Promotional Program: Shop & Dine in Midlothian

Midlothian Economic Development has established the Midlothian Promotional Incentive Program to support local businesses in attracting customers to our city. This initiative is intended to provide eligible businesses, including non-profit businesses, with promotional funds to highlight their businesses and attract customers from outside our city. Through this Program, the MED will reimburse up to 50% of advertising expenses upon the completion of the promotional campaign.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria:

- Businesses must fall into one of the following categories:
  - - Restaurants: Food establishments without drive-through service.
    - Entertainment Venues and Events: Businesses or events providing recreational, leisure, or cultural experiences.
    - Local Brick & Mortar Retailers: Businesses whose primary activity is the sale of taxable goods.
- National chains with another location within 12-miles from a Midlothian location are not eligible.

Program Requirements

Program Requirements:

- Advertising materials, (including print, audio, and digital media), must prominently reference “Midlothian.” The identification of Midlothian in a business address is not sufficient.
- Promotional materials may not advertise other locations.
- The following advertising expenses are reimbursable: all costs associated with the production and implementation of the advertisement, provided that at least 80% of the campaign targets residents outside the Midlothian city limits. Software expenditures and any internal production costs are not eligible for reimbursement.
Maximum Reimbursement: $5,000 per business.

Application and Disbursement Process

Application Submission:
- Applications must be submitted to info@midlothian-tx.org.
- Applications will only be considered if they meet all criteria and requirements outlined in the Program and provide all the information in the application.
Approval:
- MED staff will evaluate applications for compliance to program criteria and requirements. Grants will be awarded in the order they are received, with preference given to projects with the earliest completion date.
- The number of grants awarded will be based on the amount of funds authorized by the Midlothian City Council in the MED budget.
- In the event there are questions between the applicant and MED staff, the grant will be taken to the MED board for a final decision.
- Upon approval, the MED will provide written confirmation (“Notice”) that the MED funds will be awarded to the business. The Notice will include the amount of funds awarded, the timeline for completion, and other information that must be provided to the MED before payment is delivered. The MED is not obligated to provide funds if the business fails to comply with the Notice.
- MED staff will provide regular Program updates to the MED Board and City Council.
Reimbursement:
- Prior to the payment of MED funds, the business must provide:
  - Verification that the advertising campaign has been completed and that it complies with the Program and MED Notice.
  - A completed City of Midlothian vendor packet.
  - Documentation verifying that all advertising expenses have been paid in full.
  - MED will disburse funds to the applicant within 30 days of receiving and verifying the required documentation.

Post-Campaign Reporting

To assess the Programs impact, recipients are required to complete a follow-up survey measuring the outcomes of the advertising efforts. This must be provided to the MED office within 30 days of receiving MED funds. If the business fails to provide the information, they maybe ineligible to receive future funding. The survey will collect data on sales activity, customer engagement, and overall effectiveness of the campaign.

Program Restrictions

If MED staff, board members, and City of Midlothian council members are an owner and/or receive compensation from the business enterprise, their business is ineligible to participate.
Only businesses meeting all program criteria and requirements will be considered for reimbursement and only one program category can be awarded per MED fiscal year.