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Hampton Ecommerce Grant Program

The Hampton IDA along with the assistance of the Hampton Department of Economic Development has created a E-Commerce Grant Program aimed at assisting Hampton businesses in order to optimize productivity, marketing and technology plans that will assist in retaining and growing employment, and business profitability.

The IDA will contract with various Service Providers who will provide a spectrum of e-commerce resources to help Hampton businesses assess their business needs, and will develop e-commerce solutions with an emphasis on return on investment. Where appropriate, the Service Provider will provide its proprietary applications and will customize them to the Hampton business's specific needs.

The type of assistance includes, but is not limited to the following e-commerce services:

Web Design and Development Services including custom web site design, information architecture and graphic user interface planning, database driven web site design and development, content management solutions, usability testing, advanced scripting and programming, custom database development, collaboration and social networking (Web 2.0), web site accessibility analysis, and maintenance contracts.

Consultation Services including information technology strategic planning, e-commerce needs and marketing assessments, domain name registration assistance, hosting service needs assessments, web site analytics, and web site security assessments and testing tools.

Internet Marketing Services including email marketing, search engine marketing, search engine optimization, Electronic newsletters, Blog websites, RSS, Wikis.

E-Commerce Services including shopping carts, donation and membership systems, online security assessments and testing tools.

Grant Amounts

Individual awards range from $1,500 to $2,500 each. Certified minority and women owned businesses are eligible to receive awards up to $4,500. Maximum grant amount shall not to exceed 50% of total project cost or the allowable grant, whichever is less. Funding is subject to appropriation and grants are made on a first-come, first served basis.

Requirements

Technical and business assistance will be available to all Hampton for-profit businesses which are licensed in and maintain their principal places of business within the City of Hampton, Virginia.
Projects must be legal, no adult only material, ethical, and commercially viable.
Grants are made on a first-come, first served basis.

Already Have a Web site?

In most cases you may apply for a grant to improve or expand your web site. Having an existing web site does not disqualified your business from participating in the Hampton E-commerce Grant program.

Apply for grant funding to:

• Redesign your website
• Search Engine Optimize your website
• Install Google Analytics
• Create a Google XML Sitemap and Use Google Webmaster Tools
• Add a Custom Database
• Develop a Ecommerce System or Shopping Cart
• Develop a XML feed to upload your products to Google Products
• Add a Blog, Online Forum or install a CMS system ( Content Management System)
• Develop an eNewletter system
• Setup an RSS or XML feed
• Develop a Wiki website

Clients We Have Served Through This Program

Since Visionefx joined the program in May 2009 the following grant recipients chose Visionefx to service their website needs.

• Wharton Construction
• Greenland Enterprises
• Vlitzo Online Job Board
• Keta Technologies
• Just Floored Incorporated
• SSAI - Science Systems and Applications, Inc.

Read more about the Hampton Ecommerce Grant Program >>