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Navigating the businesses environment during COVID is a walk in the park…Jurassic Park. – Me.

From America's SBDC Iowa State Director I saw that there were a lot of variations of the quote above around marriage, relationships and raising kids. I decided it also could be modified to fit our world today. I just re-watched all of the Jurassic movies over the last month. It is funny how watching some parts, I was not as shocked or tense because it just made me think, “Yep, I call that Monday.” My eye started to twitch from stress around Wednesday. I decided on Thursday that a few hours of vacation was in order for Friday. The piles do not get smaller but the opportunities to solve new problems present themselves every day. I know that I am not the only one who is tired. We are making a difference and we are finding a path through this. Time to say, “That’s a wrap.” I know in Jurassic Park they said,  Life finds a way,  and for us today that saying could be,  Business finds a way.  We have come so far in a short time and we will find the next new world. Take care and keep plugging away so we can get everyone #Back2Biz. -Lisa Shimkat Visit our #Back2Biz Guidebook

SBDC Webinar Series Dan Nordberg, Director, Office of Rural Affairs & Regional Administrator, US SBA will be speaking on rural outreach efforts and upcoming opportunities Tuesday, July 21st at 8:30am

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REACT – RECOVERY – RESILIENCE SBDC IOWA CLIENTS SHARE THEIR COVID-19 JOURNEY

COLLEGE RAPTOR William Staib, CEO

Read Story Here

IEDA Announces COVID-19 Small Business Utility Disruption Prevention Program The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) announced today the launch of the new Small Business Utility Disruption Prevention Program. The program will provide short-term relief to eligible small businesses and nonprofits that faced significant hardship in the payment of utility bills for service provided during the months of disruption to their business due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program offers grants up to $7,500 to be applied to utility bill debt for eligible small businesses.

Apply Here

U.S. Small Business Administration Updates

Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting Program Becoming certified for the WOSB Federal Contracting Program means your business is eligible to compete for contracts that are set aside for WOSBs and economically disadvantaged WOSBs and sole-source federal contracts within eligible industries. New WOSB Federal Contracting Program regulations were published in the Federal Register on May 11, 2020, detailing changes to the certification process. July 30th at 12pm

Join 7/30 Webinar

Events

Still Open for Business: Working with Minority-Owned Rural Firms through the Pandemic Racially and ethnically diverse populations comprise 21 percent of rural America—but produced 83 percent of its growth between 2000 and 2010, a trend that has continued since. Along with that, enterprising Latinx, Black and Indigenous entrepreneurs are launching businesses bringing new life to many rural communities – and creating better livelihoods for their owners and employees. But what has happened to these firms during the COVID-19 crisis? And how are rural development organizations adapting what they do to help these firms to get through the emergency and recover?  Wednesday, July 22nd at 1:30pm

Iowa's Downtown Rebound Webinar Series Foster community … from a distance by attending this online webinar series for historic and commercial district revitalization professionals and volunteers. Understand the economic reality in Iowa today, and gain useful tools to help businesses and communities rebound from the COVID-19 crisis. July 28-29

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Learn More Here

How to Support Minority-Owned Business by Creating a Supplier Diversity Program Join us for a unique event with a nationally acclaimed speaker Kathey Porter, who will share with us a broad overview of Supplier Diversity, advantages to your business, how to successfully launch a Supplier Diversity Program to gain competitive advantage for your business and tangible takeaways to help you get started.  Thursday, July 30 at 1pm

How to Sell the Federal Government - A Webinar for Veteran-Owned Businesses Veteran-owned small businesses looking to expand their customer base through government contracting are invited to attend a Webinar on how to sell to the federal government. Wednesday, August 12 at 12pm To Join Audio Only, call  +1 515-207-8914  and use Conference ID:759 332 952#

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Join 8/12 Webinar

International Trade

Email  international@iowaeda.com  with attendee name(s) & email(s) to receive webinar details.

IEDA Opening Trade: Global Options for Iowa 9:00 – 9:45 am on dates listed below: July 22 – South Africa

USPTO Invention-Con 2020 At Invention-Con 2020, you’ll have the chance to: Hear from keynote speaker Sam Zaid, CEO and founder of Getaround Learn from experts how to use your IP successfully as an inventor or entrepreneur Discover helpful resources available to you at the national, state, and local levels Hear about IP strategies vital to any innovator Learn about IP networks August 20-22, 2020

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COVID-19 Resource Links

America’s SBDC Federal Resource for Small Business

Iowa Revolving Loan Funds Map Iowa Finance Authority COVID-19: Iowa Housing Recovery Iowa Spanish Helpline (Línea de Ayuda en Iowa) Overview of Main Street Lending Program COVID-19 Relief Provisions Comparison Chart Iowa Economic Development COVID-19 Resources

For more information, visit our America's SBDC Iowa COVID-19 page.

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Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration .