Digital Main Street – Digital Transformation Grant Program

Who is eligible?

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.

Who is not eligible

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.

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.

Eligible geographic areas

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.

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.