Businesses, employees and families are all trying to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. This uncertain time is unsettling for many of our community members. Coconino County is consistently providing information and tools that can help mitigate the impacts of the pandemic for business owners and employees. The following is a list of websites and information so people can connect and utilize resources for the benefit of their business, their job and family.
For public health updates, go to coconino.az.gov/covid19
For business resources, visit coconino.az.gov/2237/Economic-Development
For employee resources, go to coconino.az.gov/2318/COVID-19-Employee-Related-Items
For business owners, the county offers weekly Small Business COVID-19 Response Planning Webinars from 1:30-2:30 p.m., every Thursday. Phone-in options are available. For an invitation to attend, email cpasterz@coconino.az.gov.
The weekly Small Business Webinars address five major topic areas:
How businesses can prepare themselves financially through cash flow planning, applying for financing (Including SBA Economic Disaster Loan) and looking after employees during temporary layoff or furloughs.
How businesses can prepare their workforce, utilizing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act in Coconino County.
How companies can prepare and protect themselves utilizing Coconino County Public Health Information specific to businesses.
How COVID-19 business practices are being utilized effectively by downtown business owners.
Questions and answer sessions plus the most current resource links and contacts.
Weekly webinar tutorials on how to apply for a Small Business Administration (SBA) Loan are offered from 2-3 p.m., every Tuesday. Phone-in options are available. For an invitation to attend, email cpasterz@coconino.az.gov. Presented by Coconino County SBDC (Small Business Development Center) and hosted by Coconino County, the one-hour session will provide business owners the steps, the links and documents to complete SBA Disaster Relief Loan applications.
Additionally, ARIZONA@WORK Coconino County is ready to partner with businesses offering Rapid Response support to ensure they have the resources needed to move through this national event and answer questions about laying off employees and impacts of business closures.
To support employees and those who have been laid off, ARIZONA@WORK and Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) Career Services will continue to provide all services, including job search assistance, resume preparation, interview skills, education and training opportunities, support services and career coaching.
To access either business Rapid Response services or employee Career Services, contact Coconino County Workforce Development Board Interim Executive Director Cindy Wilson at 928-679-7400 or cwilson@coconino.az.gov.
Coconino County continues to operate and provide services utilizing technology and public health guidance from the CDC in providing county services. The county will continue to serve with a unified response across all departments and offices. Please note that this information is the most current at the time of press deadline. FBN
By Chris Pasterz
Chris Pasterz is the Coconino County economic development manager.