Business Resilience

By Ariana Delgado, IEDC Intern

On March 8, International Women’s Day, the George Washington University School of Business hosted the Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Impact Conference which focused on solutions pioneered by women that address the unique challenges of today’s world. During the first session, entrepreneurship experts Dr. Patti Greene and Professor Kathy Korman Frey introduced Ascent, a free women’s entrepreneurship learning platform they built in collaboration with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

By Colton Campbell, IEDC intern

After any climate event, there are going to be multiple short- and long-term consequences. Following the recent storm in Texas, several Electric Reliability Council of Texas board members and now the chair of the Texas Public Utility Commission have resigned. Residents across the state in need of plumbing and electrical home repairs from skilled trade workers have encountered shortages of both laborers and parts. Many Texans are still trying to find their footing while long-term changes remain unclear. 

By Colton Campbell, IEDC Intern

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s (NAERC) power transmission area consists of five separate power grids. The Eastern Interconnection extends East of the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Coast, excluding Texas and Quebec. The Western Interconnection extends from the Rockies to the Pacific Coast and from the Southern United States border to the top of British Columbia and Alberta. There are also three minor interconnections, which are Alaska, Quebec, and of course, the Texas Interconnection.

A recent McKinsey webinar explored how COVID-19 has impacted small businesses. Small to medium-sized businesses make up 99 percent of all firms and employ 47 percent of all private-sector workers. They also create two-thirds of net new jobs.

Before COVID-19, surveys show small businesses were optimistic about the economy. Now, however, almost 80 percent of small business owners are concerned about their firms’ sustainability. With limited liquidity, small businesses – especially those owned by minorities – are more likely to be at risk due to COVID.