$57M for program to help small businesses build online presence

Communitech is one of five partners to disburse funds from federal and provincial governments

KITCHENER — A new program will help main street businesses hard-hit by the pandemic adopt digital technologies and improve their online presence.

The Digital Main Street Ontario program — with $50 million from the federal government and $7.65 million from the province — will guide small businesses taking their first steps online, enhance existing web platforms and provide training to prepare them for the future. Communitech, based in Kitchener, is one of the five partners that will disburse the funding that’s expected to support nearly 23,000 Ontario businesses.

Communitech will receive $12.2 million to support businesses in southwestern Ontario.

“As local economies across Ontario reopen, we’re focused on ensuring that our main streets don’t just survive, but thrive. These businesses are the backbone of our economy, a source of local jobs — and local pride,” federal Economic Development Minister Mélanie Joly said in a release.

Nearly 22,0000 small businesses will be eligible for the Digital Main Street platform, with three levels of support depending on a business’ existing online experience.

Those just dipping their toes in online waters will receive help from local “digital service squads” to develop transformation plans; up to 2,750 businesses in this group will also receive $2,500 each to help cover costs in implementing the plan.

Another 16,450 businesses will get help from co-op students in building and marketing online stores.

Funds for the program are expected to provide jobs for more than 1,400 students during summer and fall work terms.

Finally, about 2,700 businesses in sectors including retail, restaurant and hospitality, and services and trades with an

established online presence will get help in advanced digital marketing and developing global growth strategies.

Another arm of the initiative, called the Recovery Activation

Program, will see more than 1,000 small and medium-sized businesses from across Ontario receive intensive training and custom guidance in digitizing their operations, including supply chains and customer acquisition systems.

The training will be provided by the Toronto Region Board of

Trade, but at least half of the participants will come from outside the Greater Toronto Area.

“During this pandemic, every day small businesses are physically closed is a lost opportunity, yet the digital world is always open for business,” noted Waterloo Mayor Dave Jaworsky.

Without a suitable online platform, thousands of businesses ground to a halt in Ontario as the pandemic struck, provincial associate minister of small business, Prabmeet Sarkaria, said in the release.

This program is “providing small businesses with the tools they need to not only adapt to the challenges of today, but to re-establish, recover and flourish throughout this phased reopening and into the future,” he said.