The Lennox and Addington Economic Development Office has provided free Digital Coaching services to Lennox and Addington County’s small businesses in the community since the beginning of the pandemic. To date, more than 200 small businesses have taken advantage of these services to improve their digital marketing. Over the last year thirty-five businesses have developed their own online store. Digital transformation has been crucial for local businesses during the pandemic.
In addition to helping businesses access the Digital Main Street Grant and the Shop Here programs, the Economic Development Office received funding from Community Futures Prince Edward / Lennox and Addington to provide enhanced digital support to our businesses. The Digital Transformation Program provided $2,000 to eighteen Lennox and Addington businesses to help them develop and adopt new digital tools and maximize their online presence. The program provided the following assistance:
- An online assessment of digital needs;
- Support the skills needed for businesses to execute digital marketing;
- Assess how new technology can help the business;
- Provide value added services up to $2,000 to implement new digital technologies and upgrade marketing initiatives (includes website development, digital advertising / marketing, software, logo redesign and copywriting).
The Economic Development team created the Digital Transformation Program to support businesses that had not previously received funding from other Ontario marketing programs.
“Earlier this year, I was notified about the newly launched Digital Transformation Program,” says Catherine Musselman of Silver Birch Alpacas in Greater Napanee. “I applied for the grant, was successful, and was immediately introduced to Digital Coach Steph Brown, a consultant hired to provide guidance and mentorship to me through the digital world. Steph has been a fantastic resource; she took the time to understand my business; my wishes and hopes; and was able to distill that information into the creation of a marketing plan & strategy suited to my existing digital skills (I am no teenager!). From social media – Yikes! Twitter, Instagram, Facebook – to the creation of a new website, I believe that I now have the skills and the digital footprint required to grow my business while maintaining the individuality, rural charm and small community feel that I originally wanted for my Alpaca Farm. I am thrilled with the outcome, and would highly recommend this program to others. If you feel stuck, if you don’t have the time and the energy to do what needs to be done to move forward with your small business dreams, then this is the program for you!”
