Alberta invests $10 M to help small businesses go digital and support e-commerce
A new program will help Alberta small businesses create a digital presence and support their ability to conduct e-commerce.
The province will invest $10 million over two years to finance the Digital Economy Program, giving businesses coaching on how to create a digital store, as well as how to market and maintain it. The provincial funding will be supplemented by a $3 million federal commitment from the department of Prairies Economic Development.
Business Link, an Alberta non-profit that assists small business owners and entrepreneurs, will administer the two-part program in partnership with the Digital Main Street ShopHERE initiative powered by Google.
The first part of the program allows small businesses the opportunities to create or configure an online store, train employees on how to manage an online marketplace, and give advice on marketing the store.
Participants will receive a Shopify 90-day free trial, a $50 advertising credit for Facebook, and a free .ca web domain.
Businesses with 50 or fewer employees and a valid Alberta business number are eligible to participate in the initiative. To get started, owners can apply on Digital Main Street's website.
The second part of the program, the Digital Service Squad Grant, provides funding to hire Alberta post-secondary students or recent graduates to regional digital service support organizations.
The digital service support organizations will provide technical support to participating businesses in their region for free to help them create digital strategies, Google My Business assistance, social media marketing, and more.
According to the government, this part of the Digital Economy Program will not only help employ recent grads or post-secondary students, but it will also help businesses through one-on-one support to increase their technology skills.
Clinton Senkow, vice-chair of Business Link, anticipates the Digital Economy Program will help more than 5,000 small businesses across the province.
HELPS ALBERTA'S DIGITAL ECONOMY: MINISTER OF JOBS
Doug Schweitzer, minister of jobs, economy, and innovation, said it can be a daunting task for a business to set up and maintain a digital store.
“You have major international players that are continuing to provide further services and different advancements,” Schweitzer said. “We want to make sure small businesses across Alberta have a chance to compete and make sure that they can keep up with it.”
“More rural businesses will now be able to create a digital presence or improve an existing one,” said Nate Horner, associate minister of rural economic development.
“Ensuring that rural, remote, and Indigenous communities are part of the digital economy means we can build, create, and diversify jobs and business opportunities to every corner of Alberta.”
According to the province, small businesses employ more than 623,000 Albertans and account for more than 98 per cent of all businesses, including nearly 45 per cent of private-sector employment.
“Small business represents considerable diversity and is a key driver of local economies,” said Jeffrey Sundquist, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, in a statement. “This initiative can provide more small businesses with an essential online presence and is an innovative way to share digital knowledge as part of an inclusive economic recovery.”
'TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE': OFFICIAL OPPOSITION
Deron Bilous, NDP economic development and innovation critic, said in a statement that the funding to help businesses develop their online marketplaces would have been more helpful at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Once again, the UCP government’s pandemic response is too little, too late,” Bilous said. “It took the UCP over a year and a half to provide this support to struggling businesses.
“On top of this, many small businesses still haven’t received the financial support they were promised up to six months ago, and the UCP still hasn’t acted on capping fees for third-party delivery apps,” Bilous added.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.