Surviving Coronavirus
The spread of coronavirus has had small business owners wondering what, if anything, they can do to maintain their businesses. While no one could have predicted how this pandemic would play out, there are many smart and practical things we can all do to set a stronger course for the road ahead, especially as we begin to reopen.
We are working to help small businesses, their employees, and their customers stay safe as we work toward recovery. To find the right tools to use, the right questions to ask, and the resources you need – including the 3C Fund Finder tool, visit 3C’s partner resource centers and check back on this page for tips and advice. We are in this together.
Find funding immediately available to your business from federal, state, and private sources. We’re updating this page daily with the latest resources available. If you have any questions, please email info@connectedcouncil.org
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Small Business Resilience
Small Business Profile: Peninsula Party Rentals
As Feliciano Zavala writes in the San Francisco Chronicle, he is amazed that his Palo Alto-based party rental business is going so strong nearly a year after COVID-19 almost knocked it out. Following a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and loan and a revised focus on smaller events, Peninsula Party Rentals is finally getting back to…
Coronavirus Resources
Small businesses who pivoted to e-commerce saw record sales during Black Friday weekend
Almost one-quarter of small businesses closed their doors during the pandemic — but for the few who survived, and pivoted to online sales, Black Friday weekend provided a much-needed boost…
Small businesses innovate online to stay open during pandemic
As shoppers seek out safe ways to order up gifts this holiday season, employees at The Chocolate Caper are spending more time…
Small Businesses, Citing Bad Economy, Crave More Stability During Pandemic
WASHINGTON, DC — A majority of small businesses in Colorado, Iowa, and North Carolina believe the economy is still struggling, that COVID-19 has hurt their business, and that digital tools are helping their businesses survive according to a new survey released today by the Connected Commerce Council (3C). Most importantly, the majority of small businesses…
Opinion: Small Businesses Need a Bigger Digital Safety Net
Maryland’s small businesses are weary and perhaps still in a state of shock, more than seven months after COVID-19 blew up the economy. Quarantines, closures and shutdowns have forced state employers…
Minneapolis retail experts launch online shop for small retailers spurred by COVID-19 economy
Former Target executives Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga have gone from working on big-box stores to thinking about how they can better market products made by small local retailers…
eBay Launches “Up & Running Grants” to Set Small Business Sellers Up for Success in 2021
eBay commits $500,000 in grant packages for small business sellers, as well as mentorship and resources for all applicants in collaboration with business accelerator Hello Alice…
7 ways technology is helping small businesses during COVID-19
When COVID-19 began to take hold in March, small businesses were among the first to feel the effects. Many, however, were quick to find that the flexibility of being a small operation allowed…
Our digital recovery: How Iowa’s businesses will bounce back
Across America, the top issue on many voters’ minds as they cast their ballots over the last few weeks was the economy. Iowa is no different: 30% of voters said it was their primary concern, second…
Small Business Resilience: The Tiny Tassel
Mimi Striplin always seems happy, no matter the circumstance. It’s a good thing she decided to start a company dedicated to bringing a similar sense of joy to others. Mimi’s business, The Tiny Tassel, started as an Etsy shop, and has since grown a lot bigger. Today, The Tiny Tassel offers handmade tassel jewelry, clothing, and a full line of party decor. It h
For Small-Business Owners, a Shifting Landscape of Resources
Small businesses across the country have been pounded by the pandemic. Entrepreneurs have been forced to make drastic cuts and pivot to new business models to keep…
Europe’s Big Tech Myopia Undermines Small Business Digital Safety Net
COVID-19 is surging again. European health officials are ordering more lockdowns, quarantines and travel restrictions. This is the time when small business owners, facing a financial tsunami of locked-down customers and economic headwinds, should invest in Digital Safety Net tools and services that can help them survive. But in a classic case of bad timing…
House of Reps “Big Tech” Indictment is Full of Small Businesses Pitfalls
Details matter. In the case of the House Judiciary Committee Democratic Staff Report that calls for dramatic changes to how America regulates the Internet, it is astounding how many details the Report got wrong. Once again, Congress has demonstrated it simply does not know how Internet technology and e-commerce work. Millions of digitally empowered small…