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Oakville Beaver | Thursday, November 10, 2022 | 22 insidehalton.com #] SHOE STORE IN MARCHER AVEC ASSURANCE WALKING WITH CONFIDENCE CLOSEOUT SHOES 1001 Langs Drive, Unit 2, Cambridge www.closeoutshoes.ca L RECORD, READERS’ CHOICE 2022 ‘DIAMOND Wines Louie approved ¥ WATERLOO REGION & s HBNEWS $195K GRANT TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES More small businesses in Oakville will be able to grant from the Digital Main Street (DMS) pro- gram. The grant was recently received by the Town of Oakville, the Bronte Vil- lage BIA, the Downtown Oakville BIA, the Kerr Vil- lage BIA and the Oakville Chamber of Commerce. t jalists with the local Digital Services Squad (DSS) to help small businesses as they digitally transform how they pro- mote and run their busi- ness. Since launching in 2019, the local DSS has reported- ly assisted more than 500 Businesses in Oakville through grants, webinars, and one-on-one consulta- tions — all designed to build their digital knowl- edge and skills. Town staff said this ad- ditional grant funding al- lows the squad to continue that work until March 2024 and help more local busi- nesses adopt online tech- nologies to improve sales, marketing and back-office operations. Small businesses in Oakville and across Onta- rioare encouraged to apply for a $2,500 Digital Trans- formation Grant through the Digital Main Street pro- gram. To do so businesses need to: * Create an account to register the business for theDigital Transformation t and complete the gaat assessment + Pass the pre-qualifica- tion quiz, complete the 2.5 hours of online ti and develop a Digital Transformation Plan + Submit an application for a $2,500 grant The online application portal for the Digital Transformation Grant is n until Oct. 31, A Umited number of ants ailable, so businesses are encouraged to apply as soon as possi- ble. The DSS is also avail- able to assist businesses with grant applications. iS is a program t Pexels photo. Town, BIAs and Oakville Chamber receive grant to help small businesses grow their digital presence. help pene: -and-mortar usinesses achieve Siaital frenciocmata ion. The program was creat- ed by the Toronto Associa- tion of Business Lnprove, ent Areas with direct support from the City of mt is also supported bya eroup oof ‘strategic busi- ness partners, including Google, Mastercard, Shop: ify, Microsoft, Facebook, Intuit QuickBooks, Square and drightspo ed. e program is deliv: ered by ron Cana through the port of aa three levels. ofe government. ior more information visit https://digitalmain- street.ca. INVESTIGATIVE Kevin Donovan, an in- vestigative reporter with the Toronto Star, will be the guest speaker at the Ca- nadian Club of Halton din- ner on Thursday, Nov. 17. The event wi place at the Oakville Con- ference Centre, 2515 Wye- croft Rd., with registration anda cash bar opening at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and Donovan's presenta- tion from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Donovan will discuss his latest pook, "The Bil- ders: The Myutrious athe of Bar- REPORTER TO SPEAK AT DINNER Canadian Club of Halton photo KEVIN DONOVAN ry and Honey Sherman." For more than three de- cades, Donovan has report- edon the activities of chari- ties, government, police, business and other institu- tions. He has also reported from battlefields during the Gulf War and the war in Afghanistan folowing 9/t for the three- ve dinner and speaker presentation are $55 each for members and $65 each ers. Space is limited and sales at the door are not possible. Ticket registration is online at canadianclubhal- ton.ca and e-transfer is available at pmt@eanadi anclubhalton.ca.