Verizon brings the Small Business Digital Ready experience to live event in Cleveland

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., June 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verizon announced it will host its second Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Summit, an all-day experience for small business owners to network and participate in live events designed to help them grow their businesses, in Cleveland, Ohio on June 12, 2023, at Cleveland State University. In partnership with the global professional education and networking platform, Luminary, the summit aims to bring valuable business insights and strategies to small business owners.

Participants of the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready: Cleveland Summit will have the opportunity to engage in robust workshops and educational sessions, with the goal of building connections and learning from subject matter experts, including local small business owners. In addition, Verizon is giving away a free Chromebook to five small business registrants who attend the summit¹. To learn more about the event and to register, visit .

“At Verizon, we take pride in serving the unique needs of local markets,” said Jessica Cohen, Director of Community Engagement, Verizon. “We are thrilled to bring this informative Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Summit to Cleveland-based small businesses. Small businesses are at the heart of Cleveland’s economy and, at Verizon, a focus of our responsible business plan is to ensure small businesses have access to the tools and services needed to succeed in the digital economy.”

Launched in 2021, is a free online resource designed to give small businesses the tools they need to thrive in today’s digital economy. Small businesses can access personalized learning through over 40 courses, mentorship, peer networking, 1:1 expert coaching and incentives such as grant funding. In partnership with LISC and Next Street, the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready portal was created with and for small businesses, with a specific focus on helping diverse and under-resourced business owners. Spanish language course offerings, coaching from experts and community events are also available. Since its launch, over 900 Cleveland-based small businesses have registered and engaged with the platform.

This initiative is part of Verizon’s goal to support 1M small businesses by 2030 with the resources to thrive in the digital economy, as part of its responsible business plan: Citizen Verizon. Visit to learn more about the company’s responsible business efforts.

¹ _{No purchase necessary. Must be present to win. Sweepstakes starts June 12, 2023 at 9:00 AM Eastern Time (ET) and ends on June 12, 2023, at 12 PM ET. Must be a legal U.S. resident 18 years or older to enter. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: Verizon Corporate Services Group Inc. For official rules, see .}

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) was formed on June 30, 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 $136.8 billion in 2022. 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.

Citizen Verizon is 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 jobs of the future. 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.

Founded in 2018, is a global membership-based professional education and networking platform created to address the systemic challenges impacting women across all industries and sectors. Built with the mission to uplift, upskill, and propel women and their allies forward through all phases of their professional journey, Luminary is the ultimate career advocate providing tools and resources to advance, build, connect, and develop -- whether entering or re-entering the workforce, a senior executive or a leader positioned in the "Power Middle", embarking on a career transition or entrepreneurship.

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Media contact:

Bernadette Brijlall

Herbert Nyarko