USD Beacom School of Business offers webinar series to support local businesses during pandemic

Beginning on Thursday, the Beacom School of Business is offering a webinar series led by faculty to show support to small businesses during the Coronavirus pandemic.

As the leading business school in South Dakota, Venky Venkatachalam, dean of the USD Beacom School of Businesses said it’s important the Beacom School shows their support to economic development. 

“Small businesses in South Dakota are the backbone of the state’s economy,” Venkatachalam said in an email interview with The Volante. “Nearly 60% of South Dakota’s workforce (is) employed by small businesses. We are committed to being a driver for economic development in the state and the region.” 

The webinar series begins on Thursday and will run through May 5. Each session will cover a different topic, all relating to the effects on small businesses as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. 

“We are covering topics on cash flow and evaluating the financial options available to businesses through the CARES ACT, the US Small Business Administration and other resources,” Venkatachalam said. “We also plan to provide webinar sessions on managing stress, building your brand during a crisis, supply chain, new revenue streams and more.” 

Venkatachalam said he hopes these webinars help keep small business owners up to date on resources available to help them during this time of crisis. 

“We want to be the resource to SD’s small and family-owned businesses and help them succeed and grow especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic,” Venkatachalam said. “We aim to make them more aware of the various federal and state financial assistance programs and offer resources on best-business practices to survive and grow.” 

The webinars are free to any small or family-owned business owner in South Dakota, Venkatachalam said, but pre-registration is required.  A full list of session descriptions and registration forms are available on the USD website. 

“These webinars offer assistance to South Dakota’s small and/or family-owned businesses and aim to offer them the latest updates on various financial options available, best-business practices and strategies for decision-making to manage through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond,” Venkatachalam said.