As the crisis continues and its impact on business evolves, JHBC centers and partners have transformed their services to provide greater and more convenient support to help IE businesses recover and grow. 

“This crisis has shown us how much we need our local small businesses. They provide valuable services and products and are often a social hub for the community. We need to “shop local” as much as we can, even if that means paying a premium for the convenience of shopping local,” said Michael Stull, Director of the Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship, which offered thoughts on the crisis to business owners and civic leaders in May.

In turn, he says, business owners need to find ways to provide more value and better service to customers by overcoming challenges in staying connected with customers and incorporating technology such as active social media presence, using digital apps, or building customer communication lists. He provided more insights in a recent blog on how businesses can plan for recovery and how customers can help.

The IE Small Business Development Center and Women’s Business Center are providing free virtual counseling and webinars. Both can address a variety of topics including loans and other relief options, modified business plans, and advice to keep your business healthy and thriving. 

Meanwhile, the Center for Global Management is taking its annual Global Access Program virtual, offering a series of webinars this fall specific to doing business abroad. Participating businesses will have the opportunity to be considered for selection for free research and professional consultation.

See details of services below:

The IE Women’s Business Center (WBC) promotes the growth of women-owned businesses through mentoring, business training and business counseling services, and assists women business owners with management issues, business startup, gaining access to capital, federal contracts and more. 

“Since March 1, 499 business owners provided 630 hours of business counseling and 126 webinars provided training to 1,384 attendees” said Michelle Skiljan, executive director of the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley Women Business centers. 

• One-to-one counseling: Schedule appointment today at  https://www.iewbc.org/counseling

• See website for upcoming webinar dates, past recordings and resource guides of various topics available for download. 

• WBC has been assisting clients with the additional Economic injury disaster loan funding. The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up to $2 million in assistance and can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses. The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75%. WBC also assists  with the PayCheck Protection Program. The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. Find more information about the EIDL, PPP & other Coronavirus relief options :https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options

The IE Small Business Development Center helps businesses start, grow and succeed through no cost virtual business consulting and resources in business planning, marketing, funding and management. Upcoming webinar dates, past recordings and resource guides of various topics are available for download on their website.

The Center for Global Management continues its Global Perspectives conversations that connect business and public administration professionals to students and faculty to raise awareness about the current climate and emerging opportunities. This fall, the center will kick off a Global Access Program series of monthly webinars to help businesses explore doing business abroad and connect with resources. While the program is in its seventh year, this is the first year going virtual and offering student research assistance.