The Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship (CWE) at Chatham University has partnered with the Center for Regional Agriculture and Food Transformation (CRAFT) for a new program that empowers food business owners to grow and thrive in a challenging economy.

“Food businesses face enormous challenges during the pandemic, and the ripple effects of COVID–19 will be felt across the industry long after the pandemic is under control,” said Anne Flynn Schlicht, CWE director.

“Recovery & Growth for the Food Industry” provides free online business training that focuses on challenges native to the food, beverage and agricultural markets.

The program also offers one-on-one business counseling and technical assistance for food business owners.

A Pandemic Pivot speaker series will address the specific challenges of managing a food business during the COVID–19 pandemic.

The first Pandemic Pivot training, “Moving Forward in the Restaurant Industry,” will be available as a free online Zoom discussion from 11 a.m. to noon Wednesday.

Raji Sankar, co-CEO at restaurant development company Wholesome International, will share key business lessons in adaptability and creative problem-solving.

Pandemic Pivot speaker series will feature firsthand experience and advice on the various ways that food, farm, service and beverage entrepreneurs have survived, evolved and continue striving for growth during the pandemic.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the Hillman Family Foundation.

For more information about the program, visit www.chatham.edu/cwe/training/backtobusiness.