Your BBB wants to make sure you know there is a Pikes Peak Region Recovery Team working to support you, our business community. Recently, they sent a link to a survey for businesses affected by the Waldo Canyon Fire. If you filled out that survey, thank you very much for your response. You will be hearing from a member of the team soon.
The survey results identified two major areas in which businesses need assistance: Gap financing, and a marketing/customer attraction campaign that sends the message that our region is open for business. Based on this information, the Pikes Peak Region Business Recovery Team is working hard to identify potential resources to help you and your business.
Gap Financing:
Twelve leaders of area financial institutions met to discuss how their individual organizations, policies and programs can help businesses impacted by the fire. They and others in their industry are working with their customers to meet their individual needs. They encourage companies and individuals to contact their financial institutions for individual assistance. The group is now engaged in exchanging information relevant to customers suffering from the effects of a natural disaster.
Marketing/Customer Attraction:
The group is working on the following: "Welcome back" will be the tag line for each group's individual efforts. The Convention and Visitors Bureau will provide a logo and a toolkit for that purpose. Each organization can personalize the "welcome back" logo by adding their logo.
Options for getting the "welcome back" message out to the local community and the region:
- Facebook photo contests and postings to start replacing the fire images with real time images and messages.
- "Staycation" promotion targeting locals.
- Asking locals to post "staycation" itineraries to FB pages.
- Asking members of each organization to give "welcome back" offers and discounts.
- Promote events like the Olympic rally and the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo.
- Engaging local media to share the "welcome back" message.
- Using broadcast e-mail, press releases and social media to promote the "welcome back" message to the regional drive market.
- Working with the Colorado Tourism Office.
- Working with Bourbon Street Videos to produce a 60-second video.
Resources currently in place:
El Paso County Disaster Recovery Center
105 North Spruce Street
Open 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Along with resources for personal requirements, there are also representatives available to address business concerns. Information on available resources can all be found on the Disaster Recovery Center website.
The Colorado SBDC Network (Small Business Development Center)
Please see the following documents that will help you understand the resources available through the SBDC. Resources are also available through our local SBDC.
20 Insurance Questions to Ask Your Agent
Colorado SBDC Business Recovery Intake Form
Post-Disaster Flow Chart
Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado
As you rebuild your business physically and financially, be sure to check a company’s BBB Business Review with the Better Business Bureau.
Federal Assistance:
Receiving federal relief will take some time, and we don't have all the details yet. This is the process that the SBA disaster team has communicated to us:
- A presidential disaster needs to be declared (Done with the President’s visit)
- An assessment of the disaster needs to be conducted looking at business loss or potential loss (SBA disaster group planning to come to Colorado Monday, July 9, 2012). This should take approximately 5 - 7 days.
- Once assessment is complete, the process is for the Governor of Colorado to make a formal request for disaster assistance for small businesses
- SBA disaster group will then come and set up resource centers along side of FEMA to help with disaster loan packaging
Please know that the Pikes Peak Business Recovery Team is here to help you in any way we can. Please contact Bob Cope, City of Colorado Springs Office of Economic Vitality (
bcope@springsgov.com), with any questions.
