By Cecilia Nasmith
For businesses, one of the effects of the COVID-19 shutdown has been the realization that the best possible digital presence is more important than ever.
One of the more successful responses – the Digital Main Street initiative – was reported on at the June meeting of Northumberland County council's Economic Development, Tourism and Planning Standing Committee meeting.
Business and Entrepreneurship Centre Manager Rob Day said 55 businesses received more than $129,000 in subsidies to help improve their digital applications – which promptly worked out to more then $134,000 injected into the local economy as these businesses spent to make these improvements.
“We are happy to announce officially we have secured $60,000 to move the program forward for another intake, concentrating on tourism-sector businesses,” Day said.
He estimates this will support 22 more businesses, and he looks forward to a report on this second intake in the fall.
“We believe digital enhancements, digital improvements, moving businesses on-line will continue to be a priority moving forward, so we don't see it as a program that will end,” he said.
Deputy Warden Mandy Martin mentioned that she had attended one of the seminars during the initial program.
“Very, very dynamic and user-friendly,” she declared.
“Small businesses find it very, very beneficial – an amazing program, not tied up in red tape. For a government program, it's quite wonderful. So I say kudos to Northumberland County for championing it.”
Committee chair Bob Sanderson asked about the Digital Footprint program, and Day said some of these statistics were included in his report.
“In Port Hope, Campbellford and Cobourg, local DBIAs ran Digital Main Street that provided expertise and a grant from the provincial-Federal government targeting those businesses within those downtown locations,” he explained.
The idea of a Digital Footprint program was to ensure no business would fall through the cracks, whether it had a downtown location or not.
“Both programs were very successful,” Day stated.
“All in all, between the two programs, about 220 businesses were assisted with funding, expertise, educational support. Combine the two, and I think at the county we did a great job.”
