Being 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.

Our community of small businesses and the partners who serve them is one of innovation, creativity, resilience and drive.

Without question, the COVID-19 pandemic is challenging many of our traditional approaches to small business services, including business advising and training. We are rapidly adapting the ways we bring together communities of small businesses as we learn and fortify together.

It is no secret that in the last decade, Portland's population has grown and the makeup of its workforce has changed drastically to include multiple protected classes. As a business manager, you must provide a healthy, safe, and respectful workplace for every employee. You must also continue to grow and improve in areas such as diversity, transgender employees, and workplace harassment. Workplace stress affects everyone within the company and can impact not only your team's morale but also their productivity. 

The PCC Small Business Development Center will offer Preventative Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) Training for food manufacturers during the spring term. PCQI training will equip you with knowledge to get your PCQI certification, but is also structured to guide you to develop all elements required to develop a food safety plan, including a completed food product recall plan.