Digital Ready Diverse Entrepreneurs

1.31.2022 — LISC StoriesEconomic Development

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the digital divide in our society. Not only are some people left behind without internet access and the skills to utilize technology for upward economic mobility, but small businesses and entrepreneurs are also negatively affected. This digital divide limits small business’ ability to engage in new economic trends, such as the increased importance of e-commerce, online marketing, and search engine optimization. Small business owners without digital skills are at risk of being left behind as commerce shifts online.

This is why LISC recently launched a partnership with Verizon - the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready program, a platform of digital resources to help empower entrepreneurs to plan, manage and grow their businesses.

Meet a few of the entrepreneurs that have taken their business to the next level with training they received on Verizon’s Small Business Digital Ready platform and cash grants to put learnings into action.

Arvella Toomer, owner and operating manager of Juice Junky, a beverage distribution company in Inglewood, CA, was greatly affected by the pandemic. In early 2020, Arvella had just started a campaign designed to teach youth in underserved communities the health benefits of a heathier diet and small ways to make meaningful changes with healthy snack options. Then, the lockdown started and schools closed. Not to be deterred, Arvella and her team of 3 made snack bags and delivered them to families to mitigate increasing food insecurity. They not only provided healthy snacks but also nutritional information along the way.

Prior to the pandemic, Juice Junky offered an all-natural energy drink, but with the tools provided in the Verizon Digital training series, Arvella was able to help her team rebrand to meet the new needs of the community focused on bringing awareness to the value of eating cleaner, more healthier foods. That was always the goal for her as it ties to many of the health challenges faced in underserved communities. “Issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and the like all in some way have a correlation to the foods we eat. I want to start educating kids at an earlier age on the importance of creating good eating habits,” Arvella shared.

The Small Business Digital Ready platform also taught Arvella to keep better financial records so that Juice Junky would be ready for funding when they enter their next growth phase.

“The main tool Verizon gave us, which turned out to be the most beneficial, was the class on how to utilize technology allowing all of our team members to work from various places while maintaining consistent contact for meetings and brainstorming sessions,” Arvellla shared.

Being able to tap into new technology that allows for remote work, Arvella and her team are now looking to expand into other markets.

Supply chain issues have affected many industries, and the floral industry is no exception. At the start of the pandemic, many floral businesses dealt with instability. Entire seasons of flowers went unharvested as California farmworkers fell ill from COVID-19. Flower sales from California producers dropped by 85% during that time. Now demand has picked up, but supply is still limited, resulting in increased costs. The Verizon grant helped Domonique Peskin, owner of Dominique Rose, Inc. invest in her floral business at a time when funds were much needed.

The pandemic forced many schools to close, including one of the OC Tiny Tots Academy preschool locations in Fountain Valley. The community was reluctant to attend in person, indoor classes for most of 2020. However, the Academy was able to adapt at one location in Newport Beach. Teachers offered outdoor-only classes for 6 months until the community was comfortable with indoor classes again. Classes were modified to adapt to COVID. Even with the pivot, OC Tiny Tots Academy had to reduce class size to provide a safer learning environment, which drastically impacted salaries. The Academy was able to use grant funds to expand marketing of their program and support their staff of women who have sacrificed so much to keep teaching throughout the pandemic.

Slusheeland was a go-to spot for locals before the pandemic hit, forcing them to shut down one of their locations and reduce hours at another location in North Hollywood. The Verizon program gave them tools to enhance their social media marketing, which lead to an expansion of their customer base.

Digital Ready Diverse Entrepreneurs

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