Small Business Resilience Strategy

Helping a small business thrive means entrepreneurs and employees can stay employed, money can be reinvested in the local economy and most importantly, individuals and their families remain housed.

Initially developed in response to the local economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, Holos’ Small Business Resiliency Strategy (SBRS) is an important step forward in addressing the organization’s goals of creating spaces for all and providing opportunities for fuller lives. The SBRS makes available Holos commercial spaces to small, local, women- and/or BIPOC-owned businesses at discounted rental rates, and with other financial assistance such as a Tenant Improvement (TI) loan from a local Community Development Financial Institutions CDFI.

By prioritizing these small, local, BIPOC-owned businesses, the SBRS helps to allow these entrepreneurs to subsist on their own by maintaining a stable income stream, thereby preventing dire circumstances, such as future homelessness. By reducing commercial rent and assisting with TI loans, the SBRS increases a business’ disposable income, which can be reinvested in the local economy.   The SBRS also includes activating Holos’ commercial spaces for community benefitting purposes that promote living in a healthy and resilient community, such as a health clinic.  Ultimately, through the parameters developed through this program, Holos is looking to enhance local economic growth that can be become part of a broader and resilient approach to community investment and revitalization. 

The Small Business Resilience Strategy was partially funded by: