Economic Recovery Center

11/26/2025

This is going to be incredible. The Edison Awards have turned into SWFL's - SXSW!

Nominations for the Edison Awards are open through Sunday, November 23. 💡✨
Make sure to nominate your innovation to earn insight from industry experts, gain international recognition and network with potential investors. 👥

Visit https://edisonawards.com/nominations/ to submit your nomination today and learn more.

11/05/2025

11/05/2025

What a turnout for our AI class hosted by NURO IS🤖💻 An engaged audience, brilliant minds, and inspiring conversations about the future of AI. Huge thanks to everyone who joined us - let’s keep the momentum going next week!

Sign up for the next session using the link in our bio!

09/02/2025

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝟯𝟬𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗞𝗮𝗷𝗶𝗸𝗶 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗼𝗶 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗮 𝗡𝗮𝗻𝗴.

To view the full story, click here: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/25/world/asia/vietnam-laos-typhoon-kajiki.html

THE NEW YORK TIMES

08/29/2025

𝗔 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 — 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁.

Buyers, lenders, and investors don’t just look at your profit and loss statements. After a natural disaster, they look at resilience — and that changes how your business is valued.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀:

1. Physical asset damage reduces book value.
Destroyed inventory, damaged property, or outdated equipment instantly lowers your asset base.

2. Interrupted cash flow signals risk.
If revenue dips for weeks or months, appraisers discount the business’s stability.

3. Customer churn hits future projections.
Downtime often leads to lost clients — and that weakens long-term value.

4. Perceived risk weighs heavily.
Businesses in disaster-prone areas often face lower multiples because future disruption is priced in.

5. Preparedness adds value.
A strong disaster recovery plan, adequate insurance, and diversified operations can actually protect or even boost valuation compared to peers.

Valuation isn’t just about what you’re worth today.
It’s about how well you can weather tomorrow.

08/28/2025

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡-𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝗣𝗖 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳 𝗮 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗱 𝗜𝘀𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗹’𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝗿.

To view the full story, click here: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/22/world-reacts-as-un-backed-body-declares-famine-in-gaza

Al Jazeera and news agencies

08/27/2025

𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 — 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀.

After a disaster, communities remember the businesses that showed up, not just for customers, but for neighbors, employees, and local causes.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆:

1. Support your employees first.
Offer flexible schedules, advance pay, or resources for their families. A supported team becomes your strongest recovery partner.

2. Partner with local nonprofits.
Even small donations of supplies, meals, or volunteer hours can multiply impact when coordinated with community groups.

3. Open your space to others.
If you have power, Wi-Fi, or a safe location, invite neighbors to use it. Sometimes, goodwill is as simple as a place to recharge.

4. Share resources and information.
Distribute recovery updates, funding resources, or checklists. Helping people navigate the mess builds credibility and trust.

5. Pay it forward with discounts or support.
Offer special pricing for affected families or free services to those who need them most.

Giving back isn’t charity.
It’s community-building — and it creates loyalty that lasts long after the crisis fades.

08/26/2025

𝗛𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗘𝗿𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗮 𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨.𝗦. 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆.

To view the full story, click here: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/hurricane-erin-tracker-storm-map-surge-waves-b2811472.html

Graig Graziosi in Washington, D.C.

08/25/2025

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁.

When times get tough—disasters, shortages, or rapid market shifts—suppliers aren’t just vendors. They become partners in your survival and growth.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝗳:

1. Reliability when it matters most – A trusted supplier prioritizes your business when demand spikes.

2. Flexibility in crises – Strong relationships can mean extended terms, smaller shipments, or shared resources.

3. Better collaboration – When suppliers know you value them, they’re more willing to co-create solutions.

4. Competitive advantage – Businesses with stronger supplier ties often recover faster than those scrambling for new deals.

5. Long-term savings – Healthy partnerships reduce risks, delays, and costly interruptions.

Strong supplier relationships aren’t built overnight. They’re the result of consistent communication, fairness, and loyalty. In business recovery, those bonds can be the difference between barely surviving and bouncing back stronger.

08/22/2025

𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆.

When revenue slows, expenses rise, and cash flow is unpredictable, a recovery budget can mean the difference between staying afloat and closing your doors.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:

Prioritize essentials first – Rent, payroll, insurance, and utilities should come before expansion plans.

Factor in reduced income – Adjust projections to reflect slower customer demand in the short term.

Plan for emergency reserves – Even $500–$1,000 set aside monthly creates breathing room.

Negotiate with vendors – Stretch payment terms or secure discounts to ease cash flow.

Explore funding options – SBA Disaster Loans or grants can help bridge gaps without crushing interest rates.

Recovery isn’t just about cutting costs—it’s about creating flexibility. A well-structured budget gives you clarity, reduces stress, and ensures you’re prepared for the next curveball.

08/21/2025

Hurricane Erin, currently a Category 4 storm, is expected to intensify and grow in size, prompting Dare and Hyde counties to declare states of emergency and order mandatory evacuations for Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands.

To view the full story, click here: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/state-emergency-declared-hurricane-erin-021435917.html

WSOCTV.com News Staff

08/20/2025

𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗲—a𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀.

Vendors and suppliers can make or break your recovery. The businesses that bounce back fastest are the ones that know how to work with their partners, not just buy from them.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿:

1. Communicate openly – Be upfront about your situation, needs, and timelines. Vendors appreciate honesty.

2. Negotiate flexible terms – Ask about extended payment windows or partial shipments to keep operations running.

3. Diversify your sources – Don’t rely on a single supplier; line up alternatives to avoid bottlenecks.

4. Show loyalty where it counts – Prioritize long-term partners who stood by you before. They’ll often return the favor.

5. Collaborate, don’t compete – Work with vendors to find win-win solutions, like shared transport or bulk orders.

Recovery isn’t just about what you buy—it’s about who you build with. Strong vendor relationships can keep your business moving when everything else feels stuck.