.

You need a market-ready product or service. That means you're already selling to or actively serving customers. If you're still in the idea phase or haven't made your first sale, this isn't for you. The agency can't create a promotional video for a business that doesn't yet exist in the market.

You need a verifiable online presence. A live website counts. An active business social media account counts. A claimed Google Business Profile counts. You need at least one of these. Why? Because the content The LemonAd Stand creates has to live somewhere. A promotional video needs a landing page. Social reels need an account to post from. They're amplifying what exists, not building from scratch.

You need an established brand. That means you have a logo you use consistently, or a color palette you apply across your materials. It doesn't mean you need a $5,000 brand identity package. It means you've made basic decisions about how your business looks and you apply them. The agency will work with what you have.

You need an established marketing channel. An email list plus an email marketing platform like Mailchimp or Constant Contact. Or an existing business social media account where you post. Why? Because the content they create needs distribution. A video without anyone to show it to has limited value. They're assuming you have a way to reach your audience.

And yes, you need to be a for-profit business based in one of the 50 United States or Washington DC. Nonprofits are explicitly excluded. You need to be at least 18 years old. If selected as a finalist, you'll need to provide a W-9 and banking information for verification purposes.

The requirements aren't random. They ensure winners can actually use what they receive. A business with no online presence, no brand assets, and no marketing channel would struggle to benefit from professional content. There's nothing to build on.

Check Your Eligibility Now

Before you invest time in courses, confirm you meet the program's requirements. Our eligibility checker walks through each criterion and tells you where you stand.

If you're eligible, the next step is starting those three required courses on the Digital Ready platform. Once you've confirmed your fit, Submit an Assessment so our reviewers can help position your application competitively. If you're unsure about any requirement - maybe your brand presence feels borderline, or you're not certain your online activity counts as established - book a consultation to talk through your situation with a grant expert.

If you don't qualify, that's useful information too. You now know what to build before applying for similar opportunities. Check the related grants at the bottom of this page for programs with different requirements.

What We Don't Know

I want to be honest about gaps in the available information. The official rules document exists as a PDF hosted on Next Street's website, but the research phase couldn't access its contents. That PDF likely contains details about selection criteria, winner notification timelines, tax implications, and other important specifics. You should find and read it before committing significant time to this application.

The program page doesn't publish how winners are selected. We don't know if there's a scoring rubric, a panel of judges, or a random drawing from qualified applicants. We don't know whether The LemonAd Stand has input on selection, or whether Verizon and Next Street handle that internally. We don't know the timeline for when winners are notified or when services are delivered.

We also don't know the tax implications. A $17,000 services package may constitute taxable income. Or it may not. The official rules should address this, but I can't confirm either way. If you win, talk to a tax professional before accepting.

None of this is reason to avoid the opportunity. It's reason to manage expectations. You're applying for something where the selection process is opaque and the timeline is unclear. That's the reality. Decide if the potential value outweighs that uncertainty.

Is This Worth Your Time?

Let's be direct about who should pursue this and who shouldn't.

You should consider applying if:

• You already have customers and revenue, even if modest
• You have a functional website or active social presence
• You've made basic branding decisions and apply them consistently
• You have an email list or social following you can market to
• You need professional marketing content but can't afford to commission it
• You're willing to invest a few hours in courses for a chance at a significant prize

You should probably skip this if:

• You need unrestricted cash for operations, inventory, or payroll
• You're pre-revenue and haven't launched your product or service
• You have no online presence, website, or social media accounts
• You have no brand assets - no logo, no colors, nothing consistent
• You have no way to distribute marketing content to an audience
• You're a nonprofit organization

The filtering works both ways. This opportunity is designed for businesses at a specific stage. Not beginning, not established - somewhere in the middle. Ready to grow but lacking the marketing resources to do it. If that's you, the course requirement and opaque selection process might be worth accepting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is this actually a grant?

A: No. It's a promotion or prize. Winners receive professional marketing services valued at $17,000, not cash. The services are delivered by The LemonAd Stand, a creative agency. If you need unrestricted funding, this is not the right opportunity.

Q: How many winners are selected?

A: Five small business owners will be selected. The program page confirms this number explicitly. Five winners, five content packages, five businesses receiving professional marketing support.

Q: Do I have to pay taxes on the prize?

A: Unknown. In-kind awards can be taxable income depending on how they're structured. The official rules PDF should address this, but the research couldn't access that document. Consult a tax professional if this question matters to your decision.

Q: What courses count toward the requirement?

A: Courses or virtual events in the online marketing, branding, or website design categories on the Digital Ready platform. The platform tracks completion automatically. Make sure the courses you choose fall within these specific categories.

Q: How long does it take to complete three courses?

A: Depends on which courses you select. Some run 15 minutes, others 30-plus minutes. Three short courses might take under an hour. Three longer courses could require 2-3 hours. Virtual events have scheduled times you must attend. Plan your time accordingly.

Q: Can I apply if I've won a Verizon grant before?

A: Unknown. The program page doesn't address whether prior Verizon or Digital Ready grant recipients are eligible. Check the official rules PDF for any exclusions related to previous awards.

Q: What if I don't have a professional logo?

A: The requirement is for an established brand, which the program defines as having a business logo or brand color palette. It doesn't require a professional design. If you've made basic decisions about how your business looks - even something simple - you may meet this requirement. Submit an Assessment and our reviewers can help evaluate whether your brand assets meet the threshold.

Terms You Should Know

• Amplify Your Brand Promotion: The official name of this prize program, distinct from Verizon's cash grant programs. A marketing services award, not a monetary grant.
• Verizon Small Business Digital Ready: The free learning platform where applicants must complete courses. Also hosts Verizon's grant programs and coaching resources. Creating an account is required to apply.
• The LemonAd Stand: The creative agency delivering the content package to winners. Run by Calvin and Vanessa Jackson, who also serve as subject matter experts for Digital Ready.
• Market-ready product or service: An eligibility requirement meaning you're already selling to or actively serving customers. Not an idea-stage business.
• Verifiable online presence: Having at least one of: a live website, a business social media account, or a claimed Google Business Profile. Required for eligibility.
• Established brand: Having a business logo or color palette you use consistently. The threshold isn't professional design work - it's having made basic visual identity decisions.
• Marketing channel: A way to reach customers - either an email list with an email marketing platform, or an active business social media account. Required because the content produced needs distribution.
• Eligible resources: Courses or virtual events in the online marketing, branding, or website design categories on Digital Ready. Three must be completed to unlock the application.
• In-kind award: Services or goods provided instead of cash. This prize is an in-kind award of marketing services, not a monetary grant.
• Content package: The collective deliverables winners receive - video, reels, content plan, landing page, launch assets, and optional integration setup.

More Grants For Small Businesses

If this opportunity isn't the right fit, you have options. Verizon's Digital Ready platform offers other funding programs, and organizations across the country provide grants for small businesses at every stage. The opportunities below might match your needs better than a marketing services prize.

Need Help With Your Application?

The listing you just read explains what this opportunity is and who it's for. But reading about eligibility and presenting yourself competitively are different skills. The selection process for Amplify Your Brand is opaque. We don't know the scoring criteria, the judges, or what makes one application rise above others. That uncertainty is real.

What we can do is help you position your brand story in a way that resonates with how creative agencies think. The LemonAd Stand isn't looking for the biggest business or the most polished pitch deck. They're looking for businesses with compelling stories to tell - stories they can amplify through professional content. Our reviewers can read your narrative before you submit and flag phrasing that might work against you. Not because we know the secret formula, but because we understand how application language lands with reviewers.

Ready to have someone look at your materials before you commit to those three courses? Submit an Assessment and a reviewer will provide feedback within 48 hours. If you have questions about your specific situation - maybe your online presence is borderline, or you're not sure your brand is established enough - Book a Consultation to talk through the details with a grant expert.

This isn't about doing the work for you. It's about making sure the work you do has the best chance of mattering.

About the Author

Imran is the founder of Grantaura and has spent years researching grants, writing about funding opportunities, and helping small business owners navigate application processes. He's written extensively about grant programs across the United States, with a focus on making complex funding information accessible and actionable. His approach prioritizes honesty over hype - telling you what's known, what isn't, and what questions to ask before committing your time. If you want to talk through a specific funding situation, book a consultation directly with him.