Suffolk County Marketing Grant Still Available

Suffolk County businesses with 10-50 employees can still apply for $2,500 grants specifically designed for marketing and delivery services. Unlike traditional loans, these grants don't need to be repaid - making them ideal for promoting underutilized employee benefits that you're already paying for.

What Makes This Grant Different

The Trellus Grant program targets businesses facing barriers to capital access. The funding comes through federal ARPA resources via a partnership between the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce (LIAACC) and Trellus. Applications are processed through the LIAACC JumpSMART - Trellus website.

What sets this apart from typical grants is the focus on marketing and delivery services. For employers struggling with benefit utilization, this creates an opportunity to invest in employee education without touching operating budgets.

The Hidden Cost of Unused Benefits

Most Suffolk County employers pay thousands annually for ancillary benefits their employees barely use. Dental coverage, vision plans, flexible spending accounts, and voluntary benefits represent significant investments - but only deliver ROI when employees actually understand and utilize them.

Consider the math: A 25-employee company might spend $15,000 annually on dental and vision coverage. If only 40% of employees use these benefits effectively, that's $9,000 in wasted investment. Grant funding for targeted employee education can flip this equation.

Strategic Uses for Marketing Grants

Smart employers are using grant funding to address specific utilization problems:

• FSA and HSA education: Many employees forfeit unused FSA dollars or fail to maximize HSA tax advantages
• Preventive care campaigns: Promoting annual dental cleanings and eye exams reduces long-term claims costs
• Voluntary benefit awareness: Critical illness, disability, and supplemental coverage often go unused despite employee interest
• Wellness program promotion: EAP services and mental health benefits see low utilization without proper communication

The grant's marketing focus aligns perfectly with benefit education needs. Professional materials, enrollment presentations, and targeted communications all qualify as marketing expenses.

Application Timeline and Requirements

The application window remains open as of January 13, 2026, but grant programs typically close once funding is exhausted. Suffolk County businesses should verify current availability before assuming funds remain.

Eligible businesses must demonstrate they face capital access barriers and commit to using funds for approved marketing and delivery services. The $2,500 amount covers substantial communication upgrades - from professional benefit guides to enrollment meeting materials.

Long Island Economic Context

Suffolk County employers face mounting pressure from workforce shortages and rising benefit costs. This grant program recognizes that small businesses often lack marketing budgets for internal communications, creating a gap between benefit investments and employee awareness.

For professional service firms, medical practices, and other knowledge-based businesses common on Long Island, employee benefits represent a significant competitive advantage - but only when properly communicated. Grant funding removes the budget barrier to professional-grade benefit education.

Rather than treating this as "free money," successful applicants view grants as catalysts for improving benefit ROI. The goal isn't just spending $2,500 on marketing - it's generating measurable improvements in benefit utilization and employee satisfaction.

Benton Oakfield helps Long Island employers maximize their benefit investments through strategic employee education and communication programs. Our enrollment specialists work with grant recipients to ensure marketing dollars translate into measurable utilization improvements.

Compliance Note: Benefit plan rules and tax implications vary based on company size and location. This summary is for informational purposes only. Please contact your Benton Oakfield representative to review how these changes impact your specific plan documents.

Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels