AGP Executive Report

Supply-Chain Push: The SBA launched its first Critical Suppliers Prize Competition, offering up to $20M in non-dilutive funding to small firms that can scale domestic production in areas like advanced metals, materials, and energy components. Tariff Fallout (Small Biz Angle): Sen. Elizabeth Warren urged major retailers to pass along tariff refunds after the Supreme Court struck down the administration’s tariffs—highlighting how consumers paid while some companies are set to receive large rebates. Disaster Aid Update: FEMA denied Michigan’s appeal for Individual Assistance for March 6 tornado victims in Branch, Cass, and St. Joseph counties, leaving residents to rely on local and SBA loan options. Local Main Street Promotion: Plattsburgh’s “Passport” program is encouraging residents to shop small businesses with a chance to win $1,000. Manufacturing Training: Arizona Western College received a $5M SBA grant to expand training for small manufacturers in southwest Arizona. Regulatory Watch: A judge ordered Florida’s property tax amendment ballot language rewritten after finding it misleading to voters. Cybersecurity Policy: Bipartisan lawmakers proposed a bill that would require the GAO to map federal cybersecurity tools available to small businesses.

Local Business & Courts: Buc-ee’s sued Beaver’s Mini Mart over a similar cartoon beaver logo, escalating a trademark fight between a mega-chain and a mom-and-pop convenience store in Ohio. SMB Policy & Compliance: SBA reminded Michigan residents of an Aug. 31 deadline for low-interest disaster loans after spring storms, with eligible counties and loan terms posted online. Data Centers & Community Impact: Rep. Ro Khanna introduced a “Data Center Bill of Rights” resolution pushing for local authority to reject AI data centers near homes and to protect families from higher electricity bills and water strain. Hiring Watch: New Labor Department data showed U.S. employers cut 23,000 jobs in July and revised prior months downward, a sign the labor market may be weakening—important for small-business hiring plans. Food Prices & Antitrust: New York AG Letitia James announced a multistate settlement over egg price-fixing, including millions of eggs delivered to food banks. Local Zoning: Greendale, Wisconsin rejected a zoning change that would have let a small farm stand move into a county park, citing concerns about opening the door to more stands.

Disaster Lending: The SBA opened Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications for New York businesses and private nonprofits hit by May 13-14 high winds and hail, covering Seneca and Wayne counties plus several others; eligible applicants can seek up to $2 million with rates as low as 4% (businesses) and 3.625% (nonprofits), and the deadline is March 23, 2027. Workforce & Hiring: U.S. Rep. Beth Van Duyne’s North Texas Job Fair drew 670+ employers and 68,000 job openings at Globe Life Field, underscoring how local events can move hiring fast for small firms. Consumer Costs & Tariffs: Sen. Elizabeth Warren pressed major companies to pass along refunds from unconstitutional IEEPA tariffs after the Supreme Court ruling, arguing families and small businesses paid higher prices while relief lagged. Small-Business Tech & Insurance: A survey finds SMB owners increasingly use AI to research business insurance rates and trust the outputs, suggesting agents may shift toward more complex guidance. Policy Pressure on Food Retailers: Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers urged the Trump administration to rescind a SNAP retailer rule requiring more staple-food variety, warning it could strain small stores. Fraud Fallout: A Michigan company agreed to pay $1.8M to settle False Claims Act allegations tied to ineligible PPP loan certifications. AI Startup Funding: Naïve raised $28.5M to automate setting up and running businesses with AI agents, signaling more capital flowing to “do-it-for-me” tools.

SBA & Disaster Relief: The SBA is still taking applications for low-interest disaster loans after spring freeze impacts in Washington’s Whatcom and Skagit counties, with up to $2 million available and a March 31, 2027 deadline. SBA & Manufacturing Training: Arizona Western College won a $5 million SBA grant for its Manufacturing Business and Automation Accelerator, part of a $50 million push to expand hands-on training for small manufacturers. Tariffs & Small Business Cash Flow: A federal judge is weighing whether to expand class-action refunds tied to Trump tariffs, even as the administration has processed about 60% of refunds—an outcome that could reduce the burden on small importers. Fraud Crackdown: The White House launched Fraud.gov, reporting $229.9B in fraud uncovered since Jan. 2025, with the SBA leading the tally—plus $22.6B recovered. Local Development: Milwaukee County issued an RFP to redevelop the old Milwaukee Public Museum site, inviting proposals that include affordable and workforce housing. Workforce Pressure: A new NFIB survey finds hiring is up but qualified labor availability remains tight, pushing some small firms to cut hours or raise prices. Tech & Payments: Primax’s research highlights an SMB opportunity for community banks as most SMBs use multiple banking partners.

SBA Grants: The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering up to $10 million in grants to tribal colleges and other tribal-serving institutions to expand hands-on manufacturing workforce training, with up to five awards and no matching funds required. Disaster Relief: SBA disaster loan filing deadlines have been extended to Aug. 31 for people and businesses affected by a Dec. 17–18, 2026 winter storm in Montana’s Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes area, including business physical and economic injury loans. Small Retail Impact: A new USDA SNAP rule will require stores that accept benefits to stock more varieties across staple categories, raising costs for tight-margin small grocers like one in Milwaukee’s Sherman Park. Local Growth & Training: Lehigh Carbon Community College received a $1.43 million SBA grant under the Empower to Grow program to train workers for manufacturers in advanced manufacturing and engineering roles. Tech for SMBs: EZContact launched in the U.S. with an AI agent that answers WhatsApp messages and handles calls as a virtual receptionist, aimed at Hispanic small businesses. Business Finance: eBay reported Q2 growth and raised its outlook, pointing to momentum in specialized categories and seller services.

Manufacturing Boost: Lehigh Carbon Community College won an SBA $1.43M grant to expand training for local manufacturers, including advanced manufacturing and engineering skills. AI Customer Service: EZContact is rolling out an AI WhatsApp agent and voice “virtual receptionist” for U.S. Hispanic small businesses, aiming to handle messages and calls from one inbox. Disaster Loans: SBA opened low-interest disaster loans for Nebraska nonprofits hit by May storms (physical loan deadline Oct. 3; EIDL deadline May 3, 2027) and for Rota and other Northern Mariana Islands areas after Super Typhoon Bavi. Local Tax Fight: St. Louis County voters rejected a measure to extend sales tax to online out-of-state purchases, a move retailers said would help level the playing field. Cybersecurity Watch: Researchers flagged Chinese-made Zbtlink routers sold worldwide for a potential backdoor, raising concerns for small offices and home networks. Supply Chain Funding: SBA launched a $9M SCALE grant effort to help small businesses tackle production bottlenecks and logistics. Tariff Refunds: The Trump administration has paid out a milestone $100B in tariff refunds, with some businesses seeing money hit accounts while many consumers don’t.

Small Business Tech & Growth: 98 Buck Social rebranded as Engage365, positioning itself as a full-service marketing and tech partner for more than 20,000 businesses nationwide. Manufacturing Support: The SBA awarded $50M to 11 organizations under its Empower to Grow program to train and advise small manufacturers. Disaster Relief for SMBs: FEMA and the SBA will assess July storm damage in Minnesota’s Mower County, and Illinois’ Wayne County tornado victims can now apply for SBA disaster loans via a new outreach center. Hiring Pulse: ADP says private-sector job growth in July slowed to a “choppy” pace, with pay rising faster for job-changers—watching for tighter labor conditions. Cyber & Fraud Risk: A federal indictment alleges a phishing scheme that hit travel agencies, causing about $14M in losses—another reminder to harden small-business accounts. Trade Pressure: 25 states sued over Trump’s latest forced-labor tariffs, arguing they’re illegal and will raise costs for families and businesses. Local Business Impact: Wisconsin’s SNAP/FoodShare rule changes could force small stores to stock more varieties and perishables, raising operating costs. Regulatory Headwinds (THC): Texas banned several low-dose THC hemp products, while Minnesota’s low-dose THC industry got a brief reprieve via a Klobuchar-backed delay proposal. AI in the Real Economy: Purdue-linked PaveX won an NSF SBIR grant to automate road-condition assessments, aiming to help public works plan repairs sooner and cheaper. E-commerce Competition: Shopify’s upbeat forecast tied to AI tools sent shares up, signaling continued momentum for SMB-focused online selling.

Minimum Wage Watch: South Korea’s minimum wage for next year was set at 10,700 won/hour (about $7.50), with micro-enterprise groups warning the hike could squeeze small owners. Trademark Fight: Buc-ee’s sued a family-run Ohio convenience store over a similar cartoon beaver logo and branding, arguing trademark infringement—locals worry it sets a tough precedent for small businesses. Energy Costs & Data Centers: Sen. Martin Heinrich introduced the GRID Savings Act to require large electricity users like data centers to help pay for grid upgrades, aiming to stop families and small businesses from subsidizing demand growth. Housing Finance Push: JPMorganChase pledged $750B for housing over a decade, including support for homebuyers and hiring lending advisors—part of its broader “American Dream” push. Disaster Loans for Small Firms: SBA disaster assistance is available for businesses and nonprofits hit by April storms, with low-interest loan options and deadlines. Local Business Relief After Fire: L.A. County and City leaders moved to provide grants and mitigation funding for small businesses harmed by the Lineage warehouse fire fallout in Boyle Heights. Fraud Crackdown: DOJ announced a Southeast fraud enforcement push targeting SNAP, SBA loans, housing benefits, and tax fraud, with major losses alleged. Tariff Legal Battle: 25 Democratic-led states sued over Trump’s latest forced-labor tariffs, arguing they exceed legal authority—an issue that can quickly ripple into small business costs.

Tariff Fight: A coalition of 25 Democratic-led states sued the Trump administration in the U.S. Court of International Trade over new 10%–12.5% forced-labor tariffs, arguing the move is an illegal pretext to revive import taxes after the Supreme Court struck down earlier efforts—raising fresh cost pressure for small businesses that rely on global supply chains. Cost Squeeze: A new MyTSV report says “felt inflation” is far worse than headline CPI—rent up ~41% since 2019 and groceries up ~25%—pinching household budgets and local SMB demand. Small-Business Hiring: Paychex’s Small Business Employment Watch finds small-business job growth steady, but hours worked rising to the highest level in more than five years, suggesting owners are leaning on existing staff to meet demand. Fraud Fallout: A Texas attorney was sentenced to nine years for an $8.2M small-business loan fraud scheme, highlighting ongoing risks for entrepreneurs seeking financing. Local Main Street Wins: A Fresno community land trust helped an indie bookstore secure its first storefront, showing how local real-estate tools can keep small businesses rooted. Tech for SMBs: Thryv reported Q2 results and launched a “Growth Platform” aimed at local service businesses, with AI built in to turn leads into revenue.

Trade Fight: Twenty-five states led by Oregon and New York sued the Trump administration in the U.S. Court of International Trade to block new 10%–12.5% tariffs on imports from 60 trading partners, arguing the move is a “pretext” to replace earlier duties struck down by the Supreme Court and that it will raise costs for families and small businesses. Local Business Impact: Arizona joined the coalition, with its AG calling tariffs “a tax” on grocery bills and everyday operations for small firms. SMB Growth Snapshot: A Fiserv Small Business Index update says July sales rose 1.6% year over year, but foot traffic fell 1.6%, pointing to growth driven more by higher average tickets than stronger customer volume. Marketing for SMBs: Snapchat pitched its ad platform to small businesses as a good fit for Gen Z and Millennial reach, emphasizing self-serve budgets and visual-first creative. Defense Contracting: The Department of War suspended CMMC Phase II requirements, a potential relief for small defense contractors facing third-party assessment burdens. Disaster Relief: SBA disaster loan outreach centers and deadlines are active for storm and tornado survivors in places like Jefferson County, Wisconsin, with low-interest loans for eligible homeowners and businesses.

Housing & Lending: JPMorgan Chase says it will pour $750B through 2035 to build or preserve about 1M affordable homes and boost home lending, including more first-time buyers. Bank Regulation: The Trump administration’s push is reaching the Community Reinvestment Act, with OCC and FDIC proposing changes that could reshape how banks handle grants and donations to community groups. Small-Business Demand: Fiserv’s July index shows modest sales growth (+1.6% y/y) but weaker foot traffic (-1.6% y/y), with restaurants still under pressure. AI for SMBs: A House Small Business hearing highlights fast AI adoption, but warns that regulatory uncertainty and worker training gaps are holding back many owners. Women-Owned Scaling Gap: Wells Fargo’s report finds Black women-owned employers average about $650K revenue versus $1.7M for white women-owned firms, underscoring the cost of not scaling. Local Business Impact: Boston and MBTA will hold community meetings on the Blue Hill Avenue transit redesign, including input on parking, lighting, and support for small businesses. Funding for Growth: Wayy.ai raised a $2M pre-seed to launch an AI “sales co-founder” for solopreneurs and small businesses. Community & Resilience: Wildfires in eastern Washington have forced 60,000+ evacuations and destroyed hundreds of homes and small businesses.

Native Entrepreneurship Policy: The U.S. House passed the Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act, a small-business win that would permanently set up SBA’s Office of Native American Affairs, create an assistant administrator role, and expand tribal consultation, contracting support, training, and access to capital. Marketing Tech for SMBs: Constant Contact launched “Great Needs Great,” pitching AI as the next step for small-business marketing and aiming to help owners turn what they do best into customer reach. Tax Season Deadlines: A quick reminder of key 2025 filing dates for small business owners and self-employed filers, including estimated tax payments due Jan. 15 and the April 15 federal return deadline (with extensions available). Credit & Cash Pressure: New reporting highlights how small-business cash flow is under strain and that some federal credit rules can make borrowing harder to access. Trade Hits Local Business: ProPublica reports tariff pressure is hurting a northern Michigan border community, with residents seeing no relief while trade tensions drag on. Community Commerce: Farmers market week (Aug. 2-8) spotlights local vendors as a steady sales channel for small producers and crafters. Workforce & AI Training Gap: A new survey finds many workers use AI but far fewer receive employer training, raising the risk that SMBs and their teams fall behind.

Trade Pressure on Main Street: ProPublica reports northern Michigan border towns are getting squeezed as the U.S.-Canada tariff fight drags on, with local leaders saying they have little say and no clear relief in sight. Disaster Aid Deadlines: Wisconsin Emergency Management reminds storm and flood survivors (April 13–23) to apply for FEMA or SBA disaster help by Aug. 31. Hemp Rule Shock: A looming federal hemp ban could make most hemp products illegal by Nov. 12, pushing farmers and suppliers to lobby Congress for changes. AI Skills Gap for SMBs: The Conference Board finds many workers use generative AI, but only about a third get employer training—raising the risk that small businesses can’t scale beyond basic prompting. Local Business Friction: Corpus Christi residents are frustrated by a delayed Bass Pro Shops opening, turning a retail project into a public accountability fight. Ecommerce Reality Check: A guide highlights that unexpected costs drive cart abandonment (70%), underscoring how small retailers can lose sales even with strong traffic. Business Credit & Bankruptcy Signals: LendingTree analysis shows business bankruptcy filings up sharply year over year, a warning sign for cash-strapped SMBs.

Business Taxes Watch: A new roundup highlights which states have the lowest business tax rates, pointing to places like Wyoming, South Dakota, Nevada, Florida, and Texas as potential growth destinations. AI Data Center Costs: A Florida-backed bill would force large AI data centers to secure their own electricity and water, aiming to stop power-bill blowups from landing on ratepayers. Black Economic Mobility: The National Urban League warns the “American Dream” is slipping for Black Americans, citing policy shifts tied to the Trump administration. Local Business Pressure: Corpus Christi residents are up in arms after a Bass Pro Shops opening delay stretched nearly two years, with city leaders facing questions about what’s actually happening. Small-Business Credit & Risk: LendingTree analysis finds U.S. business bankruptcy filings rose 11.4% year over year, signaling pressure from higher borrowing costs and thinner margins. Disaster Relief Deadlines: Wisconsin storm survivors have until Aug. 31 to apply for FEMA and SBA disaster help. Fraud Crackdown: A Southlake man was sentenced to nine years for a scheme promising multi-million-dollar small-business loans in exchange for upfront cash. Grants vs. Customers: One op-ed argues some founders are chasing grants instead of building paying-customer engines, which can leave businesses fragile when funding dries up.

SBA & Disaster Relief: SBA reminded Mississippi businesses and private nonprofits that the Aug. 31 deadline is coming for low-interest disaster loans tied to May storms, including physical damage loans up to $2M and EIDLs for eligible counties. Fraud & Enforcement: A Southlake, Texas man was sentenced to nine years for a scheme promising multi-million-dollar small-business loans, then pocketing more than $8M for luxury purchases; a DeKalb County deputy clerk also pleaded guilty in a PPP theft case and received probation plus restitution. Local Business Grants: Kerrville’s chamber foundation approved $140K in small-business grants for flood recovery, with awards ranging from $2,500 to $25,000. Cost Pressure for SMBs: Illinois data-center growth is driving higher electric bills and sparking local backlash, with some jurisdictions pausing new projects. AI for Small Business: OpenAI cut GPT-5.6 Luna API prices by 80%, signaling faster, cheaper AI adoption for businesses. Innovation Spotlight: Alabama’s Simparo Surgical earned its fourth U.S. patent, backed by Innovate Alabama, supporting faster thumb CMC reconstruction. Workforce/Policy: CMS wrapped up Medicare Part D premium stabilization and issued FY 2027 Part A rules, a reminder that healthcare compliance remains a major SMB concern.

Disaster Loans Deadline: The SBA is urging eligible Mississippi businesses, nonprofits, homeowners and renters to apply for low-interest disaster loans by Aug. 31 for May 6–7 storms, tornadoes and flooding, with EIDLs available in several adjacent counties. Fraud Crackdown: A Southlake, Texas man was sentenced to nine years for a wire-fraud scheme that targeted small businesses with promises of multi-million-dollar loans, then used the money for luxury purchases. Access to Capital Spotlight: Midland States Bank won the 2025 Illinois SBA 504 Third-Party Lender of the Year award, highlighting its role in long-term financing for real estate and equipment. Wage Pressure for Employers: California announced its minimum wage will rise to $17.40 in 2027, with a higher exempt threshold—another cost shift for small employers. Cash Flow Watch: Xero reports small-business sales are improving, but cash flow remains tight as late payments improve while overall payment timing still drags. Retail Competition & AI Search: A Columbia Law study says Amazon and Walmart’s AI shopping tools may suppress “Made in USA” results and mis-handle country-of-origin claims—raising new compliance and consumer-trust questions for sellers. Local Business Resilience: In San Francisco’s Bayview, residents say a new independent pharmacy could help restore services after long retail losses.