Small Business Continuity Program News Today

Ongoing racial and geographic disparities and generational poverty continue to limit access for people of color to business credit, investment capital and mentorship, the Oklahoma City mayor wrote in a recent opinion piece.

While the last two years have had tremendous challenges, we’ve also seen positive transformation and accomplishments in 2021 that will have a lasting impact on Oklahoma City jobs, economic development and quality of life.

MetaFund, a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution based in Oklahoma City, has announced that Maurianna Adams has joined its team in the newly created position of chief community investment officer, working to expand the group's efforts to equitably invest in creative solutions for under-resourced communities.

The retail sector is bouncing back from the pandemic with new businesses opening and increased sales forecast. Roy Williams, president and CEO of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, noted two programs launched last year that helped small retailers stay in business. The chamber, in partnership with the city’s commercial districts, kicked off the Stand Tall Shop Small for OKC campaign in June. The chamber also joined the Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City as partners with the cit...

O’Connor: Small businesses continue to benefit from OKC program Cathy O’Connor Over the past month, I’ve shared several stories about local businesses and nonprofits helped with funding and technical assistance from the Small Business Continuity Program. When asked about what impact these support programs made on their business, many tell us it was their lifeline. That’s the case with Blue Seven, the clothing and gift boutique on May Avenue. They used their SBCP grant to maintain their ...

O’Connor: Small businesses, nonprofits helped through program Cathy O’Connor A few weeks ago, I shared stories about how The Study, Swiss Cleaners and ReMerge responded to COVID-19 with creativity and used funding and technical assistance from the Small Business Continuity Program to help meet some of the challenges brought on by the pandemic. There are hundreds of similar success stories – small businesses and nonprofits that have changed, dramatically or ever so slightly, to better comm...

O’Connor: Small businesses, nonprofits demonstrate creativity, resilience Cathy O’Connor COVID-19 required small businesses and nonprofits to quickly change how they provide goods and services. In-person shopping, eating, events and other connections have been replaced, at least in part, by virtual contact. Some businesses and nonprofits have shown true resilience. The Study, a 64-tap wine bar with beer, spirits and games that opened in Film Row just as the pandemic hit, purchased air purif...

O’Connor: Bright spots of 2020 Cathy O’Connor Before we discard 2020 and move forward, I want to highlight some economic development bright spots for our city and some lessons worth carrying forward. The Oklahoma City Council and Oklahoma County commissioners responded to COVID-19 using CARES Act funding to stabilize jobs, knowing that most people in central Oklahoma are employed by small businesses. The Small Business Continuity Program, Minority Owned Business Recovery Program, Urban Rene...