NJSBDC: The Pandemic & The Pivot

Abstract

Early 2020, the NJ Small Business Development Centers (NJSBDC) planned to continue servicing New Jersey’s small and mid-sized businesses with comprehensive training, expert business technical assistance, and consulting. Then on March 4, 2020, NJ found itself in the epicenter of a global pandemic that literally threatened the life of every single person, and by extension, every single business.

It was clear that we were in a dilemma with no foreseeable direction nor end. And the NJSBDC was the prime resource to be able to bring help to the business community. But if we were to be useful, we’d need to pivot and shift into full gear to help get information and support to each business owner that we could, do it fast, do it from wherever we were, and make it last.

Within days, we coordinated formal messaging with our stakeholders, aligned a strategic remote working transition for all 33 team members, assessed current and prospective needs, and worked on helping businesses survive and thrive despite the pandemic. As a result, the NJSBDC network partnered with various stakeholders and helped 11,311 businesses stay in business, 7,870 businesses create or retain jobs, and helped the state generate $47,901,999 in tax revenue.