HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSD-2021-112 - Digital Main Street
REPORT TO: Council Meeting
DATE OF MEETING: June 28, 2021
SUBMITTED BY: Chris Farrell, Manager Small Business Centre, 519-741 2200 ext.
7294
PREPARED BY: Chris Farrell, Manager Small Business Centre, 519-741 2200 ext.
7294
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All
DATE OF REPORT: June 24, 2021
REPORT NO.: DSD-2021-112
SUBJECT: Digital Main Street - Digital Service Squad Agreement with Ontario
Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA) and City of
Kitchener for the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to sign a funding agreement with Ontario Business
Improvement Area Association (OBIAA) Small Business Centre to deliver the Digital Service
Squad program, with said agreement to be to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor: and further,
That the General Manager, Development Services be authorized to execute on behalf of the
City of Kitchener any amendments to the funding agreement provided such amendments are
to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Small Business Centre is applying for $150,000 in funding from the Ontario Business
Improvement Area Association (OBIAA) to deliver the Digital Main Street Digital Service Squad
program, August 2020 to October 31, 2021. The program designed to help brick and mortar small
businesses to adopt and implement new technology and digital marketing tools. A team of trained
students provide one-on-one support to small business.
BACKGROUND:
Small Business Centre had offered Digital Main Street services since 2018 when it ran a
collaborative pilot project with the founders of the platform, the City of Toronto Enterprise Centre.
In 2019 the Small Business Centre set up a Digital Service Squad, funded by OBIAA, with
four postgraduate students. They provided services to over 550 main street businesses
over ten months. This project ended December 31, 2019
With funding from OBIAA in 2020-21, a team of 7 students contacted over 2200 business
and provided digital marketing, e-commerce, and web development services to over 900
companies. This project ended on June 16, 2021.
The current program funding is from August 2021 to October 2021.
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
OBIAA operates the Digital Main Street (DMS) platform and program, funded by the Province of
Ontario.
REPORT:
The Digital Main Street (DMS) portal and programs are accessible to small businesses across the
Province.
The Waterloo Region Small Business Centre will deliver the Digital Service Squad (DSS) program
designed to help brick and mortar businesses adapt to and navigate new digital marketing
techniques and tools.
A team of ten trained co-op students meet with small businesses at no cost to help them complete
an online assessment and introduce them to online training modules to build their knowledge and
skills. They can also assist with developing their Digital Transformation Plan (DTP) and then help
them apply for a one-time $2,500 grant from OBIAA to implement it. This one-on-one DSS
assistance also includes basic website set-up, Google My Business profiles, 360º photos, digital
storefront set-up with e-commerce (basic information on the ShopHERE program), creation, or
enhancement of social media presence more.
The Digital Service Squad will provide services to up to 800 businesses from August 2021 to
October 31, 2021. This program targets businesses with fewer than 50 employees with a
commercial location paying commercial taxes. In addition, where COVID-19 restrictions are in
place, DSS members would provide outreach and one-on-one support through phone calls and
video-based (Zoom) calls.
The customer journey starts with a squad member helping a business complete a Digital
Assessment of their existing digital assets and resources. The assessment serves as their
roadmap to identify, improve, and adopt new tech-
for a digital marketing strategy. Businesses meet one-on-one with a Digital Service Squad student
who make recommendations for technologies, tools, and an executable plan. Services include:
setting up Google my Business,
conducting a website or social media audit
recommend plugins such as online appointment calendars, point of sale/inventory systems
creating content and a social media calendar
setting up tools to tracking analytics
the framework for a basic website
or connect them to one of the other Digital Main Street programs
The OBIAA funding is $150,000 to deliver the Digital Service Squad program in Waterloo Region
from August to October 2021. The funding supports ten full-time co-op students and direct
expenses, professional services, equipment, and print collaterals. The City of Kitchener, other
partners contribute in-kind support by co-marketing the
program.
The Small Business Centre Manager will submit monthly and final reports to the OBIAA.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
Strategic Priority: Strong & Resilient Economy
Strategy: #2.2 Support the attraction, retention, and development of existing and
new industries within the regional economy working in collaboration with the economic
development corporation for Waterloo Region.
Strategic Action: # 26 Make It Start
# 27 Make It Grow
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The OBIAA funding supports the expenses for the Digital Service Squad project.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
Entrepreneurship and innovation contribute to economic growth in the community. The Centre
provides programs and services that support and complement other community entrepreneurial
initiatives essential to the commercialization of small business within the Waterloo Region
ecosystem.
COLLABORATE Waterloo Region Small Business Centre communicates, consults and
collaborates with a broad range of community groups, organizations, agencies, secondary and
post-secondary institutes, municipal, regional and provincial governments to ensure the
entrepreneurial services and programs address the needs of small business in the community. The
Waterloo Region Small Business Centre volunteers and the Board of Advisors are representative
of these community groups.
PREVIOUS REPORTS/AUTHORITIES:
There are no previous reports/authorities related to this matter.
APPROVED BY: Must be the Justin Readman, General Manager DSD
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A Digital Main Street Digital Service Squad Budget
Attachment B Waterloo Region Small Business Centre Statement of Income
(comparative) 2019-2020
Attachment A
Digital Service Squad Budget July 2021 to October 2021
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OBIAA $ 150,000
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Wages and Fringe Benefits $ 130,235
Professional Services $ 10,000
Computer $ 2,250
Travel $ 2,500
Cell $ 1,750
Zoom $ 1,000
Printing $ 2,265
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Attachment B
Waterloo Region Small Business Centre
Income Statement for the Year Ended December 31, 2020
(with comparatives for the year ended December 31, 2019)
2020 2019
REVENUES
Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and
Employment 605,493 296,696
Ministry of Research and Innovation - 48,845
City of Cambridge 13,789 16,086
City of Kitchener 108,976 115,918
City of Waterloo 11,143 10,978
Region of Waterloo 37,500 50,000
Region of Waterloo - Self Employment Program
9,925 25,625
Sponsorships 118,543 118,033
Memberships 300 400
Registration Fees 2,747 17,562
Room Rentals - 339
908,416 700,482
EXPENSES
Salaries and Wages
418,788 440,208
Administrative Expenses
32,806 39,400
Grants
326,003 96,438
Professional Services
75,582 83,609
Events and Publicity
21,544 17,625
Insurance
1,461 1,461
876,184 678,741
Net Profit (Loss) 32,232 21,741
ACCUMULATED SURPLUS (DEFICIT)
Opening Balance101,794 80,053
Net Profit (Loss) 32,232 21,741
Closing Balance 134,026 101,794