The businesses in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties have experienced considerable losses because of natural disasters, especially in the last several years. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), more than 40% of businesses never reopen after a natural disaster. Whether fire, flood, or power outages, these disasters have shown that preparing your business for an emergency is paramount to its long term success. At West Business Development Center we know the reality of this fact all too well.

 

To address this all-important issue and help you better prepare for the unexpected, West Business Development Center will be presenting our Emergency Preparedness for Small Business program at the upcoming Industry Resiliency Session, hosted by The Sonoma-Mendocino Economic Development District (EDD). The Emergency Preparedness for Small Business program was developed with the support of a Wells Fargo Economic Opportunity Grant, on What to Do When Disaster Strikes Your Business. All small business owners impacted by natural disasters are finding they have many new unanswered questions on operating and recovering a business after a disaster. The Emergency Preparedness for Small Business program will help train small business owners on how to get organized and be better prepared. Learn more about what the Emergency Preparedness for Small Business program can bring to your business at the upcoming Industry Resiliency Session.  

The Industry Resiliency Session is a FREE event happening on March 13th, 8:30 am – 12:00 pm at the Cloverdale Citrus Fairgrounds. This event will bring together businesses and industry partners to discuss actionable solutions to ongoing disasters, power outages, and other emergencies that impact the local economy. Together attendees will learn how to strengthen their businesses further by identifying business solutions, developing a recovery plan, and determining how local economic development organizations can provide the best support during disasters. 

 

Learn more about The Industry Resiliency Session here and RSVP today! 

 

The Sonoma-Mendocino Economic Development District (EDD) is funded and supported by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and unites the counties of Mendocino and Sonoma in creating the first joint economic development strategy for the two-county region. Developed in collaboration with local partners and community members, the multi-year strategy aims to uncover untapped economic potential in the region and to secure a robust and stable regional economy for many years to come. Learn more about The Sonoma-Mendocino Economic Development District (EDD) here.

The Industry Resiliency Session

March 13th, 8:30am – 12pm

Cloverdale Citrus Fairgrounds

1 Citrus Fair Dr, Cloverdale, CA


Free Business Advising at West Business Development Center

If you are a business of one or a company of 100 employees, at any stage from startup to established, WestBDC offers free business advising on whatever topic you might need. If it’s finding the right loan to expand, staffing your business with the right people, or even just wading through new minimum wage requirements, we have experts ready to help you right now. 

Click here to sign up for free advising. We’ll schedule a free, thirty-minute call and then we’ll assign you the free expert advisor you need.

See how these successful businesses set up, grew, and expanded with West Business Development Center Free Advising services:

Frosted: Cupcakes & Goodies, Fort Bragg

Seagull Inn, Mendocino

Peace and Plenty Farms, Kelseyville

Smithwood Mercantile, Mendocino

To see more Client success stories check out our Client Stories and our YouTube channel.

Are you a woman-owned business? 

Please join us for our monthly networking events where you can meet other women entrepreneurs and share best practices, knowledge and make friends.

If you are a women-owned business and are interested in hosting Women’s Mendopreneurs Empowerment Night we would love to hear from you! Send us an email at events@westcenter.org