IV SBDC offers several resources to struggling small businesses

IMPERIAL — As small businesses continue to struggle to survive after being closed for four months and counting due to COVID-19, the Imperial Valley Small Business Development Center is trying to help save them from closing for good.

Now, while IV SBDC does not have money of its own to distribute, it does have access to information and other resources it can provide businesses looking for help.

Imperial Small Business Director Meredith Garcia said the center provides technical assistance, training and even counseling.

The technical assistance part of the program is geared toward getting small businesses create an internet presence. It helps them with designing a website so that they can sell online since customers are not allowed into the store to see what is being offered.

Garcia said SBDC also offers one-on-one training with webinars, and best of all there is no cost for any of its services.

“We work with everyone,” she said.

SBDC also provides support on how to fill out the proper paperwork for federal and state disaster funds available during the pandemic.

So far, 304 Imperial County clients have been approved to receive a combined $11 million in financial assistance.

Garcia said SBDC works in collaboration with the state of California to bring in resources for the struggling businesses.

She added that the center’s staff know business owners have approached the Board of Supervisors and other elected officials for some help in reopening to no avail, so they are trying to help in any possible way.

“We have access to state, federal and local programs,” she said.

The center, Garcia said, is not involved with the childcare issues parents are going through when employers tell them to return to work, forcing them to choose between work and their kids with the stay-at-home order in place.

“It is very difficult for our community,” she said. “You have a family and still want to go back to work.”

She said one of IV SBDC’s major goals is telling businesses that are able to reopen is to return to operations in a safe manner.

IV SBDC can be reached at (760) 3129800 or by email at meredith@imperialalliance.org.