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SLEP encouraging businesses to apply for digital transformation grants

A Sarnia-Lambton economic development agency is encouraging local “main street” businesses to sign up for $2,500 grants to help take their business presence online.

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A Sarnia-Lambton economic development agency is encouraging local “main street” businesses to sign up for $2,500 grants to help take their business presence online.

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The deadline to apply for digital transformation grants, via the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association, was recently extended to Dec. 15, officials with the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership said.

“I believe there’s only a few hundred of these grants left across the entire province,” said partnership CEO Stephen Thompson, “and we want to see as many of those as possible come to the Sarnia-Lambton area to help our local businesses and workers.”

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So far, about 20 have applied for the grant, which is open to local businesses in downtown-like commercial areas, he said.

“It could be downtown Wyoming, Grand Bend, Forest, Warwick, you name it,” Thompson said.

Mitton Village in Sarnia, as well as downtown, is also eligible for the grant, he said.

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The money – funding is via the provincial and federal governments – can be used by businesses to create or enhance their online presence, and can be spent on hardware, creating websites, or consulting or training fees related to digital marketing and social media, partnership officials said in a news release.

“Businesses need to be embracing digital technologies, curbside pickup … to be successful when we all come out of this,” Thompson said about the effects of COVID-19.

A three-person Digital Service Squad is also available via the economic partnership to help any businesses with applications, or with advice about how to make use of their grant money, he said.

“As a government-funded agency, all our services are at no charge,” he said.

Anyone interested is encouraged to apply fast, he said.

“The provincial body that’s administering this, they’re estimating all the grants will be spoken for by Dec. 15, but it could go even more quickly,” Thompson said.

“So we’re doing everything possible to make businesses aware of that to really help businesses in any way possible to complete the application.”

For more information, visit sarnialambton.on.ca/dms, or call 519-332-1820.

tkula@postmedia.com

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