Planning, even imperfect planning, builds resilience.
“A business plan may be outdated tomorrow,” she says, “but thinking through scenarios creates calm.” She also urges entrepreneurs to think long- term from day one. “What is your exit plan?” she asks. “Even if you just opened your doors.” SBA’s broader ecosystem — Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, SCORE mentors, and Veterans Business Outreach Centers — exists to provide no-cost guidance. “When you’re a small business owner, you wear every hat,” Shimkat says. “Having someone in your corner matters.”
A National Commitment
Both leaders return to one central belief: small businesses are foundational to the American economy. “Resilience isn’t just on the shoulders of the business owner,” Shimkat says. “It’s on all of us.”
Then she frames it more broadly.
“That’s the American spirit,” she says. “That’s what we know we have within us. And when we rise, we rise together.” When businesses remain open, families stay employed.
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2026 DISASTERS & RESILIENT CITIES EXPO MIAMI EDITION
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