The Digital Main Street services are available for small businesses with under 50 employees located within Halton Hills looking to make upgrades and improvements to their digital offerings including website upgrades, e-commerce, digital advertising, and social media. Businesses who have participated in previous DMS programs between 2019 - 2021 are able to continue to receive support.
Businesses can contact the Halton Hills Digital Main Street Coordinator about any of the opportunities listed below.
Small Business Week: Picture Perfect Program (October 18 & 20)
In celebration of Small Business Week, the Economic Development department has partnered with the Halton Hills Public Library to provide small business owners with free studio space and lightboxes for product photography. Book a private room and bring your smartphone or utilize the library photography equipment to take high-quality product photos. The Digital Main Street Coordinator, Natalie will be there to assist you with any photography questions and provide some tips and tricks on how to produce digital content. 1-Hour studio space sessions are available Tuesday, October 18th from 1 PM - 4 PM, and Thursday, October 20th from 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM.
Starting July 2022, Natalie will be working with the Economic Development Department at the Town of Halton Hills to offer digital support services to small business owners.
Set up a one-on-on meeting with Natalie to:
- Assess your current online presence
- Review options to create or improve website
- Review options for social media and web advertising
- Determine eligibility for Digital Transformation Grant
- Hiring local vendors to support improvements
- Ask questions about any additional DMS programs and services
Contact Natalie to set up a meeting.
Digital Transformation Grant Application Portal is Currently Open until October 31, 2022.
The $2,500 Digital Transformation Grant is administered through the Ontario BIA Association (OBIAA), available for small businesses with a brick-and-mortar location in Halton Hills. If successful, the funds can be used towards digital marketing services, hiring a consultant, social media advertising, website development or redesign, upgrading photography, software, security platforms and more. Up to $1,000 can be used for hardware like a new POS system or tablet.
Find Digital Transformation Grant Information and Eligibility Requirements Here
Contact the DMS Coordinator if you have any questions about applying or completing final reporting processes.
As part of the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDA), the Government of Canada has partnered with Digital Main Street and their ShopHERE powered by Google program to deliver the Grow Your Business Online grant to small businesses across the country.
Small businesses with at least 1 employee could be eligible to receive a $2,400 grant to support costs related to starting and supporting e-commerce capabilities.
Learn more about the CDA program here or reach out to the DMS Coordinator for more information.
The shopHERE program through Digital Main Street creates online stores for small businesses with under 10 employees and artists at no cost.
- helps you create and configure your online store
- trains you on how to manage it
- provides support to get your online store live
- helps with marketing the store
Learn more about the ShopHERE program on the Digital Main Street Website or reach out to Natalie, the DMS Coordinator at the Town of Halton Hills for more information.
If you are a small business in Halton Hills offering digital services including photography, web design or consulting services, you may be eligible to be added to the Digital Main Street Vendor Directory. If you are added to the directory, businesses across Ontario who receive the Digital Transformation Grant can use your services.
Visit the DMS Vendor Directory Page or contact the Halton Hills DMS Coordinator.
Your Business Google Profile is one of the most important pieces of information you have on the web, it is how most of your new customers will find you and learn about your location. Set up a time for the DMS Coordinator to stop by your store with a 360 camera to update your Google Street View photo and 360 photos inside your store.
Contact the DMS Coordinator for assistance.
If you are looking for additional business services, The Halton Region Small Business Centre is a free service for anyone looking to start, manage and grow their business within Halton Region (Including: Halton Hills, Oakville, Milton, Burlington).
You can meet with a small business advisor to discuss:
- Starting a business: registration and business planning
- Taxes and financials, business licenses, insurance and permits
- Financing, grants, human resources, importing and exporting
- Entrepreneurship programs
- Upcoming webinars and workshops
Visit the Small Business Centre Website or email smallbusiness@halton.ca for more information.
Digital Main Street has compiled a list of tools, how-to guides and tutorials available to assist all main street business in embracing digital technology. You can also find webinars and workshops on topics such as how to build your online presence, using social media effectively, paid advertising, and much more.
Digital Main Street Information Videos
Local DMS Success Stories
"I was fortunate enough to be hired by many businesses in our great community as a result of the grant program. Multiple businesses were referred to me and used my Video Production services. I may not have ever had the chance to work with some of these incredible local businesses if it weren't for the grant program!"
"Working through the digital marketing learning modules helped to give us a foundation and generate a plan. We have started working with a knowledgeable digital marketing company who are helping to develop our brand story and optimize our presence in this area. In addition, we worked with a videographer to create quality videos highlighting the valuable services we offer in a fun and supportive environment."
"The grant helped us to create a social media campaign that help us to be closer to our clients and share a bit more about our food, traditions and culture. We updated our website and realized that we need to be in constant change, adaptation. We now know how fast people get information online and through social media and how important is to be always adapting our campaigns to situation or events that are important to our community.”
The Digital Main Street program is available to small businesses thanks to renewed funding by the Government of Canada, Ontario’s Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade in partnership with the Toronto Association of BIAs and the Ontario BIA Association (OBIAA), to help small businesses improve how they use digital technologies to promote and run their businesses.
