Verizon’s Small Business Digital Ready program reaches 300K businesses with free, online resources
Verizon's Small Business Digital Ready Program has successfully reached 300,000 small businesses in the US with over 50 courses, workshops, and networking opportunities. The program aims to support 1 million small businesses by 2030, with a focus on women-owned, Black-owned, and Hispanic-owned businesses. Small Business Digital Ready has had a positive impact on revenue, profitability, and customer growth for participating businesses.
Verizon's Small Business Digital Ready Program has successfully reached 300,000 small businesses across the US, offering over 50 courses, workshops, and networking opportunities.
51% of the businesses reached are women-owned, 62% are Black-owned or Hispanic-owned, and 40% have been in operation for 2 years or less, highlighting a focus on diverse and new businesses.
Small Business Digital Ready has positively impacted participating businesses, with 77% reporting increased revenue or profitability, and 78% reporting increased customer growth.
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NEW YORK, May 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 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,
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
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,
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
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
**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
FAQ
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