The City of Brampton has received a $250,000 grant from the Digital Main Street program for a two-year Digital Service Squad program to provide small business owners with the tools and support needed to transform their businesses digitally.
Digital Service Squads are the cornerstone of Digital Main Street, with trained specialists meeting with brick-and-mortar small businesses at no cost to help them complete an online assessment and to introduce them to online training modules designed to build their digital knowledge and skills. This one-on-one Digital Service Squad assistance includes support for basic website setup, Google Business Profiles, 360⁰ photos, social media presence, and much more. Squad members are also trained to help qualified small businesses with the development of their Digital Transformation Plan and then with the application process for a $2,500 Digital Transformation Grant.
Made up of two digital technology specialists, the Digital Service Squad will help brick-and-mortar small businesses across Brampton. The Squad will focus on digital assessments, building an online brand, attracting clients, and marketing and selling products using digital tools and technology. The Squad program will be delivered through the Brampton Entrepreneur Centre (BEC) under the City’s Economic Development Office.
Digital Service Squad
Free Digital Help is Here!
Brampton’s Digital Service Squad (DSS) is here to help your business achieve your digital transformation by building your online brand, helping to market and sell your products and/or services online, and to be competitive globally, all through the use of digital tools and technologies.
Brampton is home to over 90,000 small businesses. Our digital specialists work directly with your business to review your digital footprint and provide guidance and support through digital tools and technologies.
Our DSS can provide one-on-one assistance with the following:
- Completing a Digital Assessment of your business
- Help complete the Digital Transformation Grant application ($2,500) – application is available in 2023
- Provide you with a free 360-degree image of your place of business. (value: $300)
- Teach owners how to enhance their web presence through tools such as Google My Business, social media, e-commerce, etc.
- Provide guidance, resources, and recommendations on growing digitally.
Services
The Digital Service Squad provides complimentary services, including:
- Ads & Analytics
- Identity & Brand Management
- Content Creation
- Social Media
- Website & Online Presence
Eligibility
The following are eligibility criteria for businesses accessing the Brampton-funded program through the Brampton Entrepreneur Centre:
- Employing 1-99 employees.
- Pay commercial property tax (commercially assessed), either directly or through commercial rent.
- A registered business in Ontario and/or incorporated.
- Operate within Brampton (home-based businesses are not eligible)
Owned By:
- An Ontario resident or operating a business in Ontario.
- An individual of 18 years or older at the time of application.
- A Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
The following are not eligible to access the Brampton-funded program through BEC:
- Business supplying digital services to other businesses (e.g. website design/development, SEO, programming)
- Franchises
- Not-for-profit/charitable organization
- Renting office space temporarily (month to month)
- Shared workspace such as a hot desk or dedicated desk
- Purely online business
- Home-based
Get Started & Sign Up
To learn more about the program and/or sign up, click here.
**Important: This service is not available for home-based businesses. Please email us at bec@brampton.ca for other opportunities.
*The Digital Service Squad is a Digital Main Street Initiative supported by government and private sector partners. The Squads operate under the direction of a local service provider such as your local municipality, BIA, or chamber. The Brampton Entrepreneur Centre is the local service provider for small businesses in Brampton.
The Digital Service Squads’ role is to evaluate, consult and coach; not to act as an agency for your business, or be assigned administrative responsibilities that would otherwise be given to a staff member or outside firm.
