WindsorEssex Small Business Centre is proud to deliver Digital Main Street to storefront businesses in Windsor, Amherstburg, Essex, Kingsville, LaSalle and Tecumseh

Digital Main Street (DMS) is a program offering a suite of services that help main street businesses achieve digital transformation. The program is built around an online learning platform, structured training programs and a Digital Service Squad, a team of highly trained recent graduates who help main street businesses grow and manage their business through the adoption of digital tools and technology.

Digital Main Street Programs and Services:

• Digital Service Squad: One-on-one assistance and digital assessments by highly trained teams that can come on-site to offer services and recommendations, including activating free and easy-to-use tools. Fill out the form below to request a digital service squad consultation.
• Digital Training: Free online digital skills webinars and workshops covering a variety of topics (e-commerce, social media, website development and SEO) to help promote your business online.
• ShopHERE: Powered by Google — Access to a volunteer website developer who will provide businesses with over 17 hours of hands-on support to launch an e-commerce website using Shopify.
• Digital Transformation Grant: Recieve a $2,500 grant to implement recommendations and digital projects identified by the Digital Service Squad, DMS online digital asessments or through participation in ShopHERE and Future Proofing Main Street programs. Application deadline is December 31, 2020 at 10pm. 
• Future Proofing Main Street: Businesses get deep dives into their operations and receive recommendations for digital transformation. This new program will help ‘future proof’ small businesses during the COVID-19 recovery.
• Access to Support: access to basic digital services, including lists of vendors that can identify technologies and tools businesses need to be digitally ready, assessments, articles, best practices, etc.

Learn more and register to participate in Digital Main Street programs by visiting digitalmainstreet.ca

Digital Main Street was created by the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) with direct support from the City of Toronto. Partners include the Ontario BIA Association (OBIAA), the Province of Ontario and a number of corporate partners such as Google, Microsoft, Shopify and Mastercard. Since 2019, the WindsorEssex Small Business Centre has provided DMS program supports to businesses in BIAs and commercial districts throughout Windsor and Essex County. To date, our Digital Service Squad has visited over 1,100 local businesses, completed 444 consultations and helping over 40 businesses secure $2,500 Digital Transformation grants from DMS. 

Distantly launches to help small businesses

A group of Canadians have launched Distantly.ca, an online donation platform that allows community members to make direct donations to small businesses, helping cover overhead costs during the COVID-19 crisis. The aim is to lessen the impact of non-essential closures on neighbourhood businesses like local coffee shops, restaurants, hair and nail salons etc., by enabling their customers to continue supporting those businesses until they are able to re-open. Distantly is a collaborative effort and is closely partnered with the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas and Digital Main Street.

Digital Main Steet Partners