AGP Executive Report

Disaster Relief for SMBs: New Richland’s flash flooding response is getting a dedicated New Richland Disaster Response Fund, set up by local foundations to support community and business recovery and route donations through a single hub. Regional Economic Support: North Central Alabama Regional Council of Governments marked 60 years of work, highlighting planning and grant results that pulled nearly $14M into roads, water, sewer, parks, and community facilities from 2021-2025. Flood Recovery + Federal Help: U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Sen. Tina Smith are visiting New Richland to assess damage and push for FEMA and SBA involvement as officials estimate up to 10–12 total-loss homes. Local Safety That Hits Sales: Mosholu Avenue merchants say poor lighting and outages are cutting evening foot traffic, with business owners asking for clearer safety resources and faster fixes. SMB Growth Tools: Signage.com launched a free Storefront Readiness Check to help small shops spot visibility problems before holiday shopping. SME Training Push: Malaysia’s Perkasa Halal initiative aims to train 6,000 entrepreneurs by 2029, combining digital skills and mentoring to support formalization. Energy Costs Pressure: Eleuthera businesses and a hospital report major disruption from prolonged power outages, with higher generator costs and uncertainty about operating safely. Tax Relief Debate: LIAM is urging Malaysia’s Budget 2027 to exempt group employee insurance schemes from service tax to help employers—especially SMEs—offer coverage. Community Banking Moment: Manasquan Bank’s 13th Community Day and Days of Giving raised $10,000 for local nonprofits, reinforcing how banks can directly support small community needs.

SME Trade Access: ASEAN-China Centre is rolling out training across ASEAN to help SMEs use FTAs, customs procedures and cross-border e-commerce to sell into China. Local Business Pressure: Lake County, Florida small shops are bracing for lost sales as a long roundabout construction project on Old U.S. Highway 411 runs into 2027. Halal for Growth: Indonesia’s Creative Economy Ministry is strengthening the halal ecosystem—positioning halal certification as a brand-value and export unlock for small creative businesses. Policy for Local MSMEs: Malaysia’s MADANI government is finalising steps to protect local micro, small and medium enterprises from competition by foreign e-commerce platforms. Grants & Safety: Pima County, Arizona approved a $250,000 safety and beautification grant program offering up to $10,000 to small businesses. Disaster Recovery Support: The U.S. SBA will host a disaster recovery info meeting in Moberly, with low-interest loans for businesses and nonprofits affected by spring storms. AI Adoption Reality Check: New UK research finds Yorkshire and North East SMEs see AI as a growth driver, but most still struggle to scale beyond pilots due to security, data quality and change management. Community Resilience: A Dubai “Tomato Man” turned a supply collapse during the Iran war into a direct-to-consumer lifeline after customers shared his story online.

SME Policy & Trade: Malaysia’s entrepreneurship ministry says it has helped 3,000+ MSMEs get halal certification and is expanding digital marketing support through new partnerships. Local Entrepreneurship: Morogoro widows in Tanzania are preparing for a cross-border entrepreneurship conference in Dodoma, aiming for training, networking, and income support. Small-Business Costs & Access: U.S. healthcare workers (including a family doctor) are dropping coverage as premiums climb, highlighting how rising costs can hit even professionals. Agriculture Income Shift: CoBank reports dairy herds with higher butterfat and protein are earning bigger milk checks as demand tilts toward manufactured dairy. Market Pressure on Local Producers: Lodi winegrape growers met a federal SBA advocate to flag declining consumption, imports, and consolidation squeezing growers. Real Estate Ops: AppFolio and Column announced a partnership to connect property management workflows with banking and payments. AI for SMBs: Docker launched cloud sandboxes for secure AI agent execution, while a new report says 89% of small businesses using AI report positive impacts. Community & Resilience: A $10.3M housing impact grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York targets affordable homes across its region.

Local Business Support: Pierpont Community & Technical College is hosting two public Fall Harvest Farmers’ Markets (Sept. 23 in Fairmont and Sept. 29 in Clarksburg) to connect students and neighbors with local farmers, makers, and small vendors. Chamber Leadership: Solon Chamber President/CEO Marilyn McMillin says her Sept. 30 exit is “not retirement, it’s reinvention,” as the chamber prepares for new leadership ahead of its 100-year anniversary. Retail & Community Markets: Knutsford Market Hall will launch themed Saturday pop-ups starting Oct. 3, giving regional makers and independent traders a rotating platform after refurbishment. MSME Infrastructure Push: Nigeria’s Tinubu backed a $12m Abuja Centre for Entrepreneurship (ACE) to strengthen MSMEs via training, facilities, and enterprise support. Small Business Funding & Relief: Griffith City Council adopted a new Community Investment Policy that consolidates grants, event sponsorship, small business assistance, and rate subsidies into one clearer pathway. Workforce & AI Skills: Verizon is investing $70m in nationwide AI upskilling for jobseekers, displaced workers, and small businesses. Local Resilience: A Cedar Rapids bakery launched a GoFundMe to replace broken equipment after a food pantry effort helped families during SNAP disruptions. Energy Reliability: Kashmir traders say unscheduled power cuts are hurting shops and small businesses, calling for transparent, reliable schedules.

Local Business Boost: Pierpont Community & Technical College is hosting two public Fall Harvest Farmers’ Markets (Sept. 23 in Fairmont and Sept. 29 in Clarksburg) to connect students and neighbors with local farmers, makers, and small vendors. SMB Tech for Growth: askotter.ai launched AI agents that let small business owners manage SEO, ads, and website updates via text message, with performance updates sent back to owners. AI Skills Access: Verizon is funding a nationwide free AI training push with $70M, partnering with major tech firms and workforce groups to help job seekers and small businesses reskill. Digital Finance Inclusion: Mynt CEO Martha Sazon brought the Philippines’ digital financial inclusion story to the UN, citing growth in formal account ownership and ongoing gaps in access to credit. Policy & Supply Chains: Indonesia’s MSME ministry is designing programs to make medium firms the “bridge” linking micro and small businesses to supply chains, financing, and markets. Community & Commerce: Seattle’s Central Area Collaborative joined the “Pack the House” push to drive support for Black-owned restaurants, aiming to lift traffic and visibility. Housing Market Watch: New York State housing inventory rose again in August, with more homes for sale and higher median prices.

Leadership Change: Angi names Michael Steib CEO, signaling a push to tighten execution and lean into AI at the home-services marketplace. SMB Finance & Credit: India’s QRIS is turning small-business payments into a potential credit signal, but the big question is whether transaction data can make merchants “creditworthy” for lenders. Disaster Relief for Small Businesses: Maryland gets an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration for Anne Arundel County businesses hit by the Empire Towers structural emergency. Local Tax Relief: Newark weighs a homestead exemption or split tax rates that could cut bills for homeowners while shifting more cost pressure onto non-homestead properties. Home-Kitchen Food Rules: San Bernardino street vendors rally to get county buy-in for California’s MEHKO home-kitchen program, arguing it could help low-cost operators earn legally. Community Markets: Bahrain launches “Bahraini Hands” to expand market access for productive family businesses. Local Growth via Events: Iowa’s Choose Iowa Fall Crawl returns with 125 farm and small-business stops, using a phone-friendly passport to drive visits. Business Visibility & Media: SPEAK MPLS highlights Emmy recognition and youth film showcases, showing how community media can directly support local SMBs.

Local Business Branding: Frameworks Creative is offering brand refresh mini sessions in Rochester, helping new small businesses and nonprofits—especially minority and women-owned—build a clear visual identity. Community Small Business Support: Thread and Toast reopened in a bigger Overton location with an expanded gluten-free menu, more crafts, and stronger local sourcing after a lease setback. Cyber Talent Pipeline: SANS Institute and RBC launched the SANS Cyber Quest CTF, a free 72-hour virtual competition aimed at giving early-career cybersecurity workers hands-on practice. State Contracting & Growth: Connecticut Sports Group won $8.1M in state funding to renovate Dodd Stadium, turning a seasonal venue into a year-round events and sports hub. Local Economy via Events: Iowa’s Choose Iowa Fall Crawl invites residents to visit about 125 farm and small business stops Oct. 9-10, tying tourism directly to local sales. SME Tech & Finance: Bank Rakyat is exploring digital and AI cooperation with Alibaba Cloud and Lenovo, with potential spillover benefits for MSMEs and local entrepreneurs. Business Costs & Survival: Oso Sonoma and Parkside Wine Bar in Sonoma are closing Sept. 26, citing upgrade costs and economics that “didn’t make sense.”

Local Currency Boost: Incheon e-eum cashback is back after a budget pause, and weekend spending jumped 513% as the city restarted rewards ahead of Chuseok. Small-Business Relief: Busan will hand out 200,000 won energy vouchers to eligible small business owners via the Dongbaekjeon app to offset fuel and electricity costs. AI for SMBs: New Zealand extended its AI Advisory Pilot to June 30, 2027, adding 120 more small businesses to get expert guidance and up to NZ$15,000 co-funding. Employee Advocacy Software: OnBrand is ranked best overall for employee-led brand ambassadors using identity, voice, and video under brand guidelines. Local Government Tech: Seattle’s former council president launched OpenCityHall.ai to summarize city records and meetings for easier public oversight. City Contract Access: Tucson is considering a one-year pilot with $345,000 in grants and “capital projects liaisons” to help small businesses hit by road construction disruptions. Energy & Climate Pressure: A climate resilience push warns disasters are reshaping business risk, urging owners to cut disruption and stay open.

Affordability Push (Indiana): An Indy Politics column argues Indiana’s growth is tied to keeping it affordable to start and run a business, pointing to income tax and property tax relief that also targets small businesses. Workforce & Local Services (Washington): Comprehensive Healthcare funds a new faculty role at Central Washington University to expand its mental health counseling pipeline—aimed at easing rural workforce shortages. Energy Efficiency for Small Operators (Washington): WSU Energy Program and KW Energy use a $250,000 grant to deliver no-cost duct sealing for income-qualified rural homeowners, with plans to scale to 110 homes and track utility savings. AI Skills for Founders (Canada): TD backs Tech Spark’s “AI Lit for Entrepreneurs” with a $1M donation to train 2,000 underrepresented founders over eight weeks. GovTech Procurement Access (US): Glass launches an AI-powered “G-Commerce Supplier Experience” to help small businesses sell to government buyers through a single marketplace profile. Small Business Relief (Delaware): Delaware’s Office of Small Business Access is progressing on cutting red tape, including cottage food and food truck regulatory reviews and a joint inspection pilot. Local Commerce Boost (California): Fresno’s Fiestas Patrias draws crowds and more foot traffic for downtown vendors and long-running storefronts. Franchise Growth Spotlight (Florida): ANY LAB TEST NOW names Jacksonville owner Randi Beesing 2026 Franchisee of the Year, highlighting entrepreneurship and community impact. Community Markets (Massachusetts): Love Live Local’s Love Local Fest returns Sept. 27 with nearly 100 local makers, food vendors, and live music.

ASEAN–US Trade Push for MSMEs: ASEAN members agreed to provisionally apply an upgraded trade protocol to boost intra-regional goods flows, with ministers saying it will help micro, small and medium enterprises through smoother movement and more predictable rules. Cross-Border Payments for Growing Teams: Convera and JustLogin partnered to embed multi-currency cross-border payroll and payments into HR workflows for companies hiring across Singapore and Southeast Asia, aiming to cut operational friction as teams scale. Local Food Access Funding: Seattle Mayor Katie B. Wilson announced $1.7M in new support for neighborhood grocery stores, including a retail study, technical help for local grocers, and funds for storefront security upgrades. Hospitality Under Pressure: New research warns pubs and hospitality are getting squeezed by rising electricity, labor, insurance and wholesale costs, with small, low-margin operators hit hardest. Small Business Hit by Crash: A Greenwood taco truck owners’ group is seeking answers after a hit-and-run caused about $7,000 in damages and total food loss. Community Markets as Growth Engine: San Diego’s Adams Avenue Street Fair drew hundreds of vendors and shoppers, showing how local events can drive new customers for small brands. Night Market Spending Boost: Busan’s Starbada night market returns with expanded programming and a push to route more visitor spending to local merchants. Workforce Readiness for AI: Hawaii leaders are convening for a “Future of Work 2027” conference focused on preparing island employers and workers for AI-driven change. Fuel Cost Relief Debate: Australia’s Fuel Price Shield proposal would automatically cut fuel excise when Brent tops $100, targeting relief for households and small businesses reliant on transport.

Small-Business Security: A San Francisco running boutique in Noe Valley was hit for the fourth time in two years, with burglars making off with thousands in shoes and clothing in minutes. Local Commerce Boost: Lake Street’s Taco Tour turned a Saturday into a community shopping push, with taquerias, games, and a 5K drawing people back after last winter’s Operation Metro Surge. Data Center Backlash: Florida’s data-center expansion is back in the spotlight as a gubernatorial candidate cites noise, health impacts, and falling home values—fueling a fresh fight over who benefits. Trade Rules for SMEs: Bangladesh’s freight forwarders group BAFFA urged the tax authority to limit fully foreign-owned firms, arguing local know-how and SME participation should be protected. Women-Owned Growth: Indiana Farm Bureau handed out $1,000 grants to women-led ag small businesses for training, tech upgrades, and equipment. Digital Economy Policy: ASEAN is moving toward regional AI and digital-economy rules, with micro, small and medium enterprises expected to gain from more predictable cross-border selling. Community Fundraising: In Harrisburg, Ark., a cheer-led “traveling throne” toilet fundraiser is spreading across lawns and storefronts to raise money for homecoming.

Export Boost for SMBs: Guam’s Guam STEP program is now accepting applications, offering export training, financial help for first-time exporting, and support like website translation and e-commerce access for eligible small businesses. Local Rent Relief Push: New Zealand’s Green Party proposes letting market rent reviews lower rents (not just raise them) and giving councils power to auction long-empty shop leases—aimed at helping small retailers survive high commercial rents. Grassroots Funding in Delta: Nigeria’s Delta State says Governor Oborevwori’s reforms will empower 200 people per ward and inject about N5bn into the grassroots economy, targeting low-income operators and nano businesses. SMB Solar Power Plan: Ondo State’s Lucky Light Initiative will provide reliable solar electricity to 1,000 small businesses across 18 local government areas, framed as an entrepreneurship support move. Community Business Spotlight: Long Beach is backing a feasibility study for an African American Cultural District, with stakeholder interviews and market analysis that could shape future local tourism and creative-economy opportunities. Cybersecurity Warning: Check Point disclosed a critical flaw in Security Management and Log Servers—urging immediate patching to protect SMBs that rely on managed security systems.

Data-center push meets local backlash: West Virginia community groups say state certification of “high-impact” data centers moved without notice, arguing House Bill 2014 stripped local control and left residents scrambling. Disaster readiness for small businesses: Delaware partners with chambers and emergency officials to train owners on business continuity plans after warnings and incidents showed many firms lack plans—and many won’t reopen after disruptions. Digital payments expansion: The IFC launched a $700M risk-sharing push to help banks and fintechs roll out digital payments for consumers and small businesses in emerging markets. Local buying goes national: Malaysia’s “buy local products” drive is now a national priority, with a cabinet committee set to tackle challenges for small businesses, including online competition. ASEAN MSME integration: ASEAN Economic Ministers meetings in Manila include a forum aimed at pulling MSMEs into regional and global value chains. Small-business cyber warning: A Hilltop Bank incident left customers and local businesses offline, underscoring how quickly cyber disruptions can hit payroll and payments. Local commerce wins: A UK village pub’s community-first model earned major national recognition, highlighting how small venues can become economic and social hubs. New restaurant openings: Abanico Coffee Roasters expands to a second San Francisco location, while Favorita opens in Newlyn, adding more neighborhood dining options.

Local Business Resilience: A Spokane HR worker’s side hustle—laundry pickup and folding—has grown into a real small business, showing how flexible gig work can become steady income. Retail Crime: A San Francisco running store was hit for the fourth time in under two years, with burglars stealing thousands in shoes and clothing—another reminder that small retailers are high-value targets. Community Mentorship: BEAM (Business Empowerment and Mentorship) is offering free, confidential guidance to local entrepreneurs, pairing them with experienced operators to help with strategy and day-to-day problems. Cost Pressure on Restaurants: Rising beef prices are forcing an Oklahoma burger shop to raise menu prices about 10%, highlighting how commodity swings hit small margins fast. Local Support & Grants: Rockland County businesses affected by CHPE construction can apply for the Good Neighbor Fund Grant Program, with a Oct. 30 deadline. Policy Watch (AI): UK research finds only 31% of small business owners are using AI, with sustainability concerns about energy use holding others back. Food Security: Maui County codified its Food and Nutrition Security Plan into law to strengthen local food systems long term.

Tax Relief With Training Wheels: Philippines’ BIR launched MS-TAMP in Makati to mentor micro and small taxpayers, aiming for voluntary compliance instead of immediate penalties. SME Market Access: Malaysia’s SMEs are urged to tailor products, packaging, and marketing to China’s gift-giving and health-conscious buyers. Local Business Boosts: Bubi’s District Business Expo is helping small miners, farmers, and entrepreneurs find customers and partners while pushing locally produced goods. Spend Management for SMEs: Mastercard and HyperPay rolled out HyperSpend in Saudi Arabia, letting SMEs issue prepaid cards with real-time controls and automated approvals. Disaster-Driven Tourism Pressure: After Hurricane Lowell, Kauai small businesses say tourists were asked to pause visits—now demand is down and layoffs are rising. Cyber Risk for Small Firms: AI security researchers say they used Claude to hack ChatGPT access, highlighting how fast AI tools can be targeted. Community Grants: Meta opened applications for its Future is for Everyone Fund, including support for economic vitality and small businesses. Data Center Rules Hit the Ground: Virginia unveiled a Data Center Accountability Framework with tougher transparency and local approval requirements.

SME Export Push: Malaysia’s MIHAS 2026 is backing women exporters through the Women in Export (WiEX) initiative, with MATRADE saying it will add networking and financing for micro, small and medium firms. Farmer Support: Sri Lanka’s LOLC Finance rolled out “Govi Diri Danamuthu,” bringing farmers together in Monaragala for practical training on productivity, pests, water use and cash flow. Green Jobs & Industry: Kenya marked World Bamboo Day with a push to turn bamboo into a strategic resource for restoration, climate action and livelihoods, alongside a national bamboo expo. Disaster Relief for Local Business: Kauai small businesses are urging tourists to return after Hurricane Lowell, warning that delays are already forcing layoffs and hurting demand. SME Credit Access: Togo plans an SME financing portal by end-2026 to help small firms submit better loan applications directly to banks and microfinance lenders. Tourism & Trade: The China-ASEAN Expo opened in Nanning, with officials framing upgrades to trade rules as a boost for business and investment, including SMEs. Local Jobs via Big Tourism: South Africa’s first Club Med resort opened in KZN, with Ramaphosa citing jobs and supplier opportunities for local enterprises. Tech for Small Firms: Standard Bank says banks must do more than fund SMEs—using their infrastructure and expertise to help owners make smarter expansion decisions. Credit for Storm-Hit Businesses: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore asked the U.S. SBA for disaster loans for Anne Arundel County businesses affected by the Empire Towers emergency.