WASHINGTON, D.C. — To arm small business owners with the information they need to reopen and rebuild stronger in the midst of a pandemic and a changing economy, CO—by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Chase for Business and local and state chambers across the country, today announced the launch of a new virtual event series, CO—Blueprint. The series will offer practical solutions, actionable insights from knowledgeable leaders, and real-world advice for small business owners as they return to work, rebuild, and grow their companies.
The series will launch on June 10, 2020 with a webinar focused on reopening your business. Subsequent events will be held every other week beginning June 17 on Wednesdays at 2:00 PM ET.
The virtual gatherings will provide small business owners across the country the tips, tools, and inspiration they need to navigate the most pressing business challenges, as well as a safe forum to ask questions, and a platform to make one-to-one powerful connections. Each webinar will highlight a new region and focus on a different, fiercely relevant topic like financial planning through uncertainty or restarting your post-pandemic sales. National subject matter experts will be joined by a panel of regional small business owners who will offer their own challenges and solutions.
“For the past three years, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with local and state chambers, has gathered thousands of small business owners in diverse markets across the country to provide the tools they need to take their companies to the next level,” said Jeanette Mulvey, executive director of content strategy for small business products at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “The 2020 virtual event series will honor the spirit of our in-person events by creating a safe forum to ask questions and a platform to make powerful connections.”
Launched by the U.S. Chamber in 2019, CO— is a platform designed to help business owners solve problems, break down barriers, and grow their companies through engaging digital content and events. Building on the U.S. Chamber’s longstanding role as a resource and advocate for businesses, CO— brings top-notch expertise to ambitious business owners outside the Fortune 1000.
This year, Chase for Business joins the U.S. Chamber as the presenting partner of the 2020 CO— Blueprint event series and the annual Dream Big Awards, honoring the achievements of small businesses and highlights their contributions to America’s economic growth. The Dream Big Small Business of the Year Award, a $25,000 prize, will go to one business exemplifying the spirit of innovation, entrepreneurship, and individual initiative.
Six Dream Big business achievement awards will honor stand-out businesses in categories including minority-owned, women-owned, green/sustainable, and young entrepreneur. In 2020, a new award has been added to recognize a small business that has demonstrated an exemplary level of leadership and community engagement to assist the needs of its community during the coronavirus pandemic. The winner will be awarded a $5,000 cash prize.
“One of the ways we can help business owners is by connecting them with other business leaders to build their network and share stories,” said John McCourt, Head of Client Relationships at Chase Business Banking. “Teaming with the U.S. Chamber to support the small business community is something we’re proud to do.”
Supporting partners include: ADP, FedEx, MetLife, and Square. Participating local chambers of commerce include Georgia Chamber, Jefferson Chamber, and Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.
For more information on the event series, please click here.
