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'They Were Like In Tears': How City Employees Reached Out To Thousands Of Struggling Phoenix Business Owners

When the pandemic hit, a lot of us found ourselves rocked out of our normal routines — working from home, out of work, or figuring out how to do our jobs differently. 

That scenario is just where Anita Ponce found herself in mid-March. 

She and a team of normally administrative employees at the city of Phoenix found themselves calling all 18,000 business owners operating within the city limits to find out how they could help. 

The city is offering resiliency grants to small and microbusinesses in Phoenix, as well as commercial city services bill relief grants.

Ponce and the team have now made more than 15,000 calls, and the stories she’s heard and questions she’s gotten have been memorable.

The Show spoke with her for more about her experience.

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Lauren Gilger, host of KJZZ's The Show, is an award-winning journalist whose work has impacted communities large and small, exposing injustices and giving a voice to the voiceless and marginalized.