On Thursday, April 9, the Business Council of Alabama (BCA) presented the Small Business Exchange on Alabama Public Television (APT). This event, designed to help small businesses walking through the process of applying for federal stimulus funding under the CARES Act, allowed small businesses throughout the state the opportunity to speak to experts on a variety of topics, including the CARES Act, small business loans, unemployment, and more. BCA was thrilled to have several special guests be a part of the televised portion of the Small Business Exchange. Governor Kay Ivey, Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth, Attorney General Steve Marshall, Carl Jamison of JamisonMoneyFarmer, NFIB Alabama State Director Rosemary Elebash, Jason Isbell of the Alabama Bankers Association, and Secretary of Labor Fitzgerald Washington all provided invaluable advice and resources to listeners throughout the broadcast.
More than 50 subject matter experts from the state’s largest law firms, CPA firms, and banks volunteered their time and expertise Thursday night from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and again on Friday morning from 9:00 a.m. to noon to consult with small businesses from across the state. The firms represented were JamisonMoneyFarmer PC, the Alabama Bankers Association, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, Maynard Cooper & Gale, Balch & Bingham LLP, Bradley, Jackson Thornton, Butler Snow, Wilkins Miller, Kassouf & Co., Jones Walker, Adams and Reese LLP, Lightfoot, CK Business Solutions PC, Burr Forman, Carr, Riggs & Ingram, and Alabama Small Business Development Center. These lawyers, bankers, and accountants provided resources and answers to hundreds of questions throughout the two-day event. Through the generous use of their time, BCA was able to reassure businesses that they are not navigating these unprecedented times alone.
“Small business is the lifeblood of this state, and it is imperative we do our part to help,” said Katie Boyd Britt, President and CEO of BCA. “The best and brightest from across Alabama volunteered to help answer questions and point businesses in the right direction. We want to continue to help small businesses throughout the state navigate this – and get and stay on their feet. The future of our state depends on it.”
BCA aims to continue being a trusted resource for all businesses throughout the state. By working with organizations at the local, state, and national level, BCA hopes to gain as much clarity as possible on ways to help. Whether that be providing resources, hosting webinars, or simply being a listening ear, BCA wants to be your best advocate. But, it cannot be done alone. Now, more than ever, the business community must band together as a united front, working together to share best practices and support one another, keeping our employees and communities safe while looking forward to the day we can resume business-as-usual again.
