Grant Funding Allows Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre to Help Small Businesses Improve Online Presence
Wednesday, July 20 - The
Thunder Bay & District Entrepreneur Centre, part of the Thunder Bay
Community Economic Development Commission is pleased to announce that it has
received a $296,000 grant from the Digital Main Street program for a two-year
Digital Service Squad program. The program will provide small business owners
with resources and support to digitally transform their business.
“Last year we were able to
assist almost 200 individual businesses with the squad services, with this new
two-year program we are aiming to assist 500 businesses in the Thunder Bay
District,” says Ryan Moore, development officer for small business and manager
of the local squad. “Our squad is made up of industry professionals who are
waiting to help provide training and resources to businesses that can help them
compete in the online space and transform their business.”
Digital Service Squads (DSS)
are the cornerstone of Digital Main Street (DMS) program, with trained
specialists who meet with brick-and-mortar small businesses, at no cost, to
help them complete an online assessment and to introduce them to online
training modules designed to build their digital knowledge and skills. This
one-on-one DSS assistance includes support for basic website setup, Google
Business Profiles, 360° photos, social media presence, and much more. Squad
members are also trained to help qualified small businesses with the
development of their Digital Transformation Plan and then with the application
process for a $2,500 Digital Transformation Grant.
“Small businesses are
innovative and entrepreneurial, but often lack the resources to respond to
change, be resilient, yet flexible,” said Kay Matthews, Executive Director,
OBIAA. “OBIAA is delighted to work once again alongside the Digital Main Street
team and is thrilled to support Thunder Bay’s squad. The Digital Main Street
program’s resources, grants, training, and Digital Service Squad assistance
provide the means for more small businesses in communities across the Thunder
Bay region to adopt innovative ways, create new revenue streams, expand their
markets, and face the future with optimism and confidence.”
Locally, the squad service team
is made up of four members: Bridget Postuma from the Northwestern Ontario
Innovation Centre, Brian Abraham from Firedog Communications, Brook Dallaire
from Sociable Thunder Bay and Dylan Uurainen from Digital Mammoth. Squad
members are available now. Local and regional entrepreneurs are encouraged
to book a free consultation to get started on improving their online
presence. To book a free appointment visit www.digitaltbay.ca
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