Digital Marketing & Website Development Grants up to $2,500 Bonny Koabel CPA, CGA, AKR Consulting
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ince the onset of COVID-19 many food retailers and eateries have began now implementing strategies to service their customers while at the same time maintaining the safety and well-being of their staff. As a result these businesses have redesigned or are looking to redesign their website to include on line ordering curbside pickup options for their customers. If your business in the process of redesigning your website or implementing a Digital Marketing strategy one funding program that is currently opened that will assist businesses with these costs is Digital Main Street part of the Digital Transformation Grant Funding program. The Digital Main Street provides funding for training, advisory support, and grants up to $2,500 to Small Businesses that are implementing Digital Marketing strategies.
What is the objective of the Digital Transformation Grant? The Digital Transformation Grant is available in Ontario and provides Small Businesses with: • the digital literacy skills they need to execute their digital transformation by completing an online training course that provides the basics of how digital technology will transform their business for success.
•G rant of $2,500 to assist with the execution of their Digital Transformation plan.
How does a Business Qualify for a Digital Transformation Grant?
In order to qualify for funding the Small Business must meet the following criteria: • The Small Business must be located in or close to a downtown main street or a Business Improvement Area. • The Small Business must employ 1-10 employees (or fewer than 25 employees if they are a café, restaurant, or bar). These employees must be on payroll and tax deductions must be made. • The Small Business must be paying commercial property tax (commercially assessed), either directly or through commercial rent. • The Small Business must be a registered business in Ontario and/or is incorporated. • The Small Business is open for business/operating at the time of application and not a start up. The business will be ineligible for funding if any of the following criteria apply: • The Small Business is purely on-line. • The Small business if not renting office space on a temporary basis (month-to-month). The Small Business must be owned by: • An Ontario resident operating a business in Ontario. • A person or group of people 18 years age or older at the time of application. • A Canadian citizen or permanent resident. In order to get started with funding go to: https://digitalmainstreet.ca/marketing-new-economy/# Once on the website you will need to complete the following: • The Digital Main Street Assessment • The Digital Main Street eligibility quiz • The online training • Developing a Digital Transformation Plan
Call us and find out how you can start saving money AKR CONSULTING CANADA INC. 151 Courtneypark Drive West, Suite #100 Mississauga, ON L5W 0A5 T: (905) 678-6368 | F: (905) 677-1700 info@akrconsulting.com www.akrconsulting.com
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BlockTalk - Fall 2020
Under the Digital Main Street Grant the following costs are eligible: • Digital Marketing costs including: -H iring a Consultant, Agency or person to execute Digital Marketing initiatives • Website costs including: -R edesign or improvement of existing website -D evelopment of a new website • Software purchases including: -G raphic design software -P roductivity Software (LastPass, Hootsuite, Dropbox, etc.) -S ocial Media Software (Hootsuite, Buffer, etc.) -S ecurity Software www.meatpoultryon.ca
