COVID Small Business Impact Survey launched

Florida SBDC Network Headquarters (Pensacola, Fla.) – The Florida SBDC Network, Florida Chamber Foundation, and the University of West Florida Haas Center have joined forces to assess the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on Florida’s small businesses.

The Small Business COVID Impact Survey, launched on August 4, seeks to better understand the challenges small businesses are facing due to the pandemic.

“Small businesses are critical to Florida’s economy,” said Michael W. Myhre, CEO of the Florida SBDC Network. “This has been an incredibly challenging time for our state’s small businesses. This survey represents an important opportunity for our organizations to come together to give small businesses a voice when they need it most.”

Data collected through the survey will be invaluable in supporting small business recovery efforts and better informing legislators and policymakers of potential gaps in available resources.

“Florida’s small businesses are the foundation of our economy,” said Dr. Jerry Parrish, chief economist at the Florida Chamber Foundation. “Small businesses have been seriously impacted and this survey represents an opportunity for us to help craft a strategy for their recovery.”

Small business owners impacted by the pandemic are encouraged to participate in the survey and share their experiences. The survey will ask businesses to weigh in on a variety of topics, including revenue loss, employment impacts, and need for assistance. The survey deadline is September 1.

“Supporting the state through data is key to our mission,” said Nicole Gislason, Executive Director of the UWF Haas Center. “Our hope is that the data collected through the survey will help shed light on the challenges small businesses are facing.”

To take the survey, and to sign up to receive the results, please visit http://floridasbdc.org/disaster/covid-impact-survey/.