Digital Main Street

Digital Transformation Grant

Thank you for your interest in Digital Main Street and the Digital Transformation Grant program.
The program is focused on providing qualifying brick-and-mortar small businesses with a digital assessment, online training and a one-time $2,500 grant to implement their digital transformation plan.

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What is a Digital Transformation Grant?

Digital Main Street (DMS) is a program focused on assisting small businesses with their adoption of technologies. The Digital Transformation Grant (DTG) program will provide funding for training, advisory support, and grants to brick-and-mortar small businesses looking increase their capacity through digital transformation.

The grant is administered by the Ontario BIA Association (OBIAA), and is not administered by Digital Main Street.
Applications will continue to be accepted until November 30, 2021 (or until grant funds are exhausted).

The objectives of the Digital Main Street – Digital Transformation Grant program are to:

Provide small business owners a comprehensive plan to guide their digital transformation.

Provide small businesses with the digital literacy skills they need to execute their digital transformation either through a do-it-yourself approach and/or being a smart consumer when purchasing these services.

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Participant Requirements

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 Has not received a DTG previously 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 - NOT A WHOLESALER OR MANUFACTURER Is NOT a business supplying digital services to other businesses (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

	Owned by: An Ontario resident operating a business in Ontario. An individual of 18 years of age or older at the time of application. A Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

	Has completed the Digital Transformation for Main Street program, which includes: The Digital Main Street Assessment Has passed the eligibility quiz The online training Developing a Digital Transformation Plan

*OBIAA reserves the right to determine who is eligible/ineligible on a case-by-case basis.

Additional Criteria

Previous Digital Main Street grant recipients may NOT apply at this time

How to apply for the grant

Eligible / Ineligible Costs

Eligible Costs Ineligible Costs

Digital Marketing
- Hiring a consultant/agency/person to execute Digital Marketing initiatives
Website
- Redesign, Improvement of existing website
- Development of new website
Software
- Graphic design software
- Productivity Software (LastPass, Hootsuite, Dropbox, etc.)
- Social Media Software (Hootsuite, Buffer, etc.)
- Security Software
- Other software as evidenced in the DTP

Digital Training
- Ongoing Digital Training courses (in-person & online)
Hardware (maximum $1,000)
- Must be hardware deemed necessary (as determined by OBIAA in its sole discretion)

Digital Main Street reserves the right to determine what is deemed eligible / ineligible on an as needed basis. These are merely an outline and represent best practices.