Post-Pandemic Business Strategies for California Small Firms, 2020–2025

This working paper examines the role of COVID-19 recovery grant programs in shaping employment recovery across California counties between 2020 and 2025. Using publicly available administrative and labor market data, the study develops a county-level panel framework to evaluate the relationship between grant funding intensity and post-pandemic employment outcomes. The empirical strategy employs fixed-effects regression models to isolate policy effects while controlling for structural and pre-pandemic economic conditions. This working paper outlines the research design, data sources, and econometric framework underlying the project. Expanded empirical results and replication materials are under preparation for peer-reviewed journal submission.