Helping Alberta businesses go digital
Press Release
The Digital Economy Program will provide small businesses with free support as they grow and manage their businesses through technology.
The Government of Alberta is investing $10 million over two years toward the program, which will help Alberta small businesses increase their digital presence to reach more customers and compete in an increasingly online world.
Business Link and Digital Main Street™ are delivering the Digital Economy Program on behalf of the government. The program consists of two initiatives to support eligible small businesses across Alberta.
“We want to provide Alberta’s small business community with easy-to-use tools and resources to grow. This program will not only support Alberta’s small businesses but will also provide employment opportunities for post-secondary students and recent graduates looking to apply their technology skills and gain valuable experience.”
Doug Schweitzer, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation
“Rural Albertans have often had to choose between living in their hometown and pursuing new opportunities. As the world moves digital and small businesses have the ability to expand online, Albertans will be able to live and work anywhere. With programs like Digital Main Street, genius creations from small-town Alberta can be sold around the world.”
Nate Horner, Associate Minister of Rural Economic Development
ShopHERE powered by Google program
The ShopHERE powered by Google program allows eligible small businesses to create and operate an online store. Businesses can access help through Digital Main Street to establish an online store and receive training and support to manage it.
Eligible businesses can now apply to the program. To be eligible, businesses must be registered in Alberta and have fewer than 50 employees. More information on the program, including full eligibility details and how to apply, can be found on the Digital Main Street Alberta website.
Digital Service Squad Grant program
The Digital Service Squad Grant program will provide funding to eligible organizations to hire Alberta post-secondary students and recent graduates to regional digital service squads.
Eligible organizations can now apply for funding to create a digital service squad. Eligible organizations include non-profits, economic development agencies, business improvement associations, chambers of commerce, Indigenous organizations and municipalities that work to develop small businesses in Alberta.
Each digital service squad will provide services and technical support to eligible small businesses in their geographic region at no cost. Eligible small businesses can apply to the regional digital service squad for free technical support, such as help with developing digital transformation plans and setting up and adopting digital technologies ranging from websites to Google business profiles, social media, e-commerce and more.
More information on the Digital Service Squad Grant program, including full eligibility details and how to apply, can be found on Business Link’s website.
The Digital Economy Program will provide employment opportunities for post-secondary students and recent graduates looking to apply their technology skills, helping to build a highly skilled workforce in Alberta’s tech sector.
“This program is an incredible opportunity for small businesses across Alberta to level up their digital efforts, increasing their potential to generate more revenue online. Business Link is thrilled to deliver the successful Digital Main Street platform in Alberta, giving our businesses even more tools to recover from the pandemic and flourish online in the coming years. With the funding we have received from the Government of Alberta, we anticipate helping more than 5,000 small businesses across Alberta start, run and grow their online presence.”
Clinton Senkow, vice-chair, Business Link
“We are very proud to see the Digital Main Street program expand across Alberta. Creating an ecosystem to provide businesses with direct support and resources to help them with their digital transformation has always been at the core of our business. Now being able to bring the Digital Main Street program and brand to Alberta in collaboration with our partners at Business Link and the Government of Alberta is extremely exciting. In a time of much need, these programs will create local employment opportunities and provide training and education to thousands of business owners across Alberta.”
John Kiru, executive director, Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA), and founder of Digital Main Street
“In today’s business environment, developing digital capacity is only going to become ever more important. Aside from helping more small and medium-sized enterprises get online, this project will provide valuable work experience for students and recent graduates – two significant priorities for our network.”
Ken Kolby, president and CEO, Alberta Chambers of Commerce
“One of the most significant changes we’ve seen through the pandemic is the rapid, widespread shift to online commerce and business operations. Programs such as those provided by Digital Main Street are critical to supporting local businesses, ensuring they remain competitive and can adapt to the demands of our increasingly digital economy. It is also an important way to connect the skills of post-secondary students with current business challenges.”
Deborah Yedlin, president and CEO, Calgary Chamber of Commerce
“Small business represents considerable diversity and is a key driver of local economies. 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.”
Jeffrey Sundquist, president and CEO, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce and World Trade Centre – Edmonton
“I was challenged to keep up with questions and orders for my coffee products, so I set up a website with ShopHERE powered by Google and now I can funnel all my questions and orders through the website. It’s definitely streamlined my operations.”
Davin Gegolick, Black Stripe Coffee
“I already had a website, but I wanted to rebrand the look and feel of the site to reflect what my business was actually about. Together, a ShopHERE powered by Google team member and I created a quality website that I loved. As soon as I launched my ShopHERE powered by Google website, the online presence helped me double my product sales in only four months compared to what I earned in the entire previous year.”
Cali Bernard, Butter Me Up Co.
The Digital Economy Program supports commitments under Alberta’s Recovery Plan to protect Albertans’ livelihoods, increase the competitiveness of Alberta businesses and diversify the economy.
Quick facts
- Small businesses employ more than 623,000 Albertans and account for more than 98 per cent of all businesses and nearly 45 per cent of private sector employment.
- According to a survey of small Alberta businesses conducted by Business Link in April 2021:
- 40 per cent of respondents said they do not have a website or do not have eCommerce on their website
- 61 per cent indicate a lack of technical expertise as a reason for not having a website
- 60 per cent indicate costs were too high as a reason for not having a website
- Business Link is a non-profit organization, established in 1996, that provides resources and support for businesses.
- It is jointly funded by the Government of Alberta and Government of Canada.
- Digital Main Street is a nationally recognized online platform and service for businesses that can help with the adoption of digital tools and technologies.
- Digital Main Street was created by the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA), with direct support from the City of Toronto. DMS is also supported by a group of strategic business partners, including Google, Mastercard, Shopify, Microsoft, Facebook, Intuit QuickBooks, Square, Lightspeed and Yellow Pages.
- Digital Main Street has already established a footprint in Alberta through partnerships in Edmonton, Lloydminster, Medicine Hat and Calgary.
Related information
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