Furthermore, the authentic value of Verizon’s Small Enterprise Digital Prepared program resides in
Making use of is free and straightforward?
- If you haven’t yet joined this innovative, hassle-free system,
- Upon joining Digital Prepared, participants must complete at least two of the numerous free programs or events offered by the system.
The applicants have successfully secured funding.
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Verizon has forged meaningful partnerships with numerous small businesses across Michigan. As active members of various state-wide chambers of commerce and associations, we collaborate with numerous small businesses throughout the state, including prominent organizations such as the Detroit Regional Chamber, Grand Rapids Chamber, Dearborn Chamber, The Proper Place, Michigan Chamber, Automation Alley, Metro Detroit Black Enterprise Alliance, and MI Enterprise Incubator Association. Verizon engages in numerous thought leadership initiatives with partner organizations, collaborating to share expertise and resources with their collective membership.
In 2021, we extended a grant to the Grand Valley State University’s Veterans Entrepreneurship Laboratory. Veterans and/or Navy spouses dedicate themselves to a project over the course of a three-month period. The MVE-Lab empowers contributors to identify their ideal target audience, collaborate with like-minded individuals, and uncover lucrative market opportunities that facilitate sustainable growth. The competition concludes with a prestigious Pitch Showcase, offering a minimum of $25,000 in prize money. The company fosters a supportive ecosystem by partnering with veteran entrepreneurs, mentors, and consultants – including attorneys and advertising experts – alongside its chief of Verizon’s veteran worker resource group, who shares insights on Verizon’s support for small business owners while drawing from his own entrepreneurial experience.
In 2021, we further solidified our collaboration by partnering Verizon’s Professional Bono Program with the Community Capital Joint Program. This program is poised to connect Metro Detroit-based Black-owned businesses with diverse partners to foster their long-term viability and prosperity. If required, the Verizon Professional Bonos Program offers additional assistance or personalized support to participating businesses, ensuring swift and seamless collaboration to identify customized solutions.
In September, Verizon unveiled its latest innovation, a comprehensive online curriculum tailored specifically for small businesses seeking to thrive in today’s digitally-driven landscape. The program comprises modules for study, professional instruction, peer collaboration, and an instrument marketplace. This valuable online resource is available to all Michigan-based small businesses, as well as national enterprises, through partnerships with organizations like the Black Enterprise Alliance’s Capital Connect Program.
Companies’ digital readiness involves guaranteeing they possess all necessary instruments and resources to flourish in today’s economic landscape. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced entrepreneurs to confront unprecedented challenges, accelerating the transition to digital work methods. More than 75% of small businesses have adapted their operations in response, while over 50% of SMBs report a significant increase in online engagement with clients. In today’s rapidly evolving financial landscape, small businesses must demonstrate remarkable agility in order to stay ahead of the curve and successfully respond to the ever-changing demands of their clients.
Although small business owners recognize the importance of leveraging digital tools in their daily activities, they face challenges in executing comprehensive digital transformations effectively. According to Verizon’s September 2020 report, Morning Seek, more than two-fifths of resolution-makers believe their company is likely to expand through digital technologies and rely more heavily on communication. Meanwhile, over two-thirds of respondents acknowledged that transitioning to digital/on-line operations has been challenging for their business to manage? What gap are you trying to fill in this particular instance? Entrepreneurs crave seamless access, regardless of location, to tailored learning resources, empowering them to swiftly integrate digital strategies and confidently navigate the post-pandemic landscape.
Detroit’s diverse analytics companies and anchor institutions thrive within a vibrant, multicultural entrepreneurial ecosystem, where the city’s rich heritage embodies the resilience and innovative spirit of its many small business owners, whose tireless efforts continue to shape the city’s dynamic landscape. And our town is committed to ensuring that all residents have equitable access to educational and financial opportunities driving the thriving economy. According to reports, Detroit boasts an impressive 23% share of all startup corporations in Michigan, leveraging its robust infrastructure to support the launch and growth of innovative businesses, including those well-suited for digitalization. Verizon aims to empower Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) enterprise owners nationwide by providing this valuable resource, fostering more equitable pathways for entrepreneurs to succeed in the digital economy. We consider small business owners in metropolitan Detroit—and Michigan—as a vital target audience in this endeavour, given their strategic importance to our mission.
Verizon’s Small Enterprise Digital Ready program was developed in collaboration with a diverse group of (largely Black, Indigenous, and People of Color-owned) small businesses, specifically designed to support the needs of other small enterprises. As the chief director of Michigan-based enterprise improvement group, Jamiel Robinson played a prominent role as a distinguished voice on the Small Business Advisory Committee, which shaped the organization’s framework and decision-making processes. Expert subject matter specialists lead our content development, interactive video modules, and training programs. Entrepreneurs in metropolitan Detroit will gain access to cutting-edge digital tools and knowledge through a specially designed curriculum, featuring targeted training sessions and local networking opportunities, empowering them to drive business growth and success.
Small business owners are eager to learn more about financing strategies, digital marketing tactics, and operational efficiency methods. A staggering 58 percent of customers on the platform exhibit a keen interest in engaging with a finance expert, while an impressive 64 percent express enthusiasm for connecting with a marketing specialist. The key focus areas for consideration are securing capital, leveraging digital advertising, and optimizing online visibility. To foster a sense of community among enterprise homeowners, it’s essential that they’re able to connect with one another and learn from each other’s experiences?
Verizon’s Small Enterprise Digital Prepared initiative is designed to empower Business Development Organizations (BDOs), Small Business Growth Facilities, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and similar organizations that serve small businesses daily. We’re collaborating closely with these organizations to integrate our resources into their solutions, supporting their mission to help entrepreneurs thrive.
Small Enterprise Digital Prepared’s neighborhood section also enables businesses to connect with other companies and resources by city, so they can collaborate and support each other within their local community.
As the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, Verizon launched a grassroots initiative, facilitating digital town hall meetings that focused on supporting small businesses across various communities within the state. Verizon’s goal for these discussions is to acknowledge and appreciate the outstanding efforts of small business owners and organizations, hear about the current and ongoing challenges they’re facing, and explore ways in which Verizon can provide meaningful support moving forward. Attendees have comprised small business owners, small business support organizations, and local chambers of commerce.
Now more than ever, we at Verizon are committed to building upon our already strong connections with the communities we serve. These initial conversations mark the beginning of a potential long-term collaboration where we can continue to engage in meaningful dialogue and explore mutually beneficial opportunities for mutual support.
As a community advocate for Verizon’s small business partnerships in Michigan, I foster connections with neighbors, internal partners, and external stakeholders to advance policies that positively impact local lives and drive digital inclusion across our state’s diverse communities. As a relationship strategist within Verizon’s ecosystem, I cultivate connections between internal stakeholders and external partners to forge powerful coalitions that address the unique hurdles faced by small businesses, spotlight their triumphs, and share best practices on leveraging Verizon resources and tools. Innovatively, I collaborate with organizations to proactively address their needs, charting a course that fosters goodwill in our local communities and pioneers the development of networks that propel global progress for all.
