The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recognize the importance of decent employment through Goal 8: “to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.” We all know the names of the big-box stores and large corporations, and while it may seem as though they account for most of the employment, that is not the case. In fact, small businesses are the foundation of the U.S. economy, employing nearly 50% of the private workforce and creating more than 60% of new jobs. COVID-19 has had devastating impacts on some small businesses, while others have been able to adapt and weather the harshest consequences of the pandemic.
Consult Your Community is a student-run nonprofit organization working to provide small businesses with pro-bono consulting; the Cornell chapter has worked with dozens of small businesses over the past five years. Join us for a live panel discussion with some of their small business partners on how these businesses are adjusting to their new economic realities and leaving their mark on their community.
