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.

There's no better time to start a career in healthcare. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that some of the fastest-growing occupations over the next decade will be in the healthcare industry. More specifically, it's anticipated that there will be a 15% jump in medical coding jobs alone.

During the unprecedented COVID-19 interruption we've adjusted and retooled the delivery of our programming - and for the first time are offering Professional Development & Training courses remotely using Zoom. Unwrap new skills, or practice and enhance the ones you already have - from the comfort of home. 

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.

PCC Professional Development and Training's new Supervision series offers three 4-hr courses over three weeks with Instructor Carolyn Waterfall via Zoom. Practice Leadership Skills, Delegating and Coaching - and receive a discount for registering for the full series. To learn more, find the link at the bottom of this blog.

Updated June 15, 2022

In today’s business world, the right leadership skills are essential to help people achieve their best potential. Leaders have many different ways they can lead their teams. Advising and mentoring are both effective and positive leadership styles, but sometimes coaching is the best way to approach leading employees.

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.

The national coordinated response to the Coronavirus Pandemic has led to many challenges across the American workforce - and the impact to PCC has been no different. Fortunately, our Professional Development and Training team team is able to adapt, holding many of our programs remotely (including Customized programming) during spring term. To make it simpler for prospective students to see which classes are available online, we're creating a two-part blog series listing all remote spring learning opportunities. 

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.