Verizon’s Small Business Digital Ready program reaches 300K businesses with free, online resources
May 08 2024 - 9:00AM
Verizon’s Small Business Digital Ready Program, a free resource for
small businesses to access over 50 courses, expert-led workshops,
in-person and virtual networking and incentives, such as grants,
celebrates today having reached 300,000 businesses across the US.
This milestone marks critical progress towards Verizon’s goal to
reach 1 million small businesses by 2030.
Of the 300,000 businesses Small Business Digital Ready has
reached, 51% are women-owned, 62% are Black-owned or Hispanic-owned
businesses, and 40% have been in business for 2 years or less -
often the most precarious time for new small businesses.
Active users of Small Business Digital Ready, defined as those
who have completed at least two resources on the platform this
year, are also eligible to apply for the program’s national $10K
grants, which are awarded to select applicants. The latest national
grant cycle is now open until June 28, 2024 at 11:59pm
PT.
Rose Stuckey Kirk, Verizon’s Chief Corporate Social
Responsibility Officer, said, “Verizon is leveraging its
technology and innovation to promote economic empowerment and
enable communities to thrive through Small Business Digital Ready.
This program is part of our responsible business plan, Citizen
Verizon, which has an ambitious goal to support 1 million small
businesses by 2030, and today we are excited to celebrate our
significant milestone.
"It's critical that we've reached 300,000 businesses, but it’s
important to say that that’s not all we have done. Small businesses
that use Digital Ready are reporting real value. In fact, 77% of
respondents to a Small Business Digital Ready survey** said that
the platform had some effect on increasing their revenue or
profitability, and 78% said the platform had an effect on
increasing customers. When small businesses thrive, their
communities thrive."
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready provides personalized tools
and resources in partnership with Local Initiatives Support
Corporation (LISC) and Next Street. Popular courses include
building a brand, building a communications strategy, financing
your business and cybersecurity.
The platform also has a dedicated Spanish-language site, with
courses exclusively in Spanish. Verizon Business learned from its
2024 Latino Small Business Survey that 82% of Latino small business
owners surveyed are currently looking for external support to adapt
to changing customer needs. They also continue seeking support in
other areas, such as finance, cybersecurity, and marketing, to name
a few.
Small Business Digital Ready is part of Citizen Verizon, the
company’s responsible business plan for economic, environmental and
social advancement. Citizen Verizon empowers Verizon to deliver on
its mission to move the world forward through action by expanding
digital access and resources, protecting the climate, and ensuring
people have the skills needed for in-demand jobs. Through Citizen
Verizon, and the key pillars of Digital Inclusion, Climate
Protection and Human Prosperity, the company's responsible business
goals include providing 10 million youths with digital skills
training by 2030, supporting 1 million small businesses with
resources to help them thrive in the digital economy by 2030,
achieving net zero emissions in its operations by 2035, and
preparing 500,000 individuals for jobs of the future by 2030. Learn
more at CitizenVerizon.com.
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) was formed in
2000 and is one of the world’s leading providers of technology and
communications services. Headquartered in New York City and with a
presence around the world, Verizon generated revenues of $134.0
billion in 2023. The company offers data, video and voice services
and solutions on its award-winning networks and platforms,
delivering on customers’ demand for mobility, reliable network
connectivity, and security.
**Based on 2,009 survey respondents of Small Business Digital
Ready users
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Media contact: Hope Arcuri
Armanus hope.arcuri.armanus@verizon.com
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