The Vankleek Hill Business and Merchant Association (VKHBMA) received a provincial grant through the Digital Main Street Ontario program to set up a Digital Service Squad (DSS). The $10,000 grant comes through the Federal Development Ontario program, and will cover the costs for the DSS to help local small businesses in the village and surrounding area make better use of digital technology for their operations.

The DSS will meet with local business owners, at no cost to them, to assess their current online presence, and help improve it through a variety of methods, including developing a Google My Business profile, advice on how to improve their social media presence, and providing support for a basic website and e-commerce setup.

The DSS will also help businesses that may qualify for a $2500 Digital Transformation grant. That includes an online assessment, online training modules, and development of a digital transformation plan for their operation.

Business owners interested in the DSS program can contact the VKHBMA for more information.