Verizon’s program for small enterprise lately launched data on its newest spherical of grant funding. The grant program is in partnership with LISC, and thru it, Verizon Small Enterprise Digital Prepared has dedicated $1 million in small enterprise grants for 2023.
To develop into eligible for the grants, you need to first be part of Verizon Small Enterprise Digital Prepared. It’s free.
With VSBDR, you’ll not solely get entry to programs, dwell teaching periods led by trade specialists and different sources, however you’ll additionally be capable of apply for the unique pool of $10,000 small enterprise grants.
To unlock the appliance for the present spherical of grant funding, register on Verizon Small Enterprise Digital Prepared, full any mixture of two programs, teaching occasions, and group occasions, and apply by Could 12, 2023.
Final yr, we reached out to Brianna Ellison, director of group engagement for Verizon, as a part of our initiative to convey the Verizon Small Enterprise Digital Prepared program to entrepreneurs and aspiring enterprise homeowners. She described a number of the advertising and marketing instruments, one-on-one mentoring and different features of this system that may assist small companies all through Michigan and the Nice Lakes area.
What work is Verizon doing within the Detroit/Michigan group to assist small companies?
Verizon has actively partnered with Michigan small companies. We’re members of quite a few chambers of commerce and associations from throughout the state that work with small companies (such because the Detroit Regional Chamber, Grand Rapids Chamber, Dearborn Chamber, The Proper Place, MI Chamber, Automation Alley, Metro Detroit Black Enterprise Alliance, MI Enterprise Incubator Assoc.). Verizon participates in quite a few thought management occasions with these organizations to share experience and sources with their membership.
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In 2021, we prolonged a grant to Grand Valley State College’s Veterans Entrepreneurship Lab. Veterans and/or navy spouses work on their enterprise launch over a three-month interval. MVE-Lab equips contributors to establish their goal clients, community with others, and discover the sources they should launch profitably and efficiently. It concludes with a Pitch Showcase awarding at the very least $25,000 in prize cash. Company embrace different veteran entrepreneurs, mentors, and specialists like attorneys and advertising and marketing specialists, together with the chief of Verizon’s veteran worker useful resource group who shared details about Verizon assist for small enterprise homeowners alongside along with his personal private expertise as an entrepreneur.
In 2021, we additionally established a partnership between Verizon’s Professional Bono Program and the Metro Detroit Black Enterprise Alliance’s Capital Join Program. This program is getting ready and connecting Metro Detroit Black-owned companies to numerous funding sources to make sure their sustained success. If any of those companies want additional authorized help or one-on-one assist, the Verizon Professional Bono Program workforce has agreed to work straight with these companies to establish further authorized providers.
Lastly, in September, Verizon launched Small Enterprise Digital Prepared. This on-line curriculum is designed to offer small companies the customized instruments to reach at the moment’s digital world. This system consists of studying modules, knowledgeable teaching, peer networking and a market of instruments and options. The free on-line useful resource is accessible to any small enterprise throughout Michigan (and nationwide) and will likely be utilized by Verizon companions such because the Black Enterprise Alliance’s Capital Join Program.
What do you imply by “Digital Prepared” and why is digital readiness necessary for small enterprise homeowners at the moment?
Digital readiness is about ensuring companies have all of the instruments and sources they should thrive in at the moment’s financial system. The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed unexpected challenges on entrepreneurs and additional accelerated a shift to digital methods of working. Greater than 75% of small companies pivoted their operations because of the disaster and greater than 50% of SMBs say their on-line interactions with clients have elevated. To remain aggressive within the new financial setting, small companies should be agile and adapt to shifting shopper preferences.
Small enterprise entrepreneurs perceive the significance of using digital instruments of their day-to-day operations, however discover it difficult to implement significant digital transformation. In response to knowledge printed from Morning Seek the advice of and Verizon of their September 2020 report, “greater than two in 5 resolution makers say it’s seemingly that their enterprise will develop by way of digital applied sciences and rely extra closely on communications.” On the identical time, greater than two-thirds of respondents acknowledged that including or transitioning to digital/on-line operations has been difficult for his or her enterprise to handle. How will we bridge this hole? Entrepreneurs want easy accessibility—wherever they’re—to customized studying and training sources with the intention to efficiently implement digital methods into their companies and have the arrogance to reach the post-pandemic future.
Why is the Verizon Small Enterprise Digital Prepared program useful resource for enterprise homeowners in metro Detroit and Michigan?
Residence to numerous analysis organizations and anchor establishments, together with a vibrant and multicultural entrepreneurial ecosystem, Detroit’s wealthy roots embody the hardworking and revolutionary ethos of its various small enterprise homeowners. Detroit has roughly 50k small companies owned by entrepreneurs of colour and town is dedicated to making sure residents are gaining equal entry to instructional and financial alternatives of the rising high-growth financial system. In response to a 2021 Detroit Ecosystem Evaluation, Detroit has 23% of all startup corporations in Michigan and has all the obligatory sources to launch and develop companies which can be digital prepared. As Verizon seeks to attach BIPOC enterprise homeowners throughout the nation with this priceless useful resource and create extra equitable pathways for entrepreneurs to thrive within the digital financial system, we view the small enterprise homeowners within the larger metro Detroit space—and Michigan—as a important consumer base within the effort.
Verizon’s Small Enterprise Digital Prepared program was constructed by (principally BIPOC) small companies for small companies. Jamiel Robinson, the chief director of Michigan-based enterprise growth group, Grand Rapids Space Black Companies (GRABB), was a outstanding voice within the Small Enterprise Advisory Committee that helped form this system and its choices. Various material specialists drive our content material, interactive video modules, and training occasions. In brief, entrepreneurs in metro Detroit will likely be outfitted with digital methods and related learnings—by way of curated curriculum matters, teaching occasions, and group teams—to use to their companies!
What steering are the small enterprise homeowners you’re employed with in search of?
We all know typically that small enterprise homeowners are fascinated about studying extra about financing, digital advertising and marketing, and operational effectivity. Our customers have advised us they’ve obtained great worth from the tutorial sources and in connecting straight with specialists–by way of each one-on-one mentoring and group teaching occasions. Fifty-eight % of customers on the platform are fascinated about connecting with a finance knowledgeable and 64% of customers on the platform are fascinated about connecting with a advertising and marketing knowledgeable. The most well-liked matter areas are accessing capital, digital advertising and marketing, and enhancing on-line presence. Enterprise homeowners would additionally want to be part of a group the place they’ll study from each other, as 52% of customers wish to join with friends with comparable pursuits.
How can Verizon assist with group networking on a private stage, not a digital one?
Verizon Small Enterprise Digital Prepared is constructed to be a priceless software to the BDOs, Small Enterprise Growth Facilities, CDFIs and different organizations which can be on the bottom serving to small companies every single day. We’re partnering intently with all these organizations and dealing with them to combine our sources into their choices. Small Enterprise Digital Prepared’s group part additionally lets companies join with different companies and sources by metropolis in order that they’ll connect with assist of their native space!
On the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Verizon started the grassroots work of internet hosting digital group dialogues targeted on small companies in communities from throughout the state. The aim of those dialogues is to listen to in regards to the nice work small enterprise homeowners and small enterprise growth organizations are at the moment engaged in, the present and ongoing challenges small enterprise homeowners are dealing with, and to debate how Verizon may be supportive shifting ahead. Attendees have included small enterprise homeowners, small enterprise assist organizations and chambers of commerce.
Now greater than ever, we at Verizon will proceed to construct on the extremely priceless relationships with the communities we serve. These dialogues are solely the start of what we hope will likely be long-term partnerships the place we are able to proceed the dialog and discover future alternatives to be supportive.
What expertise do you convey to the group as a liaison between Verizon and small enterprise homeowners?
As a neighborhood liaison between Verizon and small enterprise homeowners, I work to construct bridges of reference to my friends, inner enterprise companions and exterior stakeholders to champion insurance policies that enrich lives and allow a digital future that serves all Michigan communities. I’m able to leverage relationships inside Verizon and with enterprise assist group companions to type coalitions to sort out the challenges small companies face, amplify successes and greatest practices, and disseminate details about Verizon instruments and sources. Reflexively, I meet with companies to take heed to their wants and drive the best way through which we deposit goodwill in our native communities and innovate to construct the networks that transfer the world ahead for everybody.
Initially printed in September 2022.
Verizon Small Enterprise Digital Prepared: A free useful resource for studying fundamental enterprise expertise, grants, the most recent digital expertise and extra.
