Partnership Pledges Support to Small Business During COVID-19 Pandemic
Topeka, KS, March 18, 2020 - The Greater Topeka Partnership is announcing new and adaptive responses to address the challenges small businesses face amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. With the intent of providing Topeka & Shawnee County additional guidance on how they can support small and local business, the Partnership developed two key resources: SupportTopeka.com, an online resource guide to small businesses, and the COVID-19 Resiliency Desk, a twice-weekly, interactive webinar that will connect small businesses with experts in the local small business ecosystem.
“Now more than ever we need to take care of the small businesses who take care of us,” said Glenda Washington, senior vice president of Women and Minority Business Development, GO Topeka. “This is an unprecedented period in global history. If we neglect our neighbors and they succumb to the struggle at hand, we all suffer. The Partnership wants to ensure all our small and local businesses have access to the proper resources and leadership to help them endure this difficult time.”
SupportTopeka.com offers helpful resources to small businesses, as well as residents and visitors. Information on grant and loan programs are available in addition to local support programs. Businesses may also submit any special offerings available for consumers during the COVID-19 situation.
"As we work through these uncertain times, the Small Business Council along with the Greater Topeka Partnership are here to support our small businesses. Our goal will be to communicate timely information in a user-friendly manner,” said Beth Anne Branden, chair of the Partnership Small Business Council and COO at Built Interior Construction. “Check out our new web page dedicated to answering your concerns. Small businesses are the heartbeat of our community and we are here to help with your continued success. "
The COVID-19 Resiliency Desk is a twice-weekly, interactive webinar that will connect small businesses with experts from the Shawnee County Health Department, the City of Topeka, GO Topeka, the Washburn Small Business Development Center, the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce, the Kansas Department of Commerce, the federal Small Business Association, elected officials, as well as other key players in the Topeka & Shawnee County small business ecosystem. COVID-19 Resiliency Desk launches Thursday, March 19 at 11 a.m. Those wishing to join the webinar may gain access any time after 10:30 a.m. at https://meet.vastconference.com/SupportTopeka.
“As our local businesses grapple with the impact of COVID-19, we need to be their reliable source of information about the many resources being brought to bear at the local, state and federal level. So, we are launching Resiliency Desk this week,” said Curtis Sneden, president of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce. “It will be a twice weekly web-based panel open to anyone who can access the Internet. We’re inviting officials from all levels of government and other organizations to share what they know in real-time so our businesses can get the help they need as soon as it is available. We are also brainstorming ways to walk arm-in-arm with our smaller businesses to ensure they don’t get lost in the process. Now is the time.”
Currently, the Partnership is sending out daily communications to its members and community leaders. These daily emails include updates from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Small Business Administration as well as other helpful credible information and resources to connect and inform the community during the COVID-19 situation. If you would like to sign up to receive these daily communications, contact Jensen Simons.
“All entities and staff members under the Greater Topeka Partnership banner are endeavoring to support small and local businesses using every resource at their disposal,” said Matt Pivarnik, CEO of the Greater Topeka Partnership. “We are one, and only through a joint effort can we feel whole again.”
