ROCKLAND — Opportunity Knox is a new local online platform designed to support and sustain Knox County’s small businesses through the COVID-19 crisis. Individuals can visit the website to purchase a gift certificate or credit to one or more small businesses, or make a contribution to one or more nonprofits in the region.

Through PayPal, funds are passed through directly to the businesses and nonprofits chosen by consumers who use the site. 

Businesses and organizations will receive a record of the transaction, and the customer keeps a copy of it as well for their records.

Nathan Davis cofounder of the Steel House in Rockland, is a driving force behind the development of Opportunity Knox. 

“The COVID-19 crisis is adversely impacting everyone, and people want to help make a difference,” Davis said. “We have heard from residents in Maine and from those who visit our special region from around the country who want to lend their support and positively contribute to the recovery. This unified payment platform allows them to do just that in a quick and easy way.”

This initiative, while a temporary part of the solution to providing assistance to local businesses and nonprofits, will have lasting impacts, according to an April 7 news release.

While many businesses and organizations have e-commerce platforms on their site already, the benefit of Opportunity Knox is ‘one-stop shopping’ for consumers, who can put in a dollar amount that they’d like to spend, and allocate it across one or many local businesses and organizations with one transaction.  

Registration for local businesses and nonprofits to receive support is still open through this platform by visiting https://opportunityknox.me.

Community partners that are collaborating to bring Opportunity Knox to the region include the Steel House in Rockland, the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce, Your Maine Concierge, and AE Sampson.  Additional support for the project was provided by Wilder by Design, Public Engagement Partners, and Café Miranda.                                                                                                                             

To learn more about Opportunity Knox, visit https://opportunityknox.me , or call 207-215-4151.