The Ursinus College U-Imagine Center announced it has received funding to support 10 local businesses this summer (2021) through its Digital Spark program. Digital Spark partners college students with small businesses or startups for 8 weeks in the summer to provide digital marketing services. This year they are hoping to provide hybrid services, with students working 2 days remotely and 2 days on-site, should circumstances permit.
Student assistance is provided for projects geared towards digital marketing and that can be reasonably completed in 8 weeks. Areas of need that could be supported include, but are not limited to:
- Marketing/Communications
- Promotions for a launch or a new product or initiative
- Development of a Social Media presence
- Competitive Analysis/Market Research
- Internal/External Surveys and Analysis
- Data Collection and Organization
Program details are included in the Digital Spark 2021 Business Application on the Ursinus website.
(Summer 2021 Application Deadline: Friday, April 30 at 11:59 PM.)
The program, which is fully funded and free of charge to the businesses, has provided support to 72 businesses in our community over the last 5 years. The Digital Spark team believes that this program can play a minor role in helping the local economy recover.
In the past, students worked on site with their local business partners. The new plan is to transition Digital Spark to a hybrid program, with students working totally remotely or partially remotely and partially in-person under the supervision and guidance of the businesses that they are supporting. Please note that this could change as circumstances continue to evolve.
The Digital Spark teams know that business owners have been severely impacted by the pandemic. But with the warmer weather and availability of vaccines, business is now starting to pick up around the country. The program does require time, but does not cost anything. Students will require guidance, supervision and mentorship during the project.
