Supporting our community in the time of COVID-19

The ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic has created significant challenges for all parts of society and at every level of the global economy. Through it all, Edson E+I remains committed to supporting entrepreneurs and innovators as they work to develop products and services that create social impact and value.

Edson E+I has always been about helping entrepreneurs to succeed and adapt to change, and we recognize that now is no time to slow down. In core initiatives like the youth entrepreneurship program, we continue to engage students and teachers at middle schools across the country to inspire an entrepreneurial mindset even under the most trying circumstances. The Edson E+I and Verizon Innovative Learning program’s Immersive Media Curriculum, which previously required in-class participation and high-end equipment like 360 cameras and virtual reality headsets, has moved to fully remote settings through the use of software innovations like ThingLink, Metaverse and CoSpaces Edu. The Digital Products Innovation (DPI) curriculum will soon follow as we replace 3D printing with TinkerCad and Inkscape, using filesharing and streaming video for class demonstrations that require the 3D printer. Finally, we’ve increased virtual and peer-to-peer support throughout the program to facilitate better learning and stay focused on high-quality interactions and individual progress.

Edson E+I is leveraging a broad network of partnerships to actively support businesses most impacted by the pandemic. One example is Peoria Forward — a two-year-old initiative led by Edson E+I and the City of Peoria designed to cultivate an entrepreneurial ecosystem and accelerate growth in the West Valley community.

At the start of the pandemic, Peoria Forward mobilized a task force of community organizations and city departments working together to identify and address the specific needs of local business owners. Through this effort, volunteers and task force members distributed more than 200 banners to restaurants wanting to advertise that they are “open during COVID-19” with delivery and pickup options available.

Peoria Forward continues to work closely with affected businesses and is now assisting with educational outreach on how to attract business through social media platforms, such as Facebook live, and how to file loan applications. Since August, Peoria Forward has hosted a series of web-based discussions on a variety of topics related to COVID-19 recovery and rebuilding.

These are only a few examples of the work that Edson E+I is doing alongside our partners. Looking forward to 2021, we continue to look for ways to increase our impact and ability to serve our local business communities.