DCC Retail Modernization Project Grant

Overview of the DCC Retail Modernization Project Grant program:

RMPG helps retail businesses with the purchase of effective digital equipment and software to help them transform and grow. As such, eligible Retail can receive a reimbursement of up to $5,000 in funds post, approved, acquisition of technology. The grant contributes to the cost of hardware, software and the direct external cost to implement and operate said technology. All clients selected for a RMP grant will need to supply formal proof of payment and respond to follow up outcome survey requests. Program Objectives • support digital literacy. • accelerate digital adoption for Retail. • support commercialization of Ontario technologies by connecting SMEs looking to adopt digital technologies to Ontario technology firms • increase resilience and competitiveness in the High Street economy.

Benefits of the DCC Retail Modernization Project Grant program:

• Helps organizations better understand their technological needs.
• Assists in optimizing and accelerating the adoption of new digital technologies while minimizing costs.
• Supports the modernization and enhancement of business competitiveness.
• Enables increased efficiencies in business operations through process automation.
• Provides funding to support the implementation of digital technology solutions.

Eligibility criteria of the DCC Retail Modernization Project Grant program:

• Applicant
• Be incorporated federally or provincially with a valid Business Number
• Be a for-profit, privately owned business
• Have between 1 50 full time equivalent employees
• Must have been in business for at least 1 year
• Have a permanent public physical Bricks and Morter retail location in Ontario
• Must be engaged in consumer-facing retail activities (i.e. the process of selling goods or services directly to consumers for their personal use, which constitutes the final stage in the supply chain where products and services are made available to end-users e.g. Book Shop, coffee shop, hairdresser
• Must have at least $100,000 of annual revenues in one of the previous three tax years
• The applicant cannot have received/been approved for any other Federal or Provincial funding for the budget line items listed in the RMP application
• Have a change management culture and structure that values growth and innovation, willingness to review/adopt new technologies to support scaling
• Have the ability and willingness to invest resources
• Have the capability to implement and internally sustain new technologies
• The following types of small businesses are ineligible:
• Businesses engaged in e-commerce operations, exclusively online store-fronts
• Corporate chains, franchises, or registered charities
• Representatives of multi-level marketing companies
• Not-for-profits
• Businesses that do not engage in retail activities (i.e. services where there is no transfer of a tangible product).
• Businesses whose focus is on providing advisory or consultation services (e.g., financial, insurance, mortgage, real estate industries, law firms etc.).
• Medical services including but not limited to GP, Dentist, Chiropractic, message therapy
• Hospitality where there is not a food offering/menu
• Entities that have previously received, or are currently receiving, DMAP grant support.