Saving Our Small Businesses: It’s Now or Never

AFN Member Only Event.  Only a few spots left!

As asset funders we know how small business ownership can be a key wealth building strategy. However, the COVID 19 crisis has hit small business owners and their employees incredibly hard, leaving many vulnerable to closing permanently. Despite a federal relief package which included support for funding to CDFIs, the poorly designed program left out many businesses, especially those led by women or people of color. The lack of effective federal response, coupled with historic limited access to capital, resources and networks means many small businesses will not survive without dramatic, bold and effective strategies that provide the necessary supports. These strategies must include, but go beyond, investing in CDFIs to include supporting current needs of businesses while considering their future needs as they operate in a new post COVID world.

Join us for an informal conversation with your peers where all participants will share their strategies to support small business owners both during this crisis and beyond. We would like members to highlight any new or innovative ways, beyond investing into CDFIs which they are investing in or considering including longer-term policy level solutions.

For this session we are pleased to have Mark Herbert, VP of California for Small Business Majority, join us for the discussion to briefly share how small businesses have been impacted by the pandemic, who is being left out, and what policies and programs we need to help small business owners survive and thrive.