Community Development Keeping Busy During COVID-19

  • Created a business survey to determine the economic impact of COVID-19, i.e., how long businesses could stay open, what resources were needed. 
  • Invited to participate as webinar panel presenter on the importance of conducting Business Retention and Expansion program post COVID-19. 
  • Worked with economic development organizations to help them interpret and identify useful parts of the CARES Act. 
  • Worked with small businesses to secure Payback Protection. 
  • Program dollars through the SBA. 
  • Created an IMPLAN (Impact Analysis for Planning) Team- Uses software to put economic modeling to work. 
  • Distributed personal protective equipment (PPE) safety toolkits to local small businesses in two counties. 
  • Partnered with Rural Action and received USDA funding ($250,000) to hone a BRE/microenterprise outreach project for Morgan, Meigs, and Vinton to address COVID response.