Small Business Digital Transformation Grant (Portland, ME) is sponsored by City of Portland, Maine, Bureau of Planning and Sustainability Community Technology Group. This microgrant initiative aims to support Portland small businesses experiencing budget constraints in making the digital transformation leap.

Small Business Digital Transformation Grant | Portland. gov Portland Insights Survey Mailer Thousands of randomly selected Portland households will receive a Portland Insight Survey by mail this week. Learn more about the survey online or call 3-1-1 for assistance.

Portland and the federal government Learn about our sanctuary city status, efforts to block federal overreach: Portland. gov/Federal Small Business Digital Transformation Grant The Portland Small Business Digital Transformation Grant supports Portland small businesses experiencing budget constraints to making the digital transformation leap. Applications can be submitted electronically via the City’s web portal by April 19, 2024.

Access the application portal Digital transformation isn't the same for every business or employee. It's like a unique journey for each one. But the main aim is always the same: to use digital tools to make things better and faster and give clients a great experience.

Digital transformation is about being open to change, staying flexible, and getting ready for the digital age. Because of this, City of Portland, through the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability Community Technology Group, is launching a funding initiative in response to community identified solutions to addressing digital adoption barriers for small businesses.

The Small Business Digital Transformation Grant aims to support Portland small businesses experiencing budget constraints to making the digital transformation leap. The grant aims to help small businesses in Portland build up their digital infrastructure with digital systems and tools that enhance efficiency, exposure, and data-driven decision-making in order to become more competitive in the 21st century marketplace.

Portland’s locally owned small businesses are the driving force behind the city’s dynamic, sustainable future economy. As Portland re-envisions its identity post-pandemic, a greater appreciation for small businesses as the cornerstone to Portland’s economy and cultural identity becomes more evident1.

Though barriers persist, the continued growth of small businesses makes Portland a more inclusive place to live and work and inspires household wealth building. Ensuring that all local entrepreneurs have equal access to resources that support launching and maintaining a successful business means removing barriers to participation and competitiveness in the digital marketplace.

For more information or to discuss an application, please contact Alonso Melendez, Digital Equity Coordinator, at 971-678-3008 or send us an email . If you would like support with interpretation, translation, alternative formats, or other accessibility services, please email or call 3-1-1.

The Small Business Digital Transformation Grant aims to support Portland small businesses experiencing budget constraints to making the digital transformation leap. There is $75,000 total available for this initiative and we anticipate granting $12,500 to six small businesses. Applicants should be aware that if selected the $12,500 grant may be subject to taxes and taxes are not a reimbursable expense against grant funds.

Grants do not require repayment, reducing the financial burden on businesses. The recipients of the Small Business Digital Transformation Grants will be required to report on expenses, track business progress/growth, and share lessons learned from their experiences with their chosen digital transformation strategies with the Community Technology Group.

To be eligible, the applicant must be a person or entity that operates a small business within the City of Portland that has a bricks and mortar presence or an established online presence, or food truck which maintains consistent hours of operation in Portland. A director or owner may submit an application for the Small Business Digital Transformation Grant.

Applicants are required to attest and certify that their business meets all of the following eligibility criteria: Is a registered, active, Portland-based for-profit business, whose owner is a Portland resident. Is a consumer-facing business. Business that are not considered consumer-facing are those that focus primarily on wholesale trade or sell only to other businesses.

Is a business that has at least one full-time employee that is not a contractor, but not more than 15 employees. Is a business that has generated at least $30,000 but not more than $500,000 in gross revenues in the most recent tax year. Is a business that respects human rights codes, labor, environment, and anti-corruption standards, as well as engages exclusively in legal activities.

Is not a corporate chain, franchise, brokerage, or multi-level marketing business. Is not a business that promotes violence, incites hatred or discriminates on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.

The Community Technology Group may validate the eligibility criteria by seeking supporting information and documentation from the applicant at any point in the application process for the grant. In addition, applicants must: Commit to maintaining and using the digital technology for at least 1 year after participation in the program.

Consent to participating in follow-up surveys, sharing information with the City, and having the name of the business published as a recipient of funding. The City of Portland promotes the utilization of Disadvantaged, Minority-Owned, Women-Owned, Emerging Small Businesses, Service Disabled Veterans Business Enterprises (D/M/W/ESB/SDVBE) contractors and sub-contractors to promote inclusion and a sustained, vibrant local economy.

To learn more about D/M/W/ESB/SDVBE certification, visit the Business Oregon website or call them at (503) 986-0123. Every business has its own unique needs when it comes to digital transformation. It's important to figure out what yours are so that you can ensure your investment is as impactful as possible.

In the application you will be asked to describe the anticipated cost categories and their role in achieving digital transformation for the business. Applicants should describe how the $12,500 grant will be used to support the business’s digital transformation.

This narrative description of your spending plan should include your purchase, installation, set up/training, etc. timeline, key personnel involved in the project and their role, and what technology your business needs and how it will be used, etc. No more than $8,000 of the total grant award can be used to pay a contractor, and only if the contractor operates an independent business.

The grant cannot be used to pay an employee’s salary.

Examples of contractor work supported by grant funds, include: Integration of and training on online inventory and digital payment processing systems Set up and conduct staff training to use customer relationship management software, inventory management software, financial management software, etc. Configuring networking solutions Conduct a cybersecurity assessment and implement security solutions This grant program is competitive.

Applications that meet baseline eligibility requirements, will move forward in the process to be reviewed by a small selection committee using an evaluation matrix that includes the following criteria: business size (employees and gross revenue); minority ownership status; demonstrated need; innovation and growth potential; and role in the community.

March 28: Grant application opens April 19: Grant application deadline at 11:59PM April 20-22: Applications reviewed for baseline eligibility April 22-29: Applications reviewed by Selection Committee April 30: Selection Committee convenes to decide awards May 1: Applications selected to receive awards announced May 1-15: Grant agreement negotiations with selected applicants May 16-31: Grant agreement executed for signature The Community Technology Group is accepting applications through an online application form .

Review Application Guidelines prior to completing the application: Small Business Digital Tranformation Grant Application Guidelines 190. 82 KB Access the online application form Completed applications must be submitted no later than 11:59pm on April 19, 2024. For more information or to discuss an application, please contact Alonso Melendez, Digital Equity Coordinator, at 971-678-3008 or send us an email .

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