The Government of Canada invites applications for Section 1 of the Canada Digital Adoption Program

The Government of Canada has announced a call for applications for the first stream of the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP), Grow Your Business Online, which will fund non-profit organizations that can assist small businesses in their development and implementation. Huh. E-commerce Strategies.

This stream will provide up to $336.8 million in funding to selected nonprofits to support small businesses as they embrace digital technologies and expand their digital presence. This will include micro-granting, providing e-commerce advisory services and training, and hiring young digital consultants to help business owners as they embrace digital technologies such as digital storefronts and e-commerce platforms and expand their digital presence. expand.

With the support of a network of 11,200 young digital mentors who will mentor and help small businesses embrace e-commerce, the Grow Your Business online stream aims to help 90,000 small businesses, according to Innovation, Science & Economic . Development Canada (ISED).

The program targets customer-oriented businesses such as small-scale retail and service operations that have not made significant investments in digital technologies and want to reach more customers online by digitizing their businesses. Eligible businesses will receive a micro-grant of up to $2,400 to help cover costs related to the adoption of digital technologies.

“The success of Canadian small businesses is critical in accelerating our nation's economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and protecting our future as a competitive nation in an increasingly digital world. The Canada Digital Adoption Program will provide businesses with the coast-to-coast tools they need to bring their Canada-made products and services online, grow their businesses, and hire workers. "This program will be instrumental in helping even more Canadian businesses build their markets in the digital economy," said Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, in a July 8 announcement.

Regional and national non-profit organizations that can support small businesses in developing and implementing new technologies, as well as hire, train and employ young people as youth digital consultants in small businesses can keep. The organizations selected for this initiative will be part of a network of service providers.

In its application, ISED states that distribution partners will need to demonstrate their ability and track record in working with regional and local businesses on digital adoption. They also need to outline their ability to recruit, train, support and hire young digital consultants who can support small businesses as they begin to sell their products and services online.

The call for applications will close on August 6, 2021 at 5:59 PM. pt.

Announced in Budget 2021, CDAP is a $4 billion investment over four years, comprising two streams aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprises transform digitally. This will include providing $2.6 billion in zero-interest loans to help Canadian businesses adopt new technologies.

ISED says that information on the second stream, Boost Your Business Tech, will be revealed in the coming weeks.