MAPLETON – Main street went digital during round two of the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association’s Digital Main Street grant – and now it’s time to bring in commercial businesses for round three.
Ashley Noble is making a return to Mapleton and surrounding north Wellington communities for Digital Main Street 3.0, building on her previous work as a digital service squad member helping businesses apply for grants to ease the burden of moving business online and keeping it there.
Last year, Mapleton teamed up with Wellington North and the Minto Chamber of Commerce to apply for funds to help cover the cost of hiring Noble, receiving $27,000.
She helped five Mapleton businesses, including The Pretty Penny and the Moorefield Diner, to get $2,500 “digital transformation grants” used for everything from new website makeovers to new point-of-sale systems.
Noble said the transformation grants also go toward covering the cost of new hardware like computers.
This year, $11,884 was provided to cover the cost of keeping Noble on the squad.
She’ll be expanding her reach and proactively reaching out to more businesses across Mapleton who no longer have to be in the main street zone.
Any brick-and-mortar small business paying commercial tax with no more than 50 employees, can reach out to Noble for help with applying for a $2,500 digital transformation grant.
And if a business doesn’t meet eligibility criteria, Noble can still lend a hand with webinars, one-on-one digital supports, helping people get more comfortable with their online presence and producing photos for online with a 360-degree camera.
Grant applications will be accepted until at least Oct. 31.
To contact Noble: email ashleynobledms@gmail.com or call 226-622-9796.
