Provincial funding is helping local small businesses expand online.

Through the Digital Main Street Program and Student Digital Service Squad, 60 businesses in Chatham-Kent, Essex, Lakeshore and Windsor are receiving $350,000 in funding.

The money puts tech-savvy students to work, helping to train business owners in e-commerce and other technological tools as the pandemic drags on.

Figures show only about 60% of small businesses in the province have a website, and only 7% accept online payments.