Digital Main Street – Digital Transformation Grant Program
Highlights
This program is designed specifically for small businesses like yours to help you adopt new technologies and grow. You will receive training, advisory support, and grants to enhance your digital capabilities. This can significantly boost your business operations and customer engagement.
What You Get:
- Comprehensive digital transformation plan tailored to your business needs.
- Digital literacy skills to help you execute your transformation effectively.
- Financial grants to support your digital initiatives.
The funds can be used for:
- Digital marketing to reach more customers.
- Website redesign or development to improve your online presence.
- Software and hardware necessary for your digital transformation.
This grant is a great opportunity because it provides not just funding but also the knowledge and tools to make the most of your digital investments. Qualifying is straightforward, and the support you receive will help you stay competitive in today’s digital economy.
Financing Details
Type of Financing: Grant
Repayment Terms and Interest Rates:
- This is a grant, so there are no repayment terms or interest rates.
Eligible Expenses:
- Digital Marketing: Hiring a consultant or agency to execute digital marketing initiatives.
- Website: Redesign, improvement of an existing website, or development of a new website.
- Software: Includes graphic design software, productivity software (e.g., LastPass, Hootsuite, Dropbox), social media software (e.g., Hootsuite, Buffer), security software, and other software as outlined in your Digital Transformation Plan.
- Digital Training: Ongoing digital training courses, both in-person and online.
- Hardware: Necessary hardware up to a maximum of $1,000, as determined by OBIAA.
Ineligible Expenses:
- Microsoft Office
- Website hosting
- Domain name renewal
- Software subscription renewal
- Signage and printing
- Logo redesign and rebranding
- Unnecessary or excessive equipment (as determined by OBIAA)
- Business owner’s salary or current employee salary for executing the project
Fees:
- There are no fees associated with this grant program.
Qualifications
- Must have a permanent 'brick-and-mortar' establishment in Ontario.
- Must employ 1-50 employees.
- Must pay commercial property tax (commercially assessed), either directly or through commercial rent.
- Must be a registered business in Ontario and/or incorporated.
- Must be open for business/operating at the time of application (not a start-up).
- Must be open to the general public for walk-in and onsite purchases of goods and services.
- Owned by an Ontario resident operating a business in Ontario.
- Owned by an individual 18 years of age or older at the time of application.
- Owned by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
Must have completed the Digital Transformation for Main Street program, which includes:
- The Digital Main Street Assessment.
- Passing the eligibility quiz.
- Completing the online training.
- Developing a Digital Transformation Plan.
Disqualifications:
- Home-based businesses.
- Wholesalers or manufacturers.
- Businesses supplying digital services to other businesses (e.g., website design/development, SEO, programming).
- Franchises, including those individually owned and operated.
- Not-for-profit/charitable organizations.
- Businesses renting office space on a temporary basis (month-to-month).
- Businesses in shared workspaces such as hot desks or dedicated desks.
- Purely online businesses.
- Large corporations (more than 50 staff).
- Businesses with multiple locations (only eligible to apply for one grant).
- Owners with multiple businesses (only eligible to apply for one grant).
- Previous Digital Main Street Ontario Grant Program recipients who received a DTG after June 21, 2022.
- Previous Digital Main Street Ontario Grant Program recipients who received a DTG before June 21, 2022, unless all DTG final reports have been received and verified by OBIAA.
Description
This program offers your business a grant of up to $2,500. This money can help you adopt new technologies and improve your digital presence.
You can use the grant for:
- Hiring a consultant or agency for digital marketing
- Redesigning or developing a new website
- Purchasing software like graphic design tools, productivity apps, or security software
- Ongoing digital training courses, both in-person and online
- Necessary hardware, up to $1,000
The grant aims to provide you with a comprehensive plan for digital transformation, along with the skills needed to execute it. This can help you become a smart consumer when buying digital services.
There is no payback period since this is a grant, not a loan. This means you can focus on growing your business without worrying about repayment.
Program Steps
Create an Account: Visit the Digital Main Street website and create an account if you do not already have one. This will allow you to access the application portal.
Complete the Digital Main Street Assessment: Log in to your account and complete the Digital Main Street Assessment. This assessment will help identify your business's digital needs.
Pass the Eligibility Quiz: After completing the assessment, take the eligibility quiz to ensure your business meets all the criteria for the grant.
Complete Online Training: Participate in the online training modules provided. These modules will equip you with the necessary digital literacy skills.
Develop a Digital Transformation Plan: Based on the assessment and training, create a comprehensive Digital Transformation Plan for your business.
Prepare Documentation: Gather the following documents to support your application:
- Proof of business registration in Ontario.
- Proof of commercial property tax payment or commercial rent.
- Digital Transformation Plan.
- Any additional documents that support your digital transformation needs.
Submit the Application: Log in to your account and submit the completed application along with the required documentation.
Review and Approval: Wait for the review of your application. The Ontario BIA Association (OBIAA) will assess your application and determine eligibility.
Receive Grant Funding: If approved, you will receive the grant funding. Use the funds as outlined in your Digital Transformation Plan.
Monthly Reporting: After receiving the grant, submit monthly reports for six months to track the progress of your digital transformation.
Following these steps will help ensure a smooth application process for the Digital Transformation Grant program.
