The COVID-19 crisis has severely impacted small businesses, with the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) providing relief but facing challenges like unequal distribution and restrictive terms. Local relief funds have been helpful but underfunded, underscoring the need for more federal support.

The reopening of downtowns and central business districts is crucial for economic recovery, as these areas serve as commercial, cultural, and civic hubs. Downtowns must be prioritized in federal and local strategies, recognizing that reopening will be gradual and varied across sectors.

Crises often drive institutional change, and the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed weaknesses in our systems, highlighting inequalities and the need for stronger public institutions. To rebuild, we need inclusive, sustainable models for local governance, inter-governmental coordination, and financial access.

The COVID-19 crisis has severely impacted small businesses, especially those owned by people of color in low-income areas. While the Paycheck Protection Program has provided some relief, it has not reached many underserved businesses. In response, local governments and alternative lenders have developed systems offering grants and loans to support the most vulnerable small businesses.

The COVID-19 crisis is severely impacting small businesses, especially those owned by people of color and in low-income areas. While federal relief programs like the PPP are helpful, they often overlook these businesses. A proposed $50 billion Main Street Emergency Act would provide additional support to these relief efforts, helping small businesses survive and recover.

Local relief funds launched to support small businesses while awaiting federal aid, but distribution has been chaotic and many vulnerable businesses risk missing out. Strengthening local efforts, improving federal coordination, and expanding financial partnerships are crucial to mitigating economic damage.

The scale of the COVID-19 crisis has become better understood—akin to an economy-wide hurricane that leaves physical infrastructure intact—and the federal government has responded with $350 billion for small businesses in the CARES act.

The COVID-19 crisis has severely impacted small businesses, especially in downtown areas and commercial corridors. In cities like Erie, Pennsylvania, local businesses have been struggling to survive, with some reducing operations or laying off workers. Erie, which has worked hard to revive its downtown over the past decade, now faces the risk of losing much of the progress made.

An analysis of Erie's downtown during COVID-19 highlights the critical role of local networks in supporting small businesses and fostering community resilience during economic disruptions.

Small businesses, which employ half of Americans, face imminent collapse due to cash shortages and the economic shock of social distancing. Existing relief efforts are insufficient in scale, poorly designed for this crisis, and hindered by bureaucratic inefficiencies.

Immediate action is needed, including large-scale emergency funding, simplified loan programs, and local government interventions to sustain small businesses and prevent long-term economic devastation.