Virtual Business Outreach Rally Provides Primary Data About Business During COVID

To remain in touch with Irvine businesses during the Coronavirus crisis and to learn about their needs, challenges, and aspirations, the Greater Irvine Chamber re-engineered its award-winning Business Outreach Rally as a virtual program this August.

Chamber Ambassadors volunteered their time to conduct the Chamber’s outreach out to Irvine companies to inform them of resources available through the Chamber and to survey what businesses are experiencing during this economic and health crisis. The volunteers connected with more than 120 businesses over the telephone, gaining primary data about their operations now and in the future.

Most of the more than 120 businesses surveyed are currently operating in some capacity, with adaptations made to meet health mandates, while others do plan to reopen. Four (3.1%) businesses indicated they are temporarily closed, 17 (13.2%) are operating at the maximum capacity allowed, eight (6.2%) are fully operational with work being conducted through a combination of on-site and remote staffing, and 5 (3.9%) are fully operational and experiencing no issues. Only one business has closed permanently because of COVID-19.  

Of the businesses surveyed, 16 (12.5%) indicated that once again open and fully operational, they would expect to be back to “normal” almost immediately, 5.4% said it will take them more than a year to return to normal operations.

Thirty percent of the businesses surveyed indicated they are in need of reliable federal, state, and county directives, while 27.5% are interested in access to federal, state, county, and local business assistance, 20% want access to business resources and expertise, 16% seek guidelines for re-opening,  and 12% are seeking easier access to funding sources such as banks, grants, and loans.

Visit the Greater Irvine Chamber Business Recovery & Reentry Resources page for valuable and timely information and resources to help employers and employees navigate and overcome the challenges presented by the COVID-19 crisis.

Businesses surveyed are more realistic about future disruptions, with 21.8% indicating they expect there may be other disruptions in the future, and 16.4% saying they are better prepared now than they were before the COVID-19 crisis occurred. 

Over the past five years, the award-winning Business Outreach Rally has introduced more than 3,000 Irvine businesses to resources available through the Greater Irvine Chamber, thanks to dedicated Chamber member volunteers.

Volunteer Chamber Ambassadors that conducted the August outreach were:

Joe Alvarez, G & C Technical Services

Vivian Atkinson, Express Pros

Christopher Bissonnette, 123 College Orange County

Beth Fujishige, Rotary Club of Irvine

Cyn Hannah, Cyn Hannah Transformational Life Coach

Christina Kim, Realty One Group

Jake Konaszewski, Rise Up For You

Thomas Lotts, New York Life

Claire Na, Surterre Properties

Amina Rafiqzada, HomeStreet Bank

Johnny Tai, Crossroads Exchange Club

Helen Woo, Helen Woo            

For more information about Business Outreach Rally, contact Pepper Russell.