The Business Council of Alabama (BCA) on Thursday night hosted the first-ever Small Business Exchange on Alabama Public Television (APT).
The event was designed to help walk Alabama small businesses through the process of applying for coronavirus-related federal stimulus funding under the CARES Act, allowing employers throughout the state to speak to experts on a variety of pressing topics.
Several special guests were featured during the televised portion of the Small Business Exchange; Governor Kay Ivey, Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth, Attorney General Steve Marshall, Carl Jamison of JamisonMoneyFarmer, NFIB Alabama State Director Rosemary Elebash, Jason Isbell of the Alabama Bankers Association and Secretary of Labor Fitzgerald Washington all provided invaluable advice and resources to listeners throughout the broadcast, which was also streamed live on Facebook and can be viewed below.
Additionally, more than 50 subject matter experts from the state’s largest law firms, CPA firms and banks volunteered their time Thursday from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. CT and again on Friday from 9:00 a.m. to noon to consult with small business owners from across the state.
The firms represented were JamisonMoneyFarmer PC, the Alabama Bankers Association, NFIB, Maynard Cooper & Gale, Balch & Bingham LLP, Bradley, Jackson Thornton, Butler Snow, Wilkins Miller, Kassouf & Co., Jones Walker, Adams and Reese LLP, Lightfoot, CK Business Solutions PC, Burr Forman, Carr, Riggs & Ingram and Alabama Small Business Development Center. These lawyers, bankers, and accountants provided resources and answers to hundreds of questions throughout the two-day event. Through the generous use of their time, BCA said that they were able to reassure businesses that they are not navigating these unprecedented times alone.
“Small business is the lifeblood of this state, and it is imperative we do our part to help,” Katie Boyd Britt, president and CEO of BCA, said in a statement.
“The best and brightest from across Alabama volunteered to help answer questions and point businesses in the right direction. We want to continue to help small businesses throughout the state navigate this – and get and stay on their feet. The future of our state depends on it,” she continued.
A release from BCA added that the organization “aims to continue being a trusted resource for all businesses throughout the state.”
“By working with organizations at the local, state, and national level, BCA hopes to gain as much clarity as possible on ways to help. Whether that be providing resources, hosting webinars, or simply being a listening ear, BCA wants to be your best advocate. But, it cannot be done alone. Now, more than ever, the business community must band together as a united front, working together to share best practices and support one another, keeping our employees and communities safe while looking forward to the day we can resume business-as-usual again,” the release concluded.
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.