NEWS RELEASE
SOUTH GEORGIAN BAY
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South Georgian Bay today announced that it has received a grant from the Ontario government to fund a Digital Service Squad to help main street small businesses improve their online capabilities.
As part of Digital Main Street, South Georgian Bay Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) received a $65,000 grant from the Ontario government to establish a Digital Service Squad to help small businesses in the downtown areas of Collingwood, Meaford, Stayner, The Blue Mountains and Wasaga Beach, to enhance their use of digital tools and techniques to better promote and sell online.
The Squad will consist of a trained specialist who will visit and assist BIA-area downtown businesses at no cost to help them set up a Google Business Profile, conduct a digital-readiness assessment and apply for a $2,500 Digital Transformation Grant. The Squad will start visiting businesses before the end of May 2019
“This is an exciting opportunity to strengthen our local small businesses and increase their reach through online marketing and sales. The internet has changed the retail world and the Digital Main Street service squad will assist local businesses in creating an online presence and expanding their reach to shoppers in and outside our community.” – Mayor of Collingwood Brian Saunderson
A joint program funded by the Government of Ontario and delivered by the Ontario BIA Association, Digital Main Street helps improve how small businesses use digital tools and techniques to become more successful. Today’s digital economy is vital to small businesses, and DMS will help them adopt new digital technologies from e-commerce and social media to back-office systems such as payroll and inventory.
“Our government is committed to helping small businesses improve their competitiveness, create jobs and attract investment,” said Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “That’s why I’m so pleased that the community of South Georgian Bay will benefit from the expertise of a Digital Service Squad to help small businesses embrace digital technology. Our investment in the Digital Main Street program will help to ensure that Ontario is open for business and open for jobs. “
“It’s extremely important for our government to invest in enhancing the digital capabilities of small businesses in South Georgian Bay,” said Bill Walker MPP for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound. “We’re providing them with the tools and training to take advantage of new digital opportunities that will help these businesses to expand.”
Digital Main Street offers two types of grants:
- Digital Transformation Grant: There are 2,000 grants of $2,500 each available to qualifying small “main street” businesses across Ontario to help them adopt new digital technologies.
- Digital Service Squad Grant: There are 300 grants of $10,000 each available to qualifying municipal or business groups across Ontario to develop and implement local squads of digital vendors and experts to directly help small businesses.
“South Georgian Bay SBEC clearly understands the power of Digital Main Street to help keep their multiple downtown cores vibrant and strong,” said Kay Matthews, Executive Director of the Ontario BIA Association. “Our small main street businesses are a critical contributor to Ontario’s economic, social and cultural health, and it’s vital that we work together to ensure their success. Digital Main Street will help the main street small businesses of South Georgian Bay compete in an increasingly digital world.”
Businesses within the participating municipalities will be introduced to the Digital Service Squad over the coming weeks. The Digital Service Squad will be administered by the South Georgian Bay Small Business Enterprise Centre and will be supported by the regions BIA’s, Chambers, Business Associations and Economic Development offices.
For further information contact the office of the South Georgian Bay SBEC at [email protected]
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To read more about the Digital Main Street program in Collingwood, click here.
