Crisis Impact Assessment to Guide Small Business Relief & Recovery
Conducted a statewide crisis impact analysis to assess the short- and long-term effects of COVID-19 on small businesses and inform the design of responsive relief strategies.
Challenge
In the early months of the pandemic, decision-makers lacked timely data on how COVID-19 was affecting small businesses—especially those owned by women, veterans, and entrepreneurs of color. Funding allocations and recovery planning risked being reactive rather than data-informed.
Our Approach
- Collected real-time insights via surveys, direct interviews, and TA session notes
- Synthesized qualitative and quantitative data into key themes and regional trends
- Analyzed business closures, staffing losses, funding access, and tech gaps
- Identified industry-specific and demographic-specific challenges
- Delivered a concise impact report with actionable recommendations
Results
The findings influenced local relief fund criteria, outreach strategies, and program development. The report was also used to support state-level conversations about equitable recovery.
Key Takeways
- Delivered rapid-response data to inform relief programming
- Highlighted disproportionate impact on underserved business owners
- Supported funders and policymakers in targeting resources
- Positioned the agency as a responsive, data-informed leader
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Need to understand the true impact of a crisis on your
stakeholders? Let’s turn community data into action.
stakeholders? Let’s turn community data into action.