Outsmart Disaster Moves to CalOSBA with a New Website; Resilient Business Challenge Promotes Disaster Preparedness for Vulnerable Small Businesses

Sacramento, CA – The California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), part of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), today announced that it is relaunching the Outsmart Disaster Campaign with a new web portal featuring the Resilient Business Challenge (RBC) virtual training to promote disaster preparedness and proactive resiliency training.

The Outsmart Disaster concept was originally conceived in 2018 as a state-led tool to help businesses and communities prepare for the next big earthquake. With the support of funders such as JP Morgan Chase Foundation and Edison International, and under the leadership of California’s Business Consumer Services and Housing Agency, the program evolved to help Californians prepare for all types of disasters. Now, with the support of approximately $782,000 in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding provided by U.S. Economic Development Agency and under the leadership of CalOSBA, Outsmart Disaster will further its work to help prepare Californians for the unexpected.

Outsmart Disaster has already helped more than 1,300 businesses in California access tools and the needed support to create a disaster preparedness plan, mitigate damages and accelerate recovery in the event of natural disasters or personal emergencies.

The Resilient Business Challenge is a virtual, no-cost, self-guided training that helps businesses:

• Identify their risks
• Document business functions and the impacts of potential disruption
• Strengthen facilities and safeguard data and assets in case of a natural disaster
• Maintain relationships with vendors, partners, and employees during business interruptions
• Understand insurance policies and evaluate financial resiliency in case of interruption
• Document contingency options

“Small businesses, especially those in isolated rural areas, are extremely vulnerable to any kind of business interruption, be it a pandemic, a wildfire, or a drought. Our office is committed to helping small business owners to prepare as best they can for unexpected events, and to help mitigate the increasing risks, be it from natural disaster or supply-chain interruptions,” said Tara Lynn Gray, Director of CalOSBA.

CalOSBA will staff this effort in 2023 to develop hands-on versions of the Resilient Business Challenge for face-to-face trainings in rural communities, as well as, launching a train-the-trainer program to help local organizations such as Chambers of Commerce and Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) better communicate about disaster preparedness to member businesses.

To take the RBC, or to learn more about the Outsmart Disaster Campaign, please visit the CalOSBA website at: outsmartdisaster.calosba.ca.gov.

About GO-Biz
The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development(GO-Biz) serves as the State of California’s leader for job growth and economic development efforts. GO-Biz offers a range of services to business owners including: attraction, retention and expansion services, site selection, permit streamlining, clearing of regulatory hurdles, small business assistance, international trade development, assistance with state government, and much more. For more information visit the GO-Biz website.

About CalOSBA
The Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) helps support economic growth and innovation by working to ensure that California’s small businesses and entrepreneurs have the information, tools and resources they need to plan, launch, manage and grow their businesses successfully and be resilient. The CalOSBA serves to elevate their voices in state government and to advocate on their behalf to help ensure all aspiring and current small business owners and entrepreneurs are provided with the opportunity to access capital, access markets, and connect to the networks and resources they need to succeed. For more information visit the website.

Heather Purcell
Deputy Director of Communications
Email Heather,HERE