SBDC Plans in Light of COVID-19

Business advisors and staff at the University of Houston Texas Gulf Coast Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network are working hard to support small business owners who are facing unprecedented and steep challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, which the World Health Organization declared a pandemic on Wednesday, March 11. Our commitment is to share the most timely information, processes and resources available.

Business Advising Services

To protect the health and safety of our clients and employees, we will offer SBDC business advising services virtually. We will conduct sessions via phone, email, Zoom Conferencing or Skype. 

Please note: If you are an existing client, please contact your current business advisor. If you are a new client, please contact your local SBDC for virtual business advising availability. Find your local SBDC here. 

Business Workshops & Events

To prevent the potential spread of COVID-19, also known as novel coronavirus, and to ensure a flawless transition to virtual learning, our SBDCs are suspending all scheduled in-person business workshops and events through April 2020. If you have registered for a business workshop or training class, we will reach out to you, if you haven’t been notified already. New training schedules featuring online courses and webinars are being released. Please check the SBDC calendar for updates on upcoming SBDC and procurement educational programs and events.

Small Business Resources

The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) will provide disaster assistance for small businesses impacted by Coronavirus (COVID-19). To learn the process for accessing SBA’s COVID-19 Disaster Relief Lending, visit COVID-19 Small Business Loan Resources. For COVID-19 interim guidance for businesses and employers, visit sba.gov/coronavirus.

As the phenomena with COVID-19 develops, our SBDC Network will continue to monitor the situation and reports from regional and city officials to ensure our efforts align with public health recommendations. We will also continue to work closely with our community partners and constituents to coordinate procurement and business development opportunities.

Our hearts and thoughts go out to the people who have been affected by this unprecedented event and we appreciate the healthcare workers, local communities, and governments around the world who are on the front line working to contain this coronavirus. We will continue to do our best to communicate useful business resources and provide support to mitigate the impacts of this health situation.

For more COVID-19 resources, please see SBDC's Updates and COVID-19 Resources website page.