With small businesses scrambling to adapt amid COVID-19, Extension is offering a town hall this Wednesday where economic and business experts, as well as small-business owners, will talk about the newest challenges small business are facing during this phase of the pandemic. Extension is also presenting a webinar on Friday, on bookkeeping concepts and software to help small businesses with their current challenges and into the future. For both the town hall and the webinar, there will be an English-language session and a Spanish-language session.

The events are part of a free series of town halls and webinars for small businesses, “Coping With COVID-19,” being offered each week. The town halls begin with a presentation on a given topic, and then participants network with one another and drive the discussion. The webinars provide information on specific topics to help businesses plan strategically, adapt and succeed. This week’s sessions include:

• The town hall, “Newest Small-Business Challenges, Post-COVID-19” is Wednesday, July 15, at 9 a.m. for English speakers and at 2 p.m. for Spanish speakers. Panelists include:
  • Shani Coleman, Clark County community & economic development director (9 a.m. session)
  • Alfredo Cedeño, Small Business Administration outreach/marketing specialist (2 p.m. session)
  • Reyna Mendez, Extension business development instructor
  • Juan Salas, Extension business development instructor
  • Mike Bindrup, Extension research associate
• The webinar, “Bookkeeping Concepts and Software: The Importance of Having a Software” will be held Friday, July 17, at 9 a.m. for English speakers and at 11:30 a.m. for Spanish speakers. Speakers Mendez, Salas and Bindrup will discuss:
  • The bookkeeping process
  • IRS resources and requirements for business owners
  • Assets, liabilities and owner's equity
  • Creating and using a chart of accounts, and types of accounts
  • Advantages and limitations of using a bookkeeping software
  • Practical examples

“With COVID-19, each day seems to bring new information, and new challenges,” said Buddy Borden, economic development specialist with Extension’s Business Development Program. “We want to help our small businesses stay up to speed and provide a way for them to share what they have found to be working and support each other. We also want to provide them with practical business recommendations, such as using bookkeeping best practices and software, that will help them now and post-COVID-19.”

Both the town halls and the webinars usually run about an hour. To register:

• Register for the July 15, 9 a.m., English-language town hall.
• Register for the July 15, 2 p.m., Spanish-language town hall.
• Register for the July 17, 9 a.m., English-language webinar.
• Register for the July 17, 11:30 a.m., Spanish-language webinar.

For more information, go to the Extension Business Development Program website. There are also other resources at the website to assist businesses during the COVID-19 crisis. For more information, email Borden.