Small Businesses
Downtowns need a makeover. Resident, commercial engagement could help.
Cities are finding ways to attract residents and tourists back downtown, building small business support, community spirit and a local identity.
Nurturing Entrepreneurship Boosts Economic Growth
COMMENTARY | States should direct more money from incentives to small businesses and entrepreneurs and less to attracting large companies.
Bipartisan Senators Want Commodity Regulations For Cryptocurrency
A new bill would task the Commodity Futures Trading Commission with imposing more consumer protections and other oversight regulations on digital asset trading.
Looser Liquor Laws Boosted Restaurants — and Maybe Problem Drinking
“Covid brought about a long-delayed reckoning about how alcohol is regulated and controlled.”
Pandemic’s Impacts on How People Live and Work May Change City Centers for Decades
Barbershops, restaurants and other businesses that have long concentrated in traditional business districts may need to follow workers to suburbs or smaller cities to survive, new research shows.
How a Small City Pushed Ahead with its Downtown Revival, Despite the Pandemic
Lorain, Ohio Mayor Jack Bradley describes how he worked to keep momentum going during the past two years with a downtown “renaissance.”
Women-owned Businesses More Adversely Impacted By Pandemic
Covid-19 affected women-headed firms disproportionally mainly because stay-at-home orders and school and day care closures resulted in “unpaid” jobs at home, a new paper shows.
Surviving Small Restaurants Push Forward as Pandemic Ebbs
At least 10 states introduced or passed bills this session to help restaurants.
Pandemic Led to More Black-owned Businesses but Exacerbated Their Challenges
A new report says that state and local governments must commit to creating more opportunities for Black-run firms, including through the infrastructure act.
Entrepreneurship Provides Economic and Social Stability for Communities
The National League of Cities Monday said small firms generate two-thirds of all new jobs and outlined the challenges Black and Brown people face starting and growing a business.
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At-home Businesses Are Growing. Women and People of Color Benefit the Most
The pandemic has fueled the passage of new ordinances in cities and states allowing entrepreneurs to set up businesses from home — a boon for women and people of color who face systemic barriers.
Pandemic Sweetens Lure of Smaller Cities’ Relocation Incentives
Communities in 24 states are trying to attract new residents with incentives.
Top States for Businesses
Virginia ranks as the top state for businesses while Alaska ranks as the worst based on 10 categories, including the cost of doing business and a high-quality workforce, according to a recent report.
4 Things to Know About Local Government Fiscal Conditions
Despite fiscal challenges over the past 18 months, cities have demonstrated greater resilience than expected through the pandemic, according to a report.
Pandemic Prompts Officials to Relax Rules on Home Businesses
Americans filed more than 4.3 million new business applications in 2020.
Using Federal Relief Funds to Ensure Equitable Recovery for Small Businesses
Governments can leverage American Rescue Plan dollars to help local companies impacted by the pandemic, including those owned by women and minorities.
Gov. Greg Abbott Signs Bill to Punish Businesses that Require Proof of Covid-19 Vaccination
Abbott's signature means that businesses that require so-called vaccine passports can't get state contracts and could lose state licenses or operating permits.
The Government Is Here to Help Small Businesses — Unless They’re Cooperatives
The Small Business Administration’s rules prevent it from helping most employee- and consumer-owned cooperatives, even though Congress specifically asked it to. The result? Co-ops are largely cut out of the mainstream financial system.
SBA’s Navigator Program Offering Grants up to $5M for Governments
The Small Business Administration will provide a total of $100 million to eligible organizations, including state and local governments, to assist underserved businesses.
An Overlooked Economic Powerhouse for Small Cities
Small-scale manufacturers are well-positioned to compete in the digital economy, but also fill storefronts and contribute to a thriving downtown or business district.
