Disasters can affect small businesses—and their ability to operate and reopen post-disaster—in many ways, ranging from customer communication, structural damage, and supply chain disruption, among others. To help small businesses better withstand fires, floods, storms, and other disasters, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation has launched a grant initiative that enables them to invest in mitigation efforts before disasters happen.
With support from Verizon, the Readiness for Resiliency (R4R) Mitigation Grant program awards grants of $5,000 each to help small businesses cover costs related to reducing disaster risk.
To be eligible for a grant, small business owners must complete the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s disaster preparedness checklist and take a Disaster Resilience course on Verizon’s Small Business Digital Ready platform. After receiving a grant, businesses can put those funds towards a disaster mitigation project, such as ensuring power continuity, improving communications redundancy, addressing flood and water intrusion, structural vulnerabilities, or critical equipment protection.
“Too often, small businesses are left to face disasters without a plan or the resources to recover,” said Rob Glenn, vice president of global resilience at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “Through our partnership with Verizon, we want to change that — because a more resilient small business community means a more resilient America."
The Impacts of Disaster Are Real, Yet Too Many Small Businesses Remain Underprepared
In a series of interviews with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Verizon, small businesses shared the real impact of disasters. “In my job, weather affects everything. When we have severe weather, we can't work and that costs us clients and money,” one business owner said.
Mitigation efforts, which aim to lessen the impacts of disasters and reduce loss of life and property, are an essential component of community resilience. By investing in hazard mitigation measures, businesses can better withstand future disasters, recover more quickly, and build stronger, safer communities.
For small businesses, preparing for natural disasters before they happen can mean the difference between staying open or closing permanently after an event occurs.
The Reality of Bouncing Back
The financial toll of a disaster can linger far longer than many small businesses expect. From our research, we know that the majority of small businesses report taking more than three months to return to normal operations after a disaster or major disruption. At the same time, about one-third say they could only sustain payroll for a matter of weeks during a temporary closure. That difference between how long recovery may actually take and how long businesses can afford can create significant financial strain for small businesses.
When speaking with small business owners on recovery, one business owner explained the ripple effect that even temporary closures could have on a business.
“The disruption caused significant operational downtime and a temporary loss of client communication channels. This led to project delays, a sharp decline in short-term productivity, and unexpected costs associated with restoring technical infrastructure and securing alternative remote working solutions.”
Small Businesses Are Confident, Yet Underprepared
Our research also shows a significant gap between small business confidence and true disaster preparedness levels.
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94%
of small businesses say they could recover from a disaster, yet only 31% have a plan for how to navigate a disruption should a disaster occur.
Many small businesses haven’t taken the steps they need to lessen the impact of disasters. Yet, there are several important and effective steps that are also straightforward and affordable, such as:
- Securing backup sources of connectivity and power
- Making copies of important documents and staff contact information
- Taking steps to safeguard inventory and equipment
- Developing a disaster budget, plan, and post-disaster communication strategy
- Finding additional vendors—and asking vendors if they have backup sourcing
- Establishing escape routes and meeting places and training employees on what to do when disasters happen
Simple steps like these and others can help small businesses resume operations faster after disasters.
“We know that mitigation works. Businesses that take proactive steps before a disaster are far more likely to reopen and recover quickly — and that matters not just for the business owner, but for every employee, customer, and neighbor who depends on them." - Rob Glenn, vice president, global resilience, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
How to Apply
The R4R Mitigation Grant program is designed to help small businesses reduce their disaster risk. To apply, eligible business owners need to complete a free Disaster Resilience course on Verizon’s Small Business Digital Ready platform.
Eligible businesses can apply for a $5,000 R4R Mitigation Grant through Nov. 15, 2026. Small businesses will have the opportunity to propose a disaster mitigation project within their grant application. Grant recipients will be notified by January 15, 2027, and can use the funds to complete their approved mitigation projects by April 30, 2027.
Additionally, businesses that apply for the R4R Mitigation Grant will be automatically registered for the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s R4R disaster recovery program, which offers an additional $5,000 grant if a qualifying disaster hits their region. This program is offered in partnership with Verizon, founding partner FedEx, and trusted corporate partners including Fiserv and MetLife.
For small businesses, every day that is lost after disaster carries significant costs. These grant investments are designed to reduce disaster impact and help grantees get up and running as soon as possible. For more information about R4R Mitigation Grants and eligibility, visit Verizon’s Small Business Digital Ready platform here.
