SE Valley Times

Chandler Innovations has expanded its business resources to any company in Chandler that is struggling due to COVID-19.

“[We’ve] decided to open it up and not have it just be for companies that Chandler Innovations only deal with,” Chandler Innovations CEO Diana White told The Chandler Arizonan. “We are offering that service free of charge to them. We want to do everything that we possibly can to help the entire economic ecosystem for Chandler.”

As stated on Chandler Innovations website, the entrepreneur incubator development program is offering businesses one-on-one counseling sessions on topics such as financial relief options, employee morale, downsizing and how to keep customers engaged.

“Small businesses care very deeply about their employees and what they can do to keep their employees at this time while still managing the business,” Chandler Innovations’ entrepreneur-in-residence Tom Fulcher told The Chandler Arizonan. “Both startups and existing companies are asking about access to capital. I’m working hard to keep people updated with changes (to economic disaster loans) and walking people through that process.”

A recent poll by the Chandler Chamber of Commerce revealed that 90% of local businesses were expecting to be negatively impacted as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

“We’re all business owners, entrepreneurs, founders, executives,” White said. “But we’re all human beings. Anytime something like this happens, it doesn’t matter how much of a grasp you have on business. There tends to be a little bit of uncertainty and maybe a little bit of panic.”

White said now is the time for businesses to be strategic when making important decisions.

“If you’re going to take out a loan, layoff employees, take in a partner to figure out if those are the right moves at the right times,” White said. “I think that is critical. And taking a moment to breathe before making those rash decisions.”