Google partners with Canadian municipalities for nationwide small business program
Posted in: News Item
Date Posted: 2020-05-28
Organization Name: Google Canada
To help Canadian small businesses with their economic recovery, Google Canada announced it is committing $1 million to expand Digital Main Street’s ShopHERE program nationally with a new pledge to help get 50,000 Canadian small businesses online this year.
In Canada, small businesses employ 90 percent of the private sector workforce, but since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, storefronts across the country have been forced to close their doors.
According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, these closures are likely to hit small and medium-sized businesses hardest. A digital presence brings businesses enormous opportunities for growth, innovation, and jobs. However, digital skills and tools can still seem out of reach to many.
Google’s $1 million investment will enable Digital Main Street to expand the program to municipalities across the country, offering more businesses and artists the opportunity to build a digital presence and minimize the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because the opportunities afforded by the digital economy are still limited if people don’t have the right skills, Google’s investment will also help more small businesses receive the digital skills training needed to participate in the digital economy.
“Since Google began its business in Canada nearly 20 years ago, we’ve been focused on helping Canadian businesses of all sizes to unlock the prosperity of the internet,” says Sabrina Geremia, VP and Country Manager, Google Canada. “We remain optimistic and more determined than ever that technology is the toolkit for a world of opportunities. Our $1 million investment will go towards expanding the ShopHERE program nationally, so we can help small businesses across Canada navigate the challenges ahead.”
The program will begin rolling out in select municipalities in June, with Calgary, Markham, Vaughn, Brampton, Hamilton, Kitchener, and Stratford having been reported as signing onto the national initiative. Businesses will be able to apply for the program at digitalmainstreet.ca/shophere. This program is run in partnership with municipalities; more information on how to bring this to your municipality can also be found on the website.
“Main street businesses are facing unprecedented times due to COVID-19,” said John Kiru, Executive Director of the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas. “They need to be able to sell online if they are going to survive and we are proud to expand the ShopHERE powered by Google program to help them achieve this. This program is critical in ensuring main streets can adapt and evolve during this crucial time.”
Toronto Mayor John Tory said he would encourage communities across the country to sign up to unlock digital opportunities and support their local businesses.
“Since the launch of our ShopHere program, over 1,000 Toronto businesses have signed up to expand their digital presence,” Tory said. “We must do everything we can to support our main street small businesses and help them survive this crisis. Thanks to this investment from Google, the ShopHERE program will be available to municipalities across Canada.”