Digital Economy Program - Media Release

Digital Economy Program - Media Release Main Photo

24 May 2022


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Hundreds of Alberta small businesses received free digital support through the University of Alberta’s Digital Economy Program (DEP) during the first five months of the program.

The Digital Economy Program is a free program designed to support small businesses as they integrate or upgrade their online operations. This program will allow small businesses to build their online presence, add eCommerce, create a social media plan, or add other digital practices to help their business thrive. DEP continues to be open to small businesses in Alberta, providing access to free digital support.

Over 95% of businesses in Alberta are small businesses, and supporting our small business community is absolutely crucial in the competitive digital landscape. This free service will be a game-changer for many businesses as they adopt new technology to increase sales, and as a result, hire more staff and build our economy.

The Digital Economy Program is delivered by Business Link in collaboration with Digital Main Street. It is funded by the Government of Alberta and Prairies Economic Development Canada.

Here’s a sample of the feedback the program has received to date:

I would definitely recommend the DEP program to other businesses. I believe that the DEP is part of the incredible efforts of our tech ecosystem to promote equitable access to resources and empower small businesses! I highly encourage businesses to participate, ask questions, and share their vision with the amazing DEP team to bring their startups and/or passion projects to life!” — Nicole Rodriguez, BAWSE, Student led mental health app

The DEP program has helped Hello Mochi with social media and the grand opening of our takeaway shop. With Mostafa’s help we were able
to create a buzz about the new business by hosting an influencer night a couple of days before the launch. We would wholeheartedly recommend the program.
” — Sheryl Yu, Hello Mochi

The Digital Economy Program is being delivered across 13 municipalities in Alberta. Small businesses are encouraged to apply now and can visit
yourDEP.ca to learn more.

To be eligible for the Digital Economy Program, businesses must fit the following criteria:

  • registered in Alberta;
  • zero to 49 employees (this includes self-employed business owners with no employees); and,
  • home-based or commercial business

To learn more about DEP and feature small business success stories from your area, please contact:

Heather Thomson
University of Alberta
heather.thomson@ualberta.ca
780.716.7970