Digital Main Street
DMS SUccess Stories
MedEssist’s multilingual, user-friendly platform helps local pharmacies prepare for COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
MedEssist applied for the DMS Lab program and were selected in December 2020 to pilot their solution to a group of independent pharmacies in Peel region.
DMS Future Proof
Digital Main Street is a program that helps main street businesses achieve digital transformation. The program is made possible through financial support from the Government of Canada through FedDev Ontario’s Regional Relief and Recovery Fund. In partnership with FedDev Ontario and the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, DMS announced its new Future Proof Program on August 19, 2020. With Future Proof, DMS aims to expand their support to help small businesses across Ontario recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for future economic storms.
The Future Proof program is designed to have regions explore what is possible when we bring the innovation ecosystem together with main street businesses. It offers three streams:
1. DMS Lab Pilot Projects: funding of up to $25,000 to pilot innovations that encourage transformational change for groups of small businesses either in a BIA or across an industry group. Applications were submitted during September and October, 2020 by technology innovators; decisions will be announced soon.
2. Community Collaboration Projects: Altitude Accelerator has a budget of $50,000 to support pilot test solutions in Peel Region that address challenges at the community and regional level. Consultations started in early September with workshops and information sessions intended to encourage the sharing of ideas between municipal economic development staff, business improvement areas, boards of trade and other community stakeholders. The first two projects were selected in November 2020 with completion expected by March 1, 2021.
3. Transformation teams: individual businesses can apply to work with an interdisciplinary team of recent graduates and highly trained students that offer expertise in web design, digital marketing, graphic design, user experience/user interaction (UX/UI) and copywriting. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
The Future Proof Program has recently launched an augmented reality (AR) application for iOS and Android, created in partnership with ImagineAR, to show support for local businesses in Brampton and Mississauga. See the app in action.
Corporate Sponsors & Partnerships
Founded by the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) with direct support from the City of Toronto, Digital Main Street is also supported by a group of strategic corporate sponsors and government partners.
DMS labs
- By pilot testing within localized communities, tech companies gain access to real time feedback from small businesses.
- Ideal pilot projects will be those that are scalable to other businesses and communities; effective solutions will be shared throughout the province in 2021.
- DMS support involves project advice, introductions, expertise, and funding.
- DMS will fund up to $25,000 to support pilot solutions that help main street businesses.
COmmunity Collaboration Project
- Taking real time challenges being faced by our main street businesses and pilot testing workable solutions.
- Altitude Accelerator announced the first Peel Region Community Collaboration Project on November 23, 2020 - developing interactive, augmented reality walking tours for Streetsville BIA
- Altitude Accelerator announced the second Peel Region Community Collaboration Project on November 30, 2020 - bringing digital gift cards to Downtown Brampton
Transformation Teams
- In a process lasting up to six weeks, eligible businesses will work with a remote team staffed by our regional delivery partner who will help to create a transformation plan, develop and implement digital marketing strategies, maximize use of digital tools and more.
- To be eligible, individual businesses must be registered and/or incorporated in Ontario; they cannot be a home-based business, chain or franchise.
- Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
- For more information, visit: https://digitalmainstreet.ca/transformation-teams/
Questions? Contact our Altitude Accelerator DMS lead Lee St. James at lee.stjames@riccentre.com.