During the past 18 months, the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on thousands of U.S. small businesses and created unprecedented challenges for them as well as for their insurers.

Amid numerous restrictions and difficulties sustaining their operations, independently owned restaurants, retailers, service providers and scores of other Main Street businesses made substantial adjustments to survive. Meanwhile, insurers faced the daunting task of tracking and responding to the rapidly evolving needs and exposures of these customers.