The Business Recovery Assistance and Collaborative Engagement (BRACE) program will connect business owners with resources to save their companies.
Orlando, Fla. – To inform business owners of the programs they need to save their companies in this unprecedented time, the Orlando Economic Partnership (the Partnership) has launched a Business Recovery Assistance and Collaborative Engagement (BRACE) program. A communications and case management platform, BRACE provides a free service that helps identify and then connect small businesses to the resources they need most.
“We have integrated a technical platform to allow us to reach the business community in all seven counties in the Orlando region to initiate contact and triage immediate and short-term needs,” said Partnership President and CEO Tim Giuliani. “In the upcoming weeks, our goal is to scale this program to reach as many small businesses in our region as possible.”
Small businesses in need of assistance should visit BRACEOrlando.org. Organizations and companies interested in partnering to provide financial relief services can also fill out a form at BRACEOrlando.org to request a follow-up.
“It’s important that we begin the conversation on how to help businesses get back on their feet, so they can be positioned to provide the vital services and products needed for our economic recovery,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings. “I look forward to working with the Orlando Economic Partnership and the BRACE program in this effort.”
“We know that there are few, if any, industries that are immune to this virus,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “Our local businesses are the backbone of our economy, and at the heart of everything we do as a community and so we will fight for them, advocate for them and do all we can to connect our businesses, through programs like BRACE, to resources that can help them weather the storm and begin on a path to recovery.”
Interested parties who complete and submit their online form will have a BRACE Ambassador reach out to them within 48 hours after contact. Ambassadors are trained to triage needs, offer resources or provide referrals to partners with the right expertise.
While some programs like the Florida Small Business Emergency BRIDGE Program and the Paycheck Protection Program are no longer accepting applications and have run out of funding, the Partnership is creating a database of those companies needing assistance and maintaining communication with them as the federal process ensues and potential local options become available.
The BRACE program will be available as long as it’s needed, and as emergency relief programs are available.
