Even though small businesses represent 98% of all businesses in Canada, their impact on the economy is often underestimated. But they’re responsible for employing approximately 10.5 million Canadians, help keep local neighborhoods alive, and employ 67% of the private workforce in Canada. 

To help celebrate Small Business Month this May, Shift, a power browser that makes your online life more productive, wants to pay it forward. 

The company is searching for one small business who wants to see their name up in lights. Its “Pay It Forward” program will award a New York City Times Square Billboard to one small business as a way to give back to the community.

Shift started small and scaled big (they’ve grown their team by 10x in eight years!), so they know the challenges small businesses face in building a future.

Applications are open from May 1-23, 2025:

• To be eligible, businesses must be less than 7 years old and have fewer than 20 employees
• Located in US and/or Canada
• The small business selected will be notified at the end of May

If you’re a small business interested in applying, visit their website here.