Deadline: Ongoing Opportunity
As part of the Canada Digital Adoption Program, Business Link has partnered with Digital Main Street and their ShopHERE powered by Google program to deliver the Grow Your Business Online grant to small businesses across the country.
Objectives
The objectives of the Grow Your Business Online program are to:
- Provide small business owners with a micro-grant of $2,400 to help with costs related to adopting e-commerce and adopting digital technologies.
- Provide small business owners with access to a network of eCommerce advisors where they can receive support and guidance.
What is the Grow Your Business Online program?
- The Grow Your Business Online grant will help small businesses across Alberta take advantage of e-commerce opportunities.
- Grants will be available through Business Link. They will also support a network of e-commerce advisors who will advise and help small businesses adopt e-commerce.
- The grant is administered by Business Link and is not administered by Digital Main Street.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applications can only be submitted by a small business that meets all of the following criteria:
- A for-profit business (including for-profit social enterprises and co-operatives)
- A registered or incorporated business
- A consumer-facing business
- Can be accessed by end use consumers or provides in-person services to consumers
- Business that are not considered consumer-facing are those that focus primarily on wholesale trade or sell only to other businesses. Businesses that engage in drop shipping or online reselling are also not considered consumer-facing.
- Has at least one employee on payroll that isn’t the owner or a contractor (full time or part time, but for at least three months prior to application) or have had at least $30,000 in annual revenue in the most recent tax year.
- Must commit to maintaining digital adoption strategy for six months after participation in the program.
- Must consent to participating in follow-up surveys, sharing information with the Government of Canada (ISED and Statistics Canada), and having the name of the business published as a recipient of funding.
Ineligible
The following types of small businesses are ineligible:
- Corporate chains, franchises or registered charities.
- Representatives of multi-level marketing companies.
- A brokerage firm and their agents (real estate, investment, insurance, etc.).
- Businesses that engage in online reselling or drop-shipping businesses reliant on third party suppliers.
- Wholesale or distribution businesses and manufacturers (unless their business model includes direct sales to the end consumer).
For more information, visit Digital Main Street.