Digital Main Street support for businesses in Dufferin County

Applications are now open for Digital Main Street’s (DMS) Ontario Grants Program. The Digital Technology Grant (DTG) provides up to $2,500 to qualifying brick-and-mortar small businesses to help cover the costs of adopting digital technologies. The grant includes an online assessment of each business as well as training and resources.

What are the objectives of the Digital Transformation Grant?
• Support brick-and-mortar small businesses in Dufferin County with an online assessment to determine the digital needs of the business.
• Offer an online training course to show how digital technology can transform a business for success and equip business owners with the skills needed to develop a Digital Transformation Plan.
• Provide resources to assist eligible brick-and-mortar small business owners with the execution of their Digital Transformation Plan ($2,500 grant).

What businesses are eligible?
A Digital Transformation Grant is open to any business that meets the following requirements:

Must be a business that:
• Has a permanent 'brick-and-mortar' establishment in Ontario
• Is employing 1-50 employees
• Is NOT a home-based business
• Is paying commercial property tax (commercially assessed), either directly or through commercial rent
• Is a registered business in Ontario and/or is incorporated
• Is open for business/operating at the time of application (not a start up)
• Is open to the general public for walk-in and onsite purchases of goods and services
o NOT A WHOLESALER OR MANUFACTURER
• Is NOT a business supplying digital services to other businesses
o (e.g. website design/development, SEO, programming)
• Is NOT a franchise, including those individually owned and operated
• Is NOT a not-for-profit/ charitable organization
• Is NOT renting office space on a temporary basis (month-to-month)
• Is NOT in a shared workspace such as a hot desk or dedicated desk
• Is NOT a purely online business

Note that previous Digital Main Street Ontario Grant Program recipients who received a DTG before June 21, 2022 may apply again, provided all DTG final reports have been received and verified by OBIAA.

What costs can be covered through the grant?
Small businesses can use the $2500 to implement a variety of digital improvements. This can include:
• Digital Marketing
• Website
• Software
• Digital Training
• Hardware (up to a maximum of $1000)

Applications will be accepted until September 30, 2023 or until grant funds are exhausted.

To learn more about the Digital Transformation Grant program, business eligibility, and the application process, visit https://orangeville.ca/digital-main-street or contact Christine Hann, Digital Services Coordinator at the Town of Orangeville by email chann@orangeville.ca or phone 519-939-8106.
https://www.orangeville.ca/en/economic-development/digital-main-street-s-ontario-grants-program.aspx