As independent retailers struggle to compete with big-box stores and e-commerce behemoths such as Amazon during the pandemic, two of Ottawa’s largest business organizations have joined forces with a pair of local startups to provide product discounts and free delivery service to members. The Ottawa Board of Trade and the Ottawa Coalition of Business Improvement Areas have partnered to launch an online platform that offers discounts on services from local businesses. The Board of Trade received a $5,000 grant from Invest Ottawa’s Digital Main Street initiative to launch the platform, which went live last month. Powered by locally developed marketing app FanSaves, the digital marketplace features deals targeted at the general public as well as exclusive offers for members of the Board of Trade and OCOBIA.