The Small Business Digital Alliance (SBDA) announced its national members and a slate of upcoming events. The SBDA is a new public-private co-sponsorship between the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and Business Forward, Inc., a non-profit organization working with small business leaders in support of policies promoting America’s economic competitiveness, focused on connecting entrepreneurs with critical digital tools and resources to start and expand their businesses to scale for success, including in the burgeoning e-commerce economy.
“Technology is no longer a luxury for small businesses, it’s a necessity, and with the $65 billion investment to strengthen broadband nationwide, made possible by President Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, it will be more accessible than ever,” said SBA Administrator Isabella Guzman. “Through the Small Business Digital Alliance, we’re partnering with our nation’s technology leaders to connect America’s 32.5 million small businesses and innovative startups with free trainings, tools, and increased access to digital networks to ensure they can reach new markets, implement new strategies and fully harness the power of technology to grow and be resilient.”
“Entrepreneurs and small businesses are more likely to succeed by engaging with their community partners, like their local university lab, training program, or tech incubator, to attract customers, open new markets, develop new products, and obtain capital,” said Jim Doyle, President of Business Forward. “Digital tools and community partners lower the barrier of entry for all entrepreneurs, especially those from historically underserved and disadvantaged communities across the country. SBDA will help small businesses and their communities work together to build a vibrant and competitive small business ecosystem.”
The SBDA’s national members are some of the country’s most well-respected companies that represent a wide range of specialized industries, from technology and e-commerce, and telecom to financial services and benefits. Members of the SBDA include:
- Amazon
- Square (Block, Inc.)
- Comcast
- Meta
- PayPal
- Principal Financial Group
- TriNet
- Venmo
- Verizon
- Visa
- ZenBusiness
In addition to providing access to free digital resources, the SBDA’s national members have also committed to supporting our nation’s growing small business sector by collaborating with small business advocates, diversity chambers, and local partners to provide entrepreneurs with access to a series of free briefings, panels, and trainings to assist them in accessing and utilizing these digital tools to reach new markets, find diverse talent, improve operations, and raise capital. Additional companies that plan to join the SBDA will also be announced at a later date.
Upcoming Small Business Digital Alliance Events
A list of free virtual and in-person events hosted by the SBDA can be found below. These events will feature discussions on small business trends and showcase the free digital tools small businesses can take advantage of through the SBDA. More events will be announced in the coming weeks, and the schedule is subject to changes. We encourage any and all interested community members to sign up to participate via the links provided.
- Thursday, March 31st, Time TBA: Virtual Webinar | Accelerate Your Digital Transformation: https://bit.ly/3LuWB8i
- Week of April 4th: Panel/Roundtable and Training in Ohio
- Week of April 26th: Panel/Roundtable and Training in Arlington, Virginia
- Week of May 2nd: Virtual Webinar | Digital Benefits: Hire, Train, and Retain: https://bit.ly/3LyrcSu
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