BOC Network Partners with Verizon Digital Ready

New York, New York— December 27, 2021—Today, BOC Network Women’s Business Centers announced a plan to help bring a new online curriculum to small businesses across New York City: Verizon Small Business Digital Ready. In partnership with Next Street and LISC, the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready online curriculum is designed to give small businesses the tools they need to thrive in today’s digital economy, including access to personalized learning plans, coaching from experts and networking opportunities with diverse, industry-specific businesses.

More than 100,000 small businesses closed due to the pandemic, with a disproportionate impact on Black and Lantinx-owned small businesses. Verizon Small Business Digital Ready offers businesses support, aiming to enable digital readiness and drive digital transformation through a customized curriculum that accounts for industry, size and interests. BOC Network is proud to be working with Verizon to reach those businesses most in need of support within New York,

“Over the last two years, small businesses were challenged to enter the digital sphere at a rapid pace,” said BOC Executive Director Nancy Carin. “BOC Network has helped many local entrepreneurs shift their business models online and is excited to join forces with Verizon Small Business Digital Ready. We are grateful to Verizon for this opportunity to expand the impact of our Women’s Business Centers in New York City, improving the economic prospects of our communities with newfound communication and marketing capabilities.”

Developed by small businesses, Verizon Small Business Digital Ready provides a personalized experience – providing resources, networking and coaching tailored to a small business’s specific needs. The program can help small businesses move forward in four ways:

• Personalized Learning

Content presented by small businesses through brief, information-packed lessons small businesses can use right away.

• Expert coaching

Guidance from business experts across marketing, business planning, legal, and more.

• Peer Networking

Connections to other small businesses to build their networks.

• Incentives

A marketplace of tools, solutions, products, and services that can help small businesses. Participants will also be eligible to apply for grant funding exclusive to users of Verizon Small Business Digital Ready.

This initiative is one part of Verizon’s commitment to providing one million small businesses with digital tools and resources by 2030 and is central to Verizon’s responsible business plan, Citizen Verizon, for economic, environmental, and social advancement. Launched in 2020 to move the world forward for all, Citizen Verizon leverages technology, innovation, and resources to address the world’s most pressing issues across digital inclusion, climate protection, and human prosperity. As part of Citizen Verizon, Verizon plans to exceed $3 billion in its responsible business investment from 2020 to 2025 to continue helping vulnerable communities bridge the digital divide and prepare for the digital economy of the future.

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ABOUT VERIZON

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) was formed on June 30, 2000, and is one of the world’s leading providers of technology, communications, information and entertainment products, and services. Headquartered in New York City and with a presence around the world, Verizon generated revenues of $128.3 billion in 2020. 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, security, and control.

ABOUT BOC NETWORK: 

The Business Outreach Center (BOC) Network is a micro-enterprise and small business development organization with a two-decade-long record of delivering customized business services to diverse entrepreneurs in the New York City metropolitan area, as well as capacity-building services to organizations establishing and operating community and micro-enterprise development programs. BOC Network is dedicated to inclusive economic development and community wealth creation. Its mission is to improve the economic prospects of traditionally underserved groups, and thereby create genuinely brighter futures. For more

information, visit: http://www.bocnet.org/.