
Businesses’ flexibility demonstrated during the pandemic can also sustain long-term growth
Due to the global pandemic, companies altered the direction of their products and services to maintain or improve revenue. The popular term for this adjustment is “pivoting.” Such flexibility served businesses well, and owners will need to preserve and fine-tune those efforts for continued long-term success.
As the principal provider of assistance for small businesses in the state of Florida, the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network employs certified professionals who provide no-cost consulting, training and research to help businesses grow and succeed during blue sky days and dark days, too.
Jairo Batista is one such consultant. He specializes in marketing and works at the Florida SBDC at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Batista encourages his clients to continue with successful innovations that came about as the result of the pandemic.
Following are his eight suggestions:
Flagler County business owners who are still recovering and rebounding from the pandemic can find assistance navigating these and other challenges at the Florida SBDC at UCF, which serves the eight-county Central Florida region.
As part of its service offering, the Florida SBDC Network can help businesses understand available relief programs for COVID, including the Economic Injury Disaster Loan, the Shuttered Venues Operators Grant and the Restaurant Relief Fund. Consultants are available to work with business owners to determine which type of relief fits their needs and walk them– step by step– through each part of the application process. Since March 2020, the Florida SBDC Network has helped small businesses in Florida access more than $219 million in state and federal disaster relief funds.
To learn more about the available disaster loan programs, visit www.FloridaSBDC.org/disaster/cares-act/. Appointments are being conducted virtually for safety and convenience. To schedule an appointment, please visit www.sbdcorlando.com.
NOTE: This article was written for and at the request of EVOLVE Magazine, Palm Coast Region for our June edition.
Dianne Gross is the Marketing Manager for the Florida SBDC Network Headquarters