SBA Spotlight: A Calexico chicken restaurant, Pollos Mis Pollos, just won the SBA’s Regional Rural Business of the Year—an “impossible without help” story that started with zero experience and years of SBDC-backed grind. Disaster Relief: The SBA also opened low-interest disaster loans for drought-hit areas across Nebraska, plus parts of Colorado, Kansas, South Dakota, and Wyoming—covering small businesses and private nonprofits. Small-Business Growth: In Irrigon, Oregon, a federally funded business incubator is moving forward despite a reported $600k–$700k gap for interior work and a commercial kitchen. New Opportunities: The SBA launched the Freedom 250 Patriot Pitch Competition, offering a $1M prize pool for qualifying small businesses that have used SBA capital products. Big-Company Accountability: Regions Bank agreed to pay $4.9M to settle claims tied to improper PPP loan forgiveness. Local Cost Pressure: North Carolina homeowners face a 7.5% average insurance jump starting June 1. Hiring Watch: Teen summer hiring is forecast to hit a 78-year low, with fewer jobs planned in leisure and entertainment.