Ten small businesses in Greater Napanee received Digital Transformation grants from the Ontario government to help expand their online stores during pandemic restrictions.
A total of $37,500 in funding was provided locally.
“Our small businesses are the backbone of our economy and our communities,” said Hastings-Lennox and Addington MPP Daryl Kramp in a release. “The Digital Service Squads have helped businesses transition to online sales and service. We must support our local businesses through curbside pick-up and online access when in-person shopping is disrupted by pandemic measures. We all must do what we can to help our businesses stay in business.”
The Ontario Government’s Digital Main Street Program and Student Digital Service Squads, launched as a $57 million partnership between the Ontario and federal governments, have successfully helped connect tech-savvy students, $2,500 government grants and online training with more than 20 Hastings-Lennox and Addington small businesses in launching and/or expanding their online stores during pandemic restrictions.
“Confronting the economic impacts from COVID-19 is a team effort, and through the Ontario Digital Main Street program and Digital Service Squads, we’re enlisting our students to help local small businesses get up and running online,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, associate minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction. “I encourage all Ontarians to use their purchasing power to Support Local — buy from local small businesses today and into the future.”
The Ontario government says Digital Service Squads are already on track to help thousands of small businesses across Ontario develop their online offerings. This is meeting a critical need for many Ontario businesses as they transition to online storefronts.
“Digital Service Squads are the true heart of the Digital Main Street initiative,” said Kay Matthews, executive director of the Ontario BIA Association. “By working directly with main street small businesses, the passionate students that do work on squads bring local business owners the knowledge, tools and hands-on support they need to transform to brick-and-click operations. In this way, our downtown cores can continue to be strong and vibrant while also giving local businesses the online presence to thrive through the pandemic and beyond.”
Currently, only about 60 per cent of Ontario’s small enterprises have a website, and only seven per cent accept online payment. Through Digital Main Street, Ontario businesses are adopting new tools that will allow them to reach a wider customer base and help them weather the economic impacts of COVID-19.