- U.S. Small Business Administration and Business Foward Inc. partner to establish the Small Business Digital Alliance
- Effort aims to help businesses begin offering e-commerce sales or expand their digital commerce
- Both virtual and in-person events will be available to help businesses access digital tools, raise capital, and more
Summary by Dirk Langeveld
Businesses looking to improve their e-commerce options will soon be able to access a wealth of resources through the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The SBA announced that it has partnered with the nonprofit organization Business Forward Inc. to establish the Small Business Digital Alliance. The goal of this effort is to connect small businesses with resources needed to start offering e-commerce sales or expand their digital sales.
“The world’s economy has grown increasingly digital, particularly over the course of the pandemic, and small businesses have pivoted and adapted by adopting technology at incredibly high rates,” said SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman. “Through our new Small Business Digital Alliance and agreement with Business Forward, the SBA will help more small businesses accelerate their online and social media strategies to power their businesses in e-commerce and better engage with their customers where they are.”
- The Small Business Digital Alliance will include free virtual and in-person events to help small businesses access and utilize digital tools, find diverse talent, expand their professional networks, improve their operations, and raise capital
- Small businesses interested in offering resources can ask to join the SBDA by e-mailing info@smallbusinessdigitalalliance.com
- The announcement came on the same day that the SBA announced $3 million in grants to be made available to states to help emerging small businesses develop their cybersecurity infrastructure
- The Cybersecurity for Small Business Pilot Program will accept applications from Jan. 26 to March 3
- States governments can receive up to $1 million to provide training, counseling, and other services to assist nascent and startup businesses with cybersecurity
- Guzman says this program addresses the increased importance of cybersecurity to small businesses as they adopt technology to operate, survive, and grow
