Ontario Invests $5 Million to Help Small Businesses Go Digital
May 26, 2026Cornwall Ontario – Small businesses across Ontario are set to benefit from new provincial investment aimed at strengthening digital adoption and long-term growth. The Government of Ontario has announced an additional $5 million investment to expand the Digital Competence Centre, a provincewide initiative designed to help small and medium-sized businesses adopt digital technologies, modernize operations, and improve productivity.
Ontario businesses can access hands-on support and funding through the DCC’s Digital Modernization and Adoption Plan (DMAP), which provides a matched grant of up to $15,000 that helps businesses plan for technology investments. Companies that have completed a DMAP project are eligible for additional funding through the Technology Demonstration Program, which includes a grant of up to $50,000 to match private investment in purchasing and installing new technologies that support business growth and create jobs.
Through the DCC’s Retail Modernization Project Grant, eligible small retailers with 50 or fewer employees can also receive a matched grant of up to $5,000 to adopt technologies such as point-of-sale systems, online payments, inventory management software, customer relationship management solutions, cybersecurity supports and artificial intelligence tools.
For entrepreneurs and small business owners, digital tools (from online sales platforms to AI-driven systems) are no longer optional. These programs are designed to make digital adoption more accessible, helping businesses improve efficiency, reach new customers, and strengthen their operations. Participating businesses have also reported measurable operational improvements, including cost savings and time efficiencies that allow them to focus on growth and innovation.
At the local level, initiatives like these align closely with the work being done by organizations such as the Cornwall SDG Business Enterprise Centre, which supports businesses in navigating funding opportunities, strengthening operations, and planning for growth.
Additional Info
- Through the Digital Competence Centre businesses can access a range of supports that combine funding with hands-on guidance:
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- Digital Modernization and Adoption Plan (DMAP): Provides up to $15,000 in matched funding to help businesses plan their technology investments.
- Technology Demonstration Program: Offers up to $50,000 in matched funding to support the purchase and implementation of new technologies.
- Retail Modernization Project Grant: Provides up to $5,000 for eligible small retailers to adopt tools such as point-of-sale systems, e-commerce platforms, inventory software, and cybersecurity solutions.
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- Since its launch in 2022, the Digital Competence Centre has already supported more than 800 grants to businesses across Ontario. These projects are expected to generate up to $600 million in increased sales revenue and support approximately 3,000 jobs.
- Participating companies saw an average cost savings of 23 per cent and an average of 192 hours of labour saved per month, helping improve productivity and operational efficiency.
- Delivered in partnership with the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI), this new program funding is expected to support nearly 450 businesses across the province, helping them stay competitive in an increasingly digital economy while creating new opportunities for growth and job creation.
More information is available online. In the Cornwall area, entrepreneurs are invited to make an appointment with the Cornwall SDG Business Enterprise Centre.