Tucson businesses get help pivoting post-pandemic

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TUCSON, Arizona (KOLD News 13) – COVID-19 has devastated many small businesses, but now some local business owners are getting help to pan the pandemic.

Startup Tucson is using $ 420,000 in grants to develop a program that serves small businesses and helps them expand their business models into a post-COVID world.

“They have customers, they have sales, but we really want to be the fuel for the fire,” said Dre Thompson, executive vice president of Startup Tucson.

Thompson said they are focused on creating jobs and selecting startups willing to hire people to participate in the program.

“I always knew skin care was all I had to do,” said Janae Peats, a local business owner in Tucson.

She took the plunge and started her company Ku’Panda during the pandemic. Peats said she found mentorship through startup Tucson.

“Use their know-how and how we can move forward with the existing resources so that I can stand up for the customer, but use resources that I already have so that I don’t get exhausted,” she said.

The grant will be used to teach businesses how to be successful online and to give them a space to do so as well.

“We’re going to build a design and media lab in downtown Tucson. Companies will have access to world class equipment to create really beautiful content online, ”said Thompson.

Entrepreneurs are mentored throughout the program and given the opportunity to collaborate, snap product photos, and continue building their brands in the lab. Thompson said the grant will support 60 different local businesses selected this summer.

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