Governor Polis, the Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) announced the Colorado SBDC Business Recovery Guide. The purpose of the Guide is to support small businesses before, during, and after disasters or disruptions by providing clear and practical guidance to reduce downtime, minimize financial strain, and build a strong and adaptable business.
“Making sure that Colorado businesses have the tools to navigate uncertainty, including natural disasters, helps us to recover quicker and grow stronger. Colorado is home to a strong and growing business community from technology, construction, and other small businesses. This guide will help Colorado businesses navigate any challenges they may face following a natural disaster or emergency and keep providing the very best services to our communities,” said Governor Polis.
Whether a business is preparing for or navigating a disaster or disruption, this self-paced guide pairs four online courses with one-on-one, no-cost advising. The guide is free for Colorado small businesses and is available in English and Spanish. Participating businesses will learn strategies to minimize operational downtime and financial impacts, how to protect assets and staff, and best practices to support their businesses.
“Colorado is home to over 730,000 small businesses and we want to ensure they are prepared to navigate a dynamic and changing business environment. From natural disasters like wildfires to unforeseen market disruptions, this new Guide is a vital resource, offering clear, actionable strategies to prepare for these moments and navigate them successfully, ensuring our small businesses can thrive,” said OEDIT Executive Director, Eve Lieberman.
“We’ve seen increasing interest from Colorado’s small businesses in practical, hands-on resources to build resilience. They understand that a prepared business is a sustainable business. The Colorado SBDC Business Recovery Guide meets this need through a comprehensive, simple-to-implement toolkit to help every small business protect their operations, their staff, and their future,” said Hannah W. Krieger, State Director of the Colorado SBDC.
The guide offers an action-oriented roadmap for long-term sustainability through three key stages: reducing risk, crisis management, and restoring operations. Business owners will learn to identify critical functions, safeguard assets, and protect cash flow before a disruption occurs. Whether a business is planning for the future, navigating an active crisis, or working to recover, this toolkit provides practical, high-impact insights for every stage.
The Colorado SBDC Business Recovery Guide was funded by a Portable Assistance Grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration. For more information, interested businesses can learn more online, access the guide directly, or contact their local Colorado SBDC.