Back in March 2020, when small businesses impacted by COVID-19 health measures were scrambling to change the way they do business to survive, our Economic Development team was ready with the Digital Main Street program to help ramp up their online presence.
It's Economic Development Week and we are joining EcDev professionals from around the world in showcasing how the work we do supports our communities.
Team STC understands that small business owners are jacks-of-all-trades and that juggling the many responsibilities, such as purchasing, marketing, payroll, and running the day-to-day operations, can be challenging and offers support through resources at the St. Catharines Enterprise Centre. In addition to training, webinars and other programs, in 2019 we launched our Digital Service Squad through a partnership with Digital Main Street and the Ontario BIA Association, offering businesses one-on-one help enhancing their online presence.
Thanks to the efforts of our Digital Service Squad, more than 60 local businesses have received digital transformation grants. These grants, which were offered by Digital Main Street, helped local main street businesses improve their digital presence. While the grant applications are currently closed, the Digital Service Squad and Enterprise Centre staff remain ready to support local businesses.
"The process of receiving the digital transformation grant has given me the push to start focusing on the importance of our online presence,” said Helen Scott, owner of Super Plak.
For more than 25 years, Super Plak has been providing plaque mounting and printing services with all services done in-house at its Queenston-area location. They recently expanded to provide canvas printing, canvas wraps as well as floor graphics.
As a result of the enhanced digital efforts made possible through the grant Super Plak has seen an increase of 40 per cent in website traffic and one of its Instagram reels has more than 1,500 views.
“The Digital Main Street training videos prepared us to collaborate with our newly hired (thanks to the grant) digital specialist Devon. Doing this type of work with someone makes all the difference!”
The Digital Service Squad was first launched in St. Catharines in 2019 as part of a City-led effort to support businesses in Business Improvement Areas across the Niagara region. The program was relaunched in 2020 with efforts focused on downtown St. Catharines, Port Dalhousie, Facer Street and Queenston Street in St. Catharines. The 2020 program also established additional squads in other Niagara municipalities.
Niagara ranks in the top 10 Ontario regions where businesses have signed up for Digital Main Street with 333, including more than 60 businesses in St. Catharines that were approved for digital transformation grants.
Learn more about our Digital Service Squad and how they can help STC businesses
