Minority-owned small businesses hit harder during pandemic Studies show glaring disparity in COVID-19 cases and last updated 2021-01-31 22:43:01-05 KANSAS CITY, Mo. â A new nationwide poll from Small Business Minority shows minority-owned businesses continue to experience major financial losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those businesses battle each day to keep their doors open. The poll also showed almost 25% temporarily closed their doors and about 60% have not been able to bring back employees to pre-pandemic levels. Small business owners in the Kansas City metro are feeling the pinch. "I am using all of my resources and the resources of my family to sustain the business and weâre slowing losing everything," said Gigi Jones, owner of Gigiâs Vegan Cafe + Wellness.