HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAO-16-035 - Waterloo Region Small Business Centre - Digital Main Street
REPORT TO: Finance and Corporate Services
DATE OF MEETING: December 5, 2016
SUBMITTED BY: Chris Farrell, Manager, Small Business Centre
519 741 2200 x7294
PREPARED BY: Mistie Brown, Program Assistant, Small Business Centre
519 741 2200 x7676
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All
DATE OF REPORT: November 10, 2016
REPORT NO.: CAO-16-035
SUBJECT: City of Kitchener, Waterloo Region Small Business Centre
Agreement with the Province of Ontario re: Digital Main Street
Program
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RECOMMENDATION:That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to sign a six month
funding agreement with the Province of Ontario for the Digital Main Street program that
provides an online learning portal, digital business assessments, training opportunities
and hands-on support for Main Street business owners to onboard new technologies and
meet opportunities for growth. The City of Kitchener supporting the agreement with a
contribution of $15,000 from the Economic Development Reserve Fund. The Province of
Ontario’s contribution is $69,250 for the program to be delivered by the City of
Kitchener’s (Waterloo Region) Small Business Centre. Said agreement to be to the
satisfaction of the City Solicitor.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Kitchener’s Small Business Centre provides entrepreneurs with guidance, business
training, events, one-on-one coaching, mentoring and access to industry professionals. Over the
past year the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre has responded to over 20,000 inquiries,
held 20 events, 320 seminars, assisted thousands of entrepreneurs to start and grow a
business and provided training that led to over 700 jobs created in 2015. The City of
Kitchener’s Waterloo Region Small Business Centre location currently operates with 4.5 full time
employees and holds meetings six times a year with a volunteer Board of Advisors consisting of
10 local business professionals and funders.
REPORT:
The Waterloo Region Small Business Centre wiil partnered with the City of Toronto’s Business
Enterprise Centre to leverage and implement a new program titled Digital Main Street – a
program focused on helping main street businesses adopt digital technologies through an online
portal, business assessments, training sessions and hands-on support with the goal of retaining
and expanding main street business. The City of Toronto is sharing this platform with the City of
Kitchener and supported by Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) along
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
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with corporate partners. This early adaption and partnership enhances both cities’ goals for an
Innovation Corridor between Toronto and Kitchener Waterloo.
Features of the Digital Main Street Program include a website where Main Street businesses
first receive a Digital Assessment of their business practices/operations, which is serves as
their roadmap. The digital assessment contains a ‘to-do’ list and recommendations to trusted
technology providers who can help businesses meet their goals. This list of recommendations
is aided by a Digital Service Squad – developed in partnership with post-secondary students
and graduates who will assist the main street businesses in completing their digital
assessments and onboarding basic technologies. Another aspect of the program includes the
BIAcademy – a suite of learning and development opportunities focused on helping Main
Street businesses adopt and sustain new technologies. Lastly, the program will also feature
theBIA Lab – a business incubator for retail innovation startups that will match technology
companies with main street businesses to test and scale their technologies.
Total project cost is $114,250 over a six month period. The Province of Ontario’s contribution
amount is $69,250. The City of Kitchener, other municipalities and private sector will contribute in-
kind and financial support. The funding will be cover the wages and benefits for 1 full-time
position, and operations (i.e. direct overhead costs such as: marketing, program materials, travel,
meeting expenses, audit fee, office supplies and printing) over a six month period.
The Manager will submit monthly and final reports to the Province.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
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:
City of Kitchener $15,000 – Economic Development Reserve Fund
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Jeff Wilmer CAO
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