Verizon Awards $50,000 Grant to Business Council of Westchester for 2023–2024 Programs

Verizon has awarded $50,000 to the Business Council of Westchester (BCW) to support a range of programs in 2023-2024. Verizon’s grant will underwrite important BCW initiatives, including the Westchester Innovation Network (WIN), the Political Leadership Series, the Small Business Council and the Westchester Business Showcase including the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Platform Workshop.

“Verizon is committed to small business growth and development. Their Small Business Digital Ready platform is an outstanding resource that offers education, coaching, community networking and a marketplace of specially curated tools, products, and services to help businesses achieve their goals,” said BCW President and CEO Marsha Gordon. “We look forward to continuing in this partnership with Verizon to make positive strides for small-business expansion.”

Verizon’s Small Business Digital Ready is a commitment-free learning education online platform that allows small-business owners to learn on their own time at no cost. The platform consists of short-form videos and articles addressing small business topics ranging from sound spending decisions to common cybersecurity threats and search results improvement, as well as peer networking, 1:1 coaching and grant opportunities.

Small Business Digital Ready offers virtual events. Upcoming free webinars include a December 4 ask-the-expert session on alternative funding for small businesses; a December 5, 2023 tutorial on short videos for social media; and a December 18, 2023 question-and-answer session on low-cost tools for running businesses.

Small Business Digital ReadyVerizon’s platform serves as a support network for entrepreneurs through a mentor-matching program, and peer-networking events. Participants in the Small Business Digital Ready can apply for $10,000 throughout the year. Grant applications are currently being accepted through 12/20/2023.

Verizon will offer a 90-minute workshop on the Small Business Digital Ready platform at 2 p.m. during the BCW’s November 20 Westchester Business Showcase. The event runs from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown. Register here.