Backgrounder
Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, announced that the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA), the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA), Communitech, Invest Ottawa and the Toronto Region Board of Trade will receive a combined $50 million Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) investment through FedDev Ontario. The Government of Ontario is contributing an additional $7.65 million to support this project.
Working together, these key partners will deliver targeted supports to over 22,900 small- and medium-sized businesses across Ontario to embrace digital technologies as we increasingly shift to online solutions. This investment will also create jobs for more than 1,400 students.
The strategic partners involved in this project have a broad reach to tens of thousands of the region's businesses. They offer a wealth of expertise ranging from business improvement, technology, innovation, marketing and economic development. This means they are well-suited to deliver this widespread support and to have the most impact across the province. Support will be offered through two main platforms.
Digital Main Street Platform offers three levels of support, tailored to the needs of businesses:
- Entry Level Support -OBIAA will provide services to main street small businesses at the initial stages of developing an online presence. This level will support up to 2,750 businesses in communities across Ontario. Through this project, non-repayable contributions will be provided to both Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), chambers of commerce and municipalities to establish local digital service squads that work with businesses to develop a digital transformation plan. Contributions of $2,500 will also be provided directly to main street small businesses to support the cost of implementing elements of their transformation plan.
- Intermediate Level Support -This level builds on the "ShopHERE" model - a TABIA, and City of Toronto initiative building on TABIA's existing Digital Main Street program. ShopHERE is focused on building online storefronts for local independent businesses and artists-by broadening its reach across Ontario. This level deploys students to build online stores and provides initial support for operating these stores as well as related digital marketing. This level is being delivered by TABIA, Communitech and Invest Ottawa and will support an estimated 16,450 businesses.
- Advanced Level Support -This level aims to future-proof main street through sustained and specialized engagement with main street firms in the retail, restaurant/hospitality, and services/trades sectors that have an established online presence and are looking to accelerate their digital growth. Students and local experts will work with these companies to provide tailored support in developing global market strategies and advanced digital marketing. Students will also benefit from networking, mentoring and specialized training provided by Communitech, Invest Ottawa, TABIA and regional innovation centres across Ontario. This level will support an estimated 2,700 businesses.
Recovery Activation Program (RAP):
The Toronto Region Board of Trade will provide intensive training for over 1,000 small- and medium-sized enterprises to digitize their operations. This support will be provided to businesses from across Ontario, with at least half of participating firms to be located outside of the Greater Toronto Area. With assistance from an extensive network of chambers of commerce, industry associations and program delivery partners, RAP will include training in areas such as supply chain management, IT and customer acquisition. With more than 13,500 members and strategic partnerships, the Toronto Region Board of Trade is one of the largest chambers of commerce in North America, driving economic growth and competitiveness through advocacy, resource sharing and business supports.
