Continuous Learning for Individuals, Management & Business

Oliver Alexander started the co-working space (Remote.ly) just over a year ago on March 7, 2019. They were just beginning to turn a profit, hitting the black for the first time in February 2020. Then Covid-19 hit and their momentum was wiped out. The Federal PPP and EIDL programs helped them survive. Now Remote.ly is looking forward to reopening their doors as Multnomah County enters Phase I of reopening, but things will look very different for Oliver and his customers. This is the story of how Remote.ly is building resilience during challenging times.

The newly designed Business Builders program is designed to help our clients put a strong foundation under their growing businesses. This unique program consists of 10 sessions, each three hours long, each focused on one of the critical elements necessary to help you develop strong roots for your growing business while creating  systems and processes to ensure long term resiliency, flexibility and success.

Forced by the Covid-19 pandemic to pivot sales to 100% online was tough for Rita Hudson-Evalt (owner of Portland's Union Rose), but she was able to make it work with the help of her customers, staff and PCC SBDC Advisers. Now, as the state of Oregon begins to open back up, she faces a similar set of challenges. This is how she is responding to them. 

Meegan Gregg started Backbody Project in 2016 to meet her own personal workout needs. The business grew and she was ready to lease her own space until Covid-19 hit in March, throwing a curveball her direction. Taking her business online (reluctantly) has proven to be a tremendous success. April was one of her strongest months ever! This is her story...

Celeste Sipes joined the PCC SBDC team in February of 2020 -- Just in time for a global pandemic to hit Portland that has dramatically influenced small retail businesses. But Celeste, who also owns a successful online retail business, is up to the challenge! These are indeed difficult times for brick and mortar retailers who are trying to figure out how to continue to operate without the normal flow of physical customers. Below is the story of how Celeste is able to provide a sense of sanity in a time of upheaval.

The SBA's Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program ran out of funds just 2 weeks after they were rolled out. The PPP and the EIDL are the two primary programs designed to help businesses suffering hardships due to coronavirus. Congress is expected to allocate additional funds for these two programs with an emphasis on the PPP which is designed to help the greatest number of small businesses. [More on the latest funding legislation.]

If you have not already received PPP funding and need to apply, here are a few important things to consider in this process.

In response to the economic crisis due to COVID-19, PCC SBDC and Global Trade Center is Open for Business Virtually. Our Oregon SBDC Network page is updated regularly with information related to emergency loans and other financial assistance, and we've highlighted four programs below.

The recent coronavirus pandemic has created uncertainty for businesses seeking to expand their products or services to customers outside the US - and for understandable reasons. The professionals working at the PCC SBDC and Global Trade Center continue to monitor all developments as it relates to small business and will contribute that expertise to the Global Trade Management Series for the foreseeable future.

It is no secret that in the last decade, Portland's population has grown and the makeup of its workforce has changed drastically. In order to continue to effectively manage your employees, you must adapt, learn new skills, and gain an understanding of the diverse and ever-changing Portland workforce. It is critical as a manager to provide a healthy, safe, and respectful workplace for all of your employees. In order to accomplish this task, as a manager, you must continue to grow and improve in areas such as diversity, transgender employees, and workplace harassment. Workplace discord and stress affect everyone within the company and can affect not only your team's morale but also their productivity.