Relay is a community of local creators who collaborate with nearby businesses—restaurants, boutiques, experiences, and more. We connect you with brands that fit your style, coordinate the collabs, and make sure you get perks in exchange for your content.

Does it cost me anything to join?

Nope. Joining Relay is completely free for creators. Our goal is to help you grow, connect, and get rewarded for what you already love doing: creating content in your city.

How do I get matched with brands?

We carefully match creators with businesses based on interests, content style, and audience. You'll only be invited to collabs that make sense for your vibe—and you always have the choice to accept or pass.

What do I get out of collabs?

Recieve a variety of offers from brands that excite you to create and share. You'll also gain exposure, new content for your feed, and a growing portfolio of collaborations.

Do I need a huge following?

Not at all. Relay focuses on micro-influencers—people talented at content creation with engaged, local audiences. Even if you have a few hundred or a few thousand followers, you can still be a great fit if your content connects authentically.

How much control do I have over what I post?

A lot. Creative liberty = authenticity. We'll share a short brief from the brand, but you create in your own voice and style. That's why brands want to work with you—they want content that's genuine, not scripted.

Can I still work with other brands outside of Relay?

Of course. Relay isn't exclusive. We celebreate when creators score new brand deals and try to make the perfect connections.

How do I get started?

Join on our site by sharing your socials. Once approved, you'll start receiving opportunities to collaborate with local businesses that fit your interests right away

2025-marketing-grant

Two powerhouse partners.
One incredible prize.

Win an 18-month influencer package from Relay and a $10,000 custom brand package from Brunner.

From Relay –

18-Month
Influencer
Package

Valued at $3,000

Get consistent creator coverage every month for 18 months — including Instagram Reels, TikTok videos, tagged stories, and real Google or Yelp reviews from Pittsburgh creators who love your brand.

From Brunner –

$10,000 Creative
Package

Valued at $10,000

Choose from one of Brunner’s award-winning creative packages:

Brand Identity

Build your logo, palette, and voice.

Campaign Strategy

Develop messaging and visuals that move audiences.

Brand Activation

Get branded posts, email copy, and on-premise assets.

Bowl with grilled salmon, fresh spinach, strawberries, sliced almonds, cauliflower, and balsamic glaze drizzle.

Want consistent user-generated content from local creators? Explore here.

About the Grant Sponsors

Partner with these two brands to expand your reach and engage your audience effectively.

RELAY

Relay links local brands with local creators to ignite genuine word-of-mouth. Through authentic partnerships, brands gain fresh content, real engagement, and community growth.

Explore here.

BRUNNER

Brunner is a marketing agency that helps brands grow through bold, data-driven campaigns. With years of experience, Brunner offers award-winning strategies and designs for local businesses.

Learn more here.

FAQs & Terms

Find answers to common questions about our grants.

Who can apply for the Local Business Marketing Grant?

Small to mid-size businesses located in Pittsburgh, Tampa, or Atlanta are eligible to apply. The program is designed to help local brands grow through professional creative and influencer marketing support.

What will the winner receive?

One business will win $13,000 in marketing services — including a professional creative package from Brunner and an 18-month local creator partnership from Relay.
Two runner-ups will also receive $2,000 in marketing support.

When are applications due and when is the winner announced?

Applications close January 7, 2026, and the winner will be announced February 10, 2026. The campaign will roll out through spring 2026, with features, content, and case studies celebrating the winning businesses.

Terms and Conditions:

One small business located in Pittsburgh, Tampa, Orlando, or Atlanta will win $13,000 in professional marketing services through the Local Business Marketing Grant, powered by Relay and Brunner.

The winning business will receive creative services from Brunner and an influencer marketing package from Relay. Brunner will provide one of three professional marketing packages: (1) Brand Identity, including a 60-minute discovery workshop to inspire logo exploration, three initial logo concepts refined to one with up to two rounds of revisions, and a 3–5 page “brand guide-lite” covering logo usage, color palette, typography, and tone/voice basics, with final logo files and a mini brand guide PDF; (2) Campaign Creative Strategy, featuring a discovery session to align on brand purpose and promise, development of two to three campaign tagline routes, a visual direction moodboard with color, typography, and imagery guidance, and a final strategy deck summarizing the campaign narrative, key messages, and visual direction; or (3) Brand Activation, which includes a kickoff session to define the offer and audience, development of one activation concept with headline, key message, and visual direction, and deliverables such as two static social posts, one 10–15 second video clip with stock music, one announcement email (subject line, body copy, and header graphic), and one flyer or window decal design.

 From Relay, the winner will receive an 18-month influencer package featuring 18 local creators who align with the business’s ideal customer profile. Each creator will produce one Instagram reel, one Instagram story, and three high-quality photos (with full media usage rights), and may also share a Google or Yelp review. In total, the winner will receive 18 videos, 18 stories, 54 photos, and potentially 18 Google and/or Yelp reviews.

Applications close January 7, 2026, and the winner will be announced February 10, 2026. The campaign will roll out through spring 2026, with features, content, and case studies celebrating the winning business.

Relay & BRUNNER

Introducing

the LOCAL BUSINESS Marketing Grant 🚀