COVID-19 spurs Highland to assist local businesses develop online shopping presence

A pilot program assisting Highland businesses with developing e-commerce will be launched shortly with the city’s help.

The city council approved a program authorizing the Highland Industrial Development Commission to provide $500 grants to 10 Highland businesses to establish a website with shopping cart and payment capabilities.

The city conducted a survey in August 2018 that showed 98 percent of responding businesses had no intention of implementing online marketing or e-commerce. They cited lack of need and lack of ability or the complications of setting up e-commerce.

Spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic and mass shutdowns of local small businesses, the commission established this grant to assist businesses operating a brick-and-mortar store with creating a website featuring their products or services and a secure mechanism for purchasing them online.

“Each business is unique,” said Mayor Joe Michaelis, and so the city would offer advice and guidance for the businesses to create their new e-commerce sites, he added.

Qualifying businesses must operate within city limits and currently has no online ability to transact e-commerce. Business owners who are approved have 90 days to get the system set up, at which point they are issued the grant funds.

“Given the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent social distancing requirements, the need for an e-commerce solution is paramount and having a mechanism to market and sell products in this environment might be the difference between the success and failure of several local businesses,” wrote Angela Imming, Highland’s director of technology and innovation, in a memo recommending the program.

The funding is being provided by the Industrial Development Commission, but city council members said they should not stop taking applications at the first 10. At least two said they would consider directing more funds to the program if there was sufficient interest in further developing e-commerce among Highland businesses.

Applications for the e-commerce grant can be found on the commission’s website.