Two Pittsburgh-based companies and TribLive have partnered to create a new grant program aimed at helping local businesses boost their marketing efforts and community visibility.

Relay, a platform that connects businesses with local content creators, and Brand Motives, a digital marketing firm, announced the Steel City Marketing Grant on Tuesday. The program will provide one Pittsburgh-area business with marketing services valued at more than $3,000.

“We’re seeing a lot of local businesses struggle with breaking through the noise in social media and particularly lacking the time to do it effectively,” said Nic Wilson, founder of Relay. “This grant is designed to give one local business the kind of professional marketing support that can really make a difference in their growth.”

The grant includes several components designed to increase business visibility. The winning company will be the subject of a feature article and receive advertising placement in TribLive, social media strategy development from Brand Motives, and a multi-month influencer marketing campaign using local content creators from Relay.

Applications for the grant run through July 10, with the winning business to be announced July 15. Companies must be located in the Pittsburgh region to qualify.

The partnership represents a collaboration between three local firms that have built their businesses around supporting other Pittsburgh companies. Relay specializes in connecting businesses with area content creators for marketing campaigns, while Brand Motives is a full-service advertising agency.

Here’s an example of a Relay collaboration with Ciara, a local content creator. She went to the award-winning Chengdu Gourment in the North Hills:

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A post shared by Ciara ♡| Pittsburgh Creator (@ciiiiara)

Wilson said that businesses will be evaluated based on their mission alignment with community values, demonstrated business need, current level of community engagement, and potential for growth impact.

“A strong brand doesn’t happen overnight — but momentum does,” said Matt Miller, chief operating officer at Brand Motives. “This grant won’t build your brand for you, but it will set you on the right path. By treating your digital presence with the same care as your physical storefront, creating content that reaches beyond your own feeds, and showing up where your audience already is, businesses can start to build real traction. We’re excited to help one local business take that next step and grow their connection with their community.”

The influencer component of the grant will connect the winning business with six Pittsburgh-area social media creators over three months, resulting in social media content designed to reach aligned local audiences.

Interested businesses can apply at run-relay.com/steelcitygrant. The application process requires companies to demonstrate their community involvement and explain how the marketing support would help their business grow.

The Steel City Marketing Grant represents a growing trend of local businesses supporting each other through collaborative programs and partnerships. Both Relay and Brand Motives have built their business models around helping other Pittsburgh companies succeed in digital marketing and community engagement.

Here’s another example of a Relay collaboration, with local food maven Food4PaulRus visiting The Speckled Egg and Commonplace Coffee in SouthSide Works:

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A post shared by @food4paulrus

For more information about the grant application process and requirements, businesses can see the Relay website or contact the company directly.

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