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METHODOLOGY

Behind the Insights

Interviews

Objective:

Assess the immediate effects of COVID-19 on small business owners and learn their overall experience by industry during the qualitative, exploratory phase of the project. Click here to see the full analysis.

Participant Background:

Interviews were conducted with small business owners as well as city representatives of the Ascend program. City representatives are leaders in the city’s local community, business support groups, non-profit organizations, and other programs with the initiative to serve and support the growth of small minority-owned businesses across the nation.

Timeframe:

Interviews began April 21, 2020 through May 12, 2020.

25

small business
owner interviews

RESULTS

9

Ascend city
representative interviews

  • Portland
  • New Orleans
  • Newark
  • New York
  • Seattle
  • St. Louis
  • Twin Cities
  • Washington D.C.

Survey

Objective:

Analyze themes, similarities and differences in the challenges and opportunities encountered by small business owners across various industries and cities in the quantitative, descriptive phase of the project.

Timeframe:

Surveys began April 29, 2020 through May 22, 2020.

13.3%

response rate

70.4%

of responses are from
Chicago and Seattle

3

Top industry respondents
are in PST Services, Construction,
& Food and Beverage

** To see the full analysis, please click here.