The County of Simcoe continues to support local businesses with innovative solutions through the COVID-19 pandemic with the extension of the Digital Main Street and Beyond training program until June 15, 2021, originally approved by Council nearly one year ago. Administered by the South Georgian Bay Small Business Enterprise Centre and the Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia Small Business Enterprise Centre, Digital Main Street and Beyond has assisted over 339 local small businesses since it was announced in May 2020.
“We are extremely proud of the tremendous impact that the Digital Main Street and Beyond program has had on our local communities,” said Warden George Cornell. “We know this pandemic has been difficult on many of our business owners and at a time when so many small businesses were struggling to pivot, the Digital Main Street and Beyond program was there to help. County Council is proud to extend this program until June 15, 2021 in order to continue supporting small businesses, owners and their employees as we work towards a safe economic recovery.”
The unique Digital Service Squad program was designed to assist local businesses adapt sales models to meet the needs of the ever-changing online consumer world. It includes one-on-one training to eligible local businesses to ensure that Simcoe County small businesses are able to compete in rapidly changing online environments. The program extension also opens eligibility to registered home-based businesses.
This program is an expansion of the provincially funded Digital Main Street initiative and provides opportunities for additional businesses throughout Simcoe County.
About Digital Main Street and Beyond Program
The County of Simcoe is providing funding toward this unique program to help local small and medium-sized businesses go digital. Eligible businesses will receive up to 10 hours of free one-on-one coaching from Digital Service Squads and other digital supports. For more information, including full eligibility criteria, visit https://edo.simcoe.ca/Pages/COVID-19-Government-Supports.aspx.
In May 2020, County Council approved funding of $60,000 towards the program, with support from Tourism Simcoe County and the County’s Economic Development Office.
To sign up for Digital Service Squad assistance contact the Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia Small Business Enterprise Centre at 705-720-2445 or digitalsquad@barrie.ca, or the South Georgian Bay Small Business Enterprise Centre at 705-446-3355 or digitalmainst@collingwood.ca.
County of Simcoe is composed of sixteen member municipalities and provides crucial public services to County residents in addition to providing paramedic and social services to the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia. Visit our website at simcoe.ca.
– 30 –
Collin Matanowitsch
Public Relations Manager
County of Simcoe, Service Simcoe Branch
705-734-8386 (mobile)
Collin.Matanowitsch@simcoe.ca
Andrea Walasek
Public Relations Consultant
County of Simcoe, Service Simcoe Branch
249-535-3511 (mobile)
Andrea.Walasek@simcoe.ca