Atlanta, Georgia – Atlanta’s small businesses are being pushed closer to the center of the city’s biggest stage, as Showcase Atlanta has named the first 40 recipients of its Digital Marketing Grant, a new program aimed at helping downtown entrepreneurs turn a wave of global attention into lasting business growth.
The initiative, part of Mayor Andre Dickens’ broader Showcase Atlanta effort, focuses on independently owned businesses located within a 1.5-mile radius of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Facilitated by the Latin American Association, with support from Google, the grant is designed to give local owners stronger digital tools before Atlanta enters one of the busiest event stretches in its history.
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That timing is central to the program. FIFA World Cup 2026™ is expected to bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to Atlanta this summer, while future events such as Super Bowl LXII, the College Football Playoffs, the NCAA Final Four and other major gatherings are also on the horizon. The areas around Mercedes-Benz Stadium, State Farm Arena and the Georgia World Congress Center are expected to see heavier foot traffic, more online searches and stronger demand from visitors looking for places to eat, shop and explore.
“Showcase Atlanta is about making sure these global moments happen with Atlanta, not to Atlanta,” said Showcase Atlanta Interim Executive Director Lamar Stewart.
“That means our neighborhood restaurants, barbershops, bakeries and creative studios aren’t just spectators during large events, they’re owners of the moment. This grant, alongside support from the LAA and Google, places real tools in the hands of the people who built this city.”
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The Digital Marketing Grant is set up as a structured, performance-focused growth program. Participants will receive hands-on coaching in business fundamentals and digital solutions, virtual training on how Google tools can support local engagement and performance tracking, and peer-to-peer learning with other businesses at different stages of growth.
The Latin American Association will lead the coaching and curriculum, supported by Google. Through the program, business owners will learn how to build stronger online engagement, create more effective marketing campaigns and measure what works. The LAA’s role also reflects the program’s focus on inclusive, multilingual small-business support, making the training useful even for owners with little or no previous digital marketing experience.
The first group of 40 businesses includes restaurants, retailers, personal care services and creative businesses across downtown neighborhoods such as Castleberry Hill, Sweet Auburn and South Downtown. Together, they represent the local character that visitors will encounter as Atlanta welcomes the world.
Onboarding for the inaugural class is already underway, allowing campaigns to go live before summer momentum builds. Showcase Atlanta said more grant, training and activation opportunities for small businesses, creatives and community organizations will be announced throughout 2026, with updates available at showcaseatlanta.com.
