Become a Business Partner today!
What is the Vermilion Business Connection?
A Main Street Vermilion program, the Vermilion Business Connection is a way for businesses to learn, support one another and find ways to work together. It provides opportunities for local business owners be more productive and collaborate with other businesses and organizations. Every business owner and their staff members are welcome and encouraged to participate.
Follow the Vermilion Business Connection Facebook page for more information, ideas and updates on what’s happening around town and with your fellow business owners.
Find out how Main street Vermilion works and how to Partner your Business with us!
Click here to see more
2026 DESTINATION DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
Available for ERIE and OTTAWA COUNTIES
Shores & Islands Ohio, the Destination Marketing Organization for Erie and Ottawa counties, announces the availability of the Destination Development Grant Program for 2026. The Destination Development Grant Program has been created to assist organizations and businesses in the Shores & Islands Ohio (S&IO) region in developing projects that will attract and engage visitors and residents, serve and educate regional tourism partners, and generate economic growth for the community through travel and tourism development. 29 grants were awarded in 2025 for a total of $584,000.
Over the past four years, more than $2 million in Destination Development Grants have been distributed to local businesses to help them better serve their customers and enhance their communities, as well as the region overall.
Organizations do not have to be a S&IO partner to apply, however, if an award is granted, partnership with Shores & Islands Ohio is required. Partnerships will be discussed at the grant award meetings, April 1- 3 and 6-8, 2026. Applicants could include, but are not limited to, local governments, for-profit enterprises, and non-profit organizations. Organizations with active projects funded through the Destinations Development Grant or other Shores & Islands Ohio funding streams are not eligible to apply until the previously funded project is complete and all requirements have been fulfilled.
Projects should align with Shores & Islands Ohio’s mission and strategic plan and increase the likelihood of visitation from outside the area. Projects should target the development of quality-of-place amenities, attractions, and facilities that enhance the visitor and resident experience and foster connectivity within the specific community and Erie/Ottawa County. Some grants require at least a 50% match while others provide full project funding. The full grant informational packet provides details on eligible and ineligible projects.
New this year, grant applicants are required to attend an informational meeting before they are allowed to apply. These meetings will detail the grant, eligibility, application process and reporting requirements. Interested parties, or anyone who wants more information about the process, may attend one of these scheduled meetings at any location, regardless of which county the applicant is applying from. Additionally, there will be a virtual option for those who cannot attend in-person. If unable to participate in any of the sessions, either in-person or virtually, the applicant must schedule a one-on-one review with Amanda Smith Rasnick before applying. Email amanda@shoresandislands.com with questions regarding the info sessions or to schedule a personal review.
Friday, November 21, 2025 at 10 am and 3 pm - S&IO West (770 S.E. Catawba Rd., Port Clinton)
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 9 am and 2 pm - S&IO East (125 E. Water St., Sandusky)
Monday, December 8, 2025 at 10 am and 3 pm - S&IO East (125 E. Water St., Sandusky)
Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at 9 am and 2 pm - S&IO West (770 S.E. Catawba Rd., Port Clinton)
Application proposals are being accepted now and will be due by 12 pm on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. Grant finalists will be notified by March 31, 2026, with grant award meetings taking place from April 1-3 and 6-8, 2026. For more information on the grant process or to receive an application, please contact Shores & Islands Ohio Destination Engagement Director, Amanda Smith Rasnick, at amanda@shoresandislands.com or 419.625.2175.
Opportunities from the Small Business Development Center at LCCC
Keeping your Google Business Profile up to date is critical in getting your business noticed. We will learn about the ways you can do that and how you can integrate AI into your work streams to become more efficient and productive.
Session provided by Main Street America in partnership with Main Street Vermilion.
Free Session & Breakfast will be provided.
Presented by Janet Hurn, Co-Founder of Future Ready Consulting
2024 Business Partner Spotlights
May Partner Spotlight
Visit their website here
April Partner Spotlight
Visit their facebook here
March Partner Spotlight
Visit their Facebook here
February Partner Spotlight
Visit their website here
Vermilion Small Business Guide: Winter 2022/2023
Is your business ready for Winter? We’ve created a helpful guide for small businesses as we transition from one season to another.
Vermilion Small Business Guide: Fall 2022
Is your business ready for fall? We’ve created a helpful guide for small businesses as we transition from one season to another.
DORA: Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area Initiative
Main Street Vermilion has been exploring the implementation of a DORA in Vermilion. For a comprehensive Q & A, a history of our progress, results of a community wide survey and more, click here. This page is updated as the initiative evolves.
…but can visitors find you here?
In 2020, Tourism Ohio started a campaign to support local shopping, dining, lodging and attractions. This site is viewed by more than 5 million visitors. Take advantage of the power behind ohio.org and create a listing for your business. Here’s how:
Click here
Start your listing under DESTINATIONS
Include up to 10 photos of your business/products to upload
A description of your business (a minimum of 400 words)
Add your social media and website links
Look Matters When It Comes to Your Window Display.
Here are two inspiring videos that address retail window displays and how to make them really work for your business.
Click here to watch #twentyfour7windowdisplays, presented by Susan Shaddox. She does a wonderful job sharing tons of window displays and talks what goes into a fabulous, eye-catching display.
Click here to download the Tik Tok Powerpoint presentation! It’s awesome!
TikTok Gets Attention.
A strong social media presence is more important than ever. A newer platform that garnered traction in 2020 was TikTok.
This digital video platform has some similar characteristics to Instagram and Facebook but puts more of an emphasis on making localized content viral.
NikkiHannaway, Senior Account Executive at Marcus Thomas and Cleveland-based food influencer provides an overview of TikTok and how to optimize it for your business.
Start Using Hashtags. It’s Easy!
If you are just getting comfortable with using hashtags in your social media efforts, click here to get a better understanding of what whey are, how they work and how to use them to your best advantage.