SBTDC calls on Puerto Rico’s small businesses to prepare for hurricane season

June 24, 2020

Aware that this hurricane season creates a new challenge for small businesses, which are also struggling with a global pandemic, the Puerto Rico Small Business and Technology Development Center is calling on small businesses to prepare their contingency plan for business continuity.

Ricardo Martínez, executive director of the nonprofit based at the InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico that operates via a cooperative agreement with the Small Business Administration, said contingency plans for business continuity may need adjustments considering complexities surrounding the business environment by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We urge companies to start planning how to prepare their businesses against this season. It is important that you consider worker’s safety, database systems and financial documents,” he said

“Puerto Rico has faced devastating hurricanes such as Irma and María, and recently the earthquakes in the South, for what businesses should include these other variables and possible situations,” Martinez said.

He added that it is not only important to protect employees, physical structure, database or business inventory, but it is also essential to prepare for the continued operations after the disaster.

To get the SBTDC’s free “Business Continuity Contingency Plan,” click HERE.

 

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Webinars scheduled to help small businesses face COVID-19 crisis

Given the challenges that small businesses face due to the emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Puerto Rico Small Business and Technology Development Center (PRSBTDC), announced a series of free webinars to help entrepreneurs face this new reality.

They will be broadcast in Puerto Rico and in U.S. mainland-Hispanic communities due to the limitation of information in Spanish.

The PRSBTDC is based at the InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico and will offer the webinars jointly with the U.S. Small Business Administration, executives said.

This week, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., the PRSBTDC will be offering the webinars. Today’s session is entitled “Disaster Loans before COVID-19,” while Thursday’s conference will focus on e-commerce with the “Start your Online Store” webinar. Financing alternatives to deal with the COVID-19 crisis will be discussed Friday.

PRSBTDC Executive Director Ricardo Martínez said small businesses are the most vulnerable right now.

“This is why training them on these issues will help them to manage their businesses and determine future actions that are beneficial for them and for the island,” he said.

The selected topics are the result of clients’ needs and previous experiences in emergencies such as past Hurricanes Irma and María and the earthquakes, he said.

To register for any of the webinars, visit the organization’s website for more information.

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