Digital Main Street – Digital Transformation Grant Program
ON, Canada
Funding to develop Ontario SMEs online presence
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|noCondition
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|openingDateFebruary 1, 2023
- grant_single|closingDateApril 1, 2023
- grant_single|grantStatusClosed
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Retail trade
grant_single|grantors
- Digital Main Street
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|closed
grant_single_labels|preview
Receive funding for training, advisory support, adopting new technologies and increasing capacity through digital transformation and developing your SME's online presence.
grant_single_labels|projects
The Digital Transformation Grant Program offers assistance to small businesses for projects aimed at adopting new technologies. Eligible activities focus on enhancing digital capabilities through various improvements and training initiatives.
- Executing digital marketing initiatives by hiring a consultant, agency, or individual.
- Redesigning or improving an existing website, or developing a new website.
- Acquiring graphic design, productivity, social media, and security software, or other software relevant to the Digital Transformation Plan.
- Engaging in ongoing digital training courses, both in-person and online.
- Purchasing necessary hardware, within a $1,000 maximum.
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$ 6,000
Implementing cybersecurity measures and training for a financial cooperative
$ 6,000
Developing an e-commerce platform tailored for local artisans
$ 7,000
Digitizing records and implementing an online portal for a healthcare NPO
$ 5,000
Enhancing digital marketing efforts for a local organic food store
$ 7,000
Upgrading IT infrastructure and digital training for a small architecture firm
$ 8,000
Creation of a mobile application for remote legal consultations
grant_single_labels|admissibility
Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the business's characteristics and ownership.
- The business must have a permanent 'brick-and-mortar' establishment in Ontario.
- It must employ between 1 and 50 employees.
- The business cannot be home-based.
- It must pay commercial property tax (commercially assessed), either directly or through commercial rent.
- The business must be registered in Ontario and/or incorporated.
- It must be operational and open for business at the time of application (cannot be a start-up).
- The business must be open to the general public for walk-in and onsite purchases of goods and services, and cannot be a wholesaler or manufacturer.
- The business cannot supply digital services to other businesses (e.g., website design, SEO, programming).
- It cannot be a franchise, including those individually owned and operated.
- The business cannot be a not-for-profit or charitable organization.
- It cannot rent office space on a temporary basis (month-to-month).
- The business cannot be in a shared workspace such as a hot desk or dedicated desk.
- The business cannot operate purely online.
- The business must be owned by an Ontario resident operating in Ontario.
- The owner must be an individual of 18 years of age or older at the time of application.
- The owner must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- The business must have completed the Digital Transformation for Main Street program, which includes a Digital Main Street Assessment, passing the eligibility quiz, online training, and developing a Digital Transformation Plan.
- Businesses that received a Digital Transformation Grant after June 21, 2022, are not eligible; those who received it before this date may apply if all final reports have been received and verified.
- Large corporations with more than 50 staff are not eligible.
- Businesses with multiple locations can only apply for one grant, and owners with multiple businesses can only apply for one grant.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
Any business that meets the following requirements:- Must have a permanent 'brick-and-mortar' establishment in Ontario.- Employs 1-50 employees.- Is NOT a home-based business.- Pays commercial property tax, 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.Ownership requirements:- Owned by an Ontario resident operating a business in Ontario.- Owned by an individual 18 years of age or older at the time of application.- Owned by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.Program prerequisites:- Has completed the Digital Transformation for Main Street program, which includes: - Digital Main Street Assessment. - Passed the eligibility quiz. - Online training. - Developed a Digital Transformation Plan.Additional criteria:- Previous recipients of the Digital Main Street Ontario Grant Program who received a DTG after June 21, 2022, are not eligible to apply.- Previous recipients who received a DTG before June 21, 2022, may apply provided all DTG final reports have been received and verified by OBIAA.- Large corporations (more than 50 staff) are not eligible.- Businesses with multiple locations are only eligible to apply for one Digital Transformation Grant.- Owners with multiple businesses may only apply for one grant.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
This grant excludes specific types of businesses and industries based on their operational model and business activities. The restrictions are designed to focus the grant on eligible small businesses with a physical presence looking for digital transformation support.
- Home-based businesses.
- Wholesalers and manufacturers.
- Businesses supplying digital services to other businesses, such as website design or SEO.
- Franchises, including individually owned and operated ones.
- Not-for-profit or charitable organizations.
- Businesses renting office space on a temporary basis.
- Businesses in shared workspaces like hot desks.
- Purely online businesses.
- Large corporations with more than 50 staff.
- Business owners with multiple applications for different businesses.
- Businesses with multiple locations applying for more than one grant.
- Previous grant recipients who received a DTG after June 21, 2022.
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
The grant covers expenses directly related to digital transformation projects for small businesses.
- Digital Marketing initiatives by hiring a consultant/agency/person.
- Website redesign, improvement, or development of a new website.
- Purchase of graphic design, productivity, social media, and security software.
- Ongoing Digital Training courses (in-person & online).
- Necessary hardware up to a maximum of $1,000 as determined by OBIAA.
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
This grant is available to small businesses with a physical presence in a particular geographical area of Ontario. Eligible businesses must be registered and operating within this province.
- Businesses located in Ontario, Canada.
grant_single_labels|criteria
- Business must have a permanent 'brick-and-mortar' establishment in Ontario - Business must be employing 1-50 employees - Business must not be a home-based business - Business must be paying commercial property tax (commercially assessed), either directly or through commercial rent - Business must be a registered business in Ontario and/or incorporated - Business must be open for business/operating at the time of application (not a start-up) - Business must be open to the general public for walk-in and onsite purchases of goods and services (not a wholesaler or manufacturer) - Business must not be supplying digital services to other businesses (e.g. website design/development, SEO, programming) - Business must not be a franchise, including those individually owned and operated - Business must not be a not-for-profit/charitable organization - Business must not be renting office space on a temporary basis (month-to-month) - Business must not be in a shared workspace such as a hot desk or dedicated desk - Business must not be a purely online business
grant_single_labels|register
Here are the steps to submit an application for this grant:
- Step 1: Account Setup
- Create an account on the Digital Main Street portal.
- Login if you already have an account to start the application process.
- Step 2: Eligibility Assessment
- Complete the Digital Main Street Assessment to evaluate your business's readiness for digital transformation.
- Pass the eligibility quiz to proceed with the application.
- Step 3: Complete Training
- Engage with online training modules provided by Digital Main Street.
- Develop a comprehensive Digital Transformation Plan as part of the training program.
- Step 4: Application Form
- Fill out the application form available on the Digital Main Street portal after completing the necessary pre-requisites.
- Ensure all required information and documentation is provided as per the application checklist.
- Step 5: Application Submission
- Review the application for any errors or omissions.
- Submit the completed application through the Digital Main Street portal before the deadline.
- Step 6: Confirmation
- Await confirmation of application receipt via email from Digital Main Street.
- Retain confirmation details for future reference and follow-up.
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
Here are additional relevant details for this grant:
- Reporting starts one month after receiving grant funding and continues monthly for six months.
- The submission of a Digital Transformation Plan is required as part of the application process.
- Previous recipients of the Digital Transformation Grant after June 21, 2022, cannot apply again, while those who received it before this date can reapply if final reports are submitted and verified.
- Businesses can only apply for one Digital Transformation Grant, even if they have multiple locations.
- Owners with multiple businesses may only apply for one grant overall.
- The portal remains closed for applications, but digital assessment and online training modules are still available as resources.
