AGP Executive Report

Disaster Relief: The U.S. SBA opened low-interest disaster loans for Oregon businesses, nonprofits, and residents hit by late-2025 storms, covering repairs and even mitigation upgrades. Women-Led Growth: The Philippines’ DTI extended a six-year partnership with WomenBizPH to expand women’s access to finance, markets, digital tools, and policy support. Predatory Lending Crackdown: New York AG Letitia James sued Rapid Ruling and its founders, alleging a sham arbitration setup tied to merchant cash advance lenders that stacked outcomes against small businesses. Small-Business Pressure: Anchorage saw two prominent bar closures, blaming rising insurance, rent, and supplies—another reminder that inflation is still squeezing local operators. AI for SMBs: Pax8 launched Managed Intelligence solutions aimed at helping channel partners deliver real AI outcomes for SMB clients, not just resell tools. Local Hospitality Expansion: Neighbors & Friends Kitchen opened in South Pasadena, adding a Black woman-owned full-service restaurant concept plus recurring community programming. SME Support Programs: Cambodia launched an entrepreneurship support cluster for students, startups, smallholder farmers, and MSMEs in Kampong Thom. Energy Cost Warning: A new report argues behind-the-meter gas power for data centers could push up U.S. energy bills, hitting small businesses too.

SME Capital & Growth: The US International Development Finance Corporation is backing a new $1.5b Indo-Pacific energy platform, aiming to expand grid-stability and energy security for Southeast Asia as industry and data centers grow. Local Business Survival: A Birmingham community bakery, Loaf, says it’s being priced out after a cooperative move fell apart, highlighting how housing and development decisions can directly shut down neighborhood enterprise. SME Finance in Action: In New Jersey, minority-owned firms get practical lift through community lenders and R&D voucher grants—examples include a clean-tech company using university lab access to cut R&D costs and launch new testing revenue. Payments for Trade: XTransfer and Societe Generale signed an MoU to streamline cross-border trade payments, targeting faster, more automatable flows for businesses. Digital Infrastructure: Digital Realty opened Malaysia operations to scale data center capacity, a signal for SMBs that need connectivity to compete. Entrepreneurship Ecosystems: Kenya is pitching digital nomads as a tourism growth engine, pushing longer stays that can feed local startups and services. Community Markets: Bremen Village Shops launched a shed-based downtown marketplace to give small businesses an affordable path to storefronts.

SME Finance & Growth: Nigeria’s Development Bank of Nigeria says it has crossed N1trn in MSME disbursements and plans a new five-year push to mobilise N1.3trn more debt and equity, with targets for women- and youth-led lending. SME Credit Access: Kenya’s youth credit market is shifting toward Sacco-led lending as traditional banks exclude borrowers with limited collateral, with lower rates and direct support for youth enterprises. Business Setup Simplified: Dubai launched “SME in a Box” to bundle licensing, banking, payments, telecoms and logistics into one faster onboarding journey, with partner incentives and rapid activation for some services. Payments for Small Firms: Visa expanded its Commercial Solutions Hub by adding an Accounts Receivable Manager to help issuers share virtual card details with suppliers and reduce adoption friction. AI Adoption Reality Check: Freshworks research finds mid-market firms are losing about 25% of AI budgets to “complexity tax,” with many stuck in pilots and slow paths to ROI. Local Entrepreneurship & Community: A Conshohocken bridal shop closed after 45 years as online competition squeezed margins; meanwhile, a goat-product creamery in Iowa and a tourism-management training cohort in Moxico show how small operators are diversifying and professionalizing. Policy & Cost Pressure: North Carolina advanced a ratepayer protection bill aimed at stopping data-center energy costs from being pushed onto other customers. Diaspora as Business Fuel: Ghana highlighted US$7.8bn in 2025 remittances as a major economic lifeline, alongside efforts to protect citizens abroad. Human Stories: A GoFundMe was launched for the family of Taco Sisters owner Jon Jenkins after his unexpected death, reflecting how local businesses become community anchors.

SME Survival & Security: A Northwest Portland vendor mall was hit by a burglary just weeks after opening, with thieves taking over $30,000 in merchandise and leaving small sellers scrambling as police report no arrests. AI & Hiring: Mark Cuban urged graduates to start job searches with small businesses, arguing AI will help smaller firms compete and keep creating roles. Local Business Growth: Crowns Guam opened a larger flagship store in Hagåtña and leaned on local vendors and community events to drive momentum. Policy & Taxes: Kenya’s Finance Bill 2026 is drawing fresh backlash from households and small businesses worried about higher taxes amid high living costs. Credit Crunch: Nigeria’s banks have raised capital, but private-sector credit remains too low—especially for SMEs—highlighting the financing gap that slows expansion and jobs. SME Support Programs: Nigeria’s Development Bank says it has allocated over N1 trillion to more than a million MSMEs, aiming to tackle high lending rates. EU Oversight: Cyprus and ESMA leaders pushed for stronger, more consistent EU supervision to protect investors while keeping room for innovation. Food Innovation Pipeline: Hawaiʻi Made Conference returns with a focus on turning local food ideas into market-ready products, linking producers to training, shared facilities, financing, and distribution.

SME Awards & Visibility: PNC and the Fort Wayne TinCaps named Copper Spoon and Three Rivers Electric as the 2026 “Going To Bat For Small Business” winners, each getting a $10,000+ marketing package to boost local reach. Local Business Climate: Fort Myers Beach’s post-Hurricane Ian recovery is hitting friction as critics say political and regulatory hurdles are making it harder for serious developers to invest. World Cup Demand for Services: Houston security firm Reliable Security Plus launched its “Sergeant Houston” campaign to sell expanded guard, executive protection, and crowd-management services to businesses and venues gearing up for FIFA World Cup crowds. SME Lending Expansion: Discovery Capital secured a UnionBank credit facility to grow working-capital loans for small businesses, especially outside major cities. Inclusive Finance (Armenia): Ameriabank and FMO signed a EUR 120M deal to expand MSME lending, with at least 25% earmarked for green projects and extra focus on women and young entrepreneurs. Digital Payments (South Sudan): DigiCash and Inkomoko partnered to let small businesses use mobile wallets for loans, payments, and transfers, backed by thousands of cash-withdrawal outlets. Community-Led Growth: Berks County entrepreneur April Crossley is redeveloping a home into co-living for seniors through Homes of Grace, aiming for lower-than-market rents with utilities included. Trade Resilience: A FedEx Small Business Trade Index finds U.S. small firms are adapting via more inventory, diversified suppliers, and more nearshoring/reshoring—plus tech support for the shift. Entrepreneurship Legacy: Joy Crichlow, a longtime force behind minority supplier contracts at Con Edison, died after helping scale supplier diversity spending from millions to hundreds of millions.

Skills & Jobs: Stratford College officially opened its new Heat Pump Training Centre after £1.1m Local Skills Improvement Fund support, aiming to upskill heating engineers, plumbers and electricians for low-carbon construction. Local Business Support: The UK’s Small Business Week got a boost from New Forest District Council, which says small firms are key to the £6.4bn local economy and is pushing an updated strategy on skills, enterprise and town-centre growth. SME Finance & Policy: The U.S. SBA announced an agency-wide reorganization to cut duplication and improve efficiency and accountability for small-business services. AI for SMBs: A WTX Small Business Summit workshop series in Texas kicks off with free sessions on using AI in day-to-day operations, with more on refinancing and credit repair. Community-Led Entrepreneurship: Cape Town’s Cruise Terminal is getting a Circular Maker Space backed by the Craft and Design Institute to help local designers commercialise products with tools, networks and support. Women in Business: Lancashire’s Enterprise Vision Awards (EVAs) named 29 women finalists across sectors from hospitality to engineering and creative industries.

SMB Banking & Cash Flow: Fifth Third rolled out “Fifth Third for Business,” a digital-first small-business banking experience aimed at faster payments, smoother cash management, and quicker access to capital for 240,000+ customers. Retail Growth for Local Makers: New Orleans’ Morial Convention Center is gearing up for its WIN Pitch Smart – Retail Ready competition (June 11), with 40+ applicants chasing shelf placement at Dutch’s Corner, serving nearly 800,000 visitors a year. Community Business Support: New Hampshire Community Loan Fund awarded $100,000 in “accelerator” grants to 29 small businesses, pairing money with technical help for farm/food and other local operators. Hiring Signals: A strong May jobs report (172,000 jobs added; unemployment 4.3%) lines up with rising small-business creation and hiring momentum. Policy & Access to Finance: Guyana’s National Assembly is set to reconvene with a package including a Guyana Development Bank Bill to expand affordable, long-term SME lending. Local Business Spotlight: East Williamsburg won $20M in grants to upgrade corridors, public spaces, workforce programs, and housing—aimed at supporting small business owners.

Colorado Business Structure: Gov. Jared Polis signed the Colorado Artist Company Act, creating a new LLC-style structure for artists and creative professionals to keep majority ownership and control of their work. SMB Funding & Pitching: The SBA’s Freedom 250 Patriot Pitch Competition is open, offering a $1 million growth prize pool for durable, SBA-backed businesses. Startup Setup Speed: Dubai launched “SME in a Box,” a single platform to access licensing, banking, payments, logistics, and telecom services via trusted partners—aimed at cutting setup delays and fees. Export Support for SMEs: Sri Lanka’s export agencies ran seminars on export procedures, costing, pricing, and financing for SME exporters, pushing practical pathways into international markets. Local Business Ecosystems: Hull opened a new enterprise centre for youth entrepreneurship, backed by £1.5m in levelling-up funding, to help young founders build skills and confidence. SME Risk & Cash Flow: A guide highlights why home-based entrepreneurs often need personal financing options when traditional business loans lag behind fast growth. Community & Tourism Boost: Hawaii dive operators are using a major West Coast scuba show to attract higher-spending visitors and drive repeat trips.

SME Finance & Banking: National Bank of Kuwait launched the “Daily Call” Account for SMEs, offering daily interest, no minimum balance, multi-currency savings, and a cash reward up to KD 1,500 for early balances. AI Policy & Workforce: Canada’s new national AI strategy drew fast reactions from PM Mark Carney, business and labour leaders, and opposition politicians—focused on safety, privacy, sovereignty, and whether workers are truly centered. Cybersecurity for Small Firms: A Forbes CIO report warns many companies aren’t proactively defending against VPN and proxy-based fraud that can expose sensitive data—urging stronger access controls. Startup Ecosystem & Events: Maryland’s TEDCO is bringing back the Entrepreneur Expo in October, while New North welcomed Juan Corpus back as VP of Strategic Initiatives to push cluster development and investor strategy. SME Launch Support: Dubai rolled out “SME in a Box,” a one-stop platform to cut setup time and costs for licensing, banking, payments, logistics, and telecoms. Local Business Growth: A community café and bakery is set to open in Dufferin Oaks, partnering with a nonprofit social enterprise to support people with disabilities. Energy Investment: Virginia’s MSolar will invest $23.8M in Shenandoah County to create 150 jobs building solar modules.

SME Growth & Support: Ireland’s Tánaiste published its 2025 SME Credit Demand Survey, showing 16% of SMEs applied for bank finance (down from 20% in 2024) while 76% reported profit and three in ten plan to invest in AI over the next three years. Local Business Boosts: Project 100 opened a new Oakland office and rolled out simpler marketing services aimed at non-tech local businesses. Payments Cost Pressure: New Zealand’s Commerce Commission proposed capping Mastercard/Visa commercial credit card interchange fees, targeting $40m in annual savings for merchants. Deal Readiness for SMEs: match.asia launched Exit HealthCheck, a free service to help SMEs avoid common M&A deal killers like valuation gaps and weak due-diligence prep. Workforce & Policy: Boston bars are pushing back on a bill to move last call to 3 a.m. for World Cup summer watch parties, arguing staffing and late-night operations will get harder. Energy for Business: Suzlon rebranded and is pivoting toward integrated renewable energy services for data centers, betting on power demand growth. Tech & Sovereignty: A new look at India’s “sovereign AI” push warns that dependence on foreign chips, cloud, and models could limit control for middle-power countries.

Defense Cloud Procurement: DISA is reshaping its JWCC Next effort into the JWCC Unified Cloud Marketplace, with a new three-tier model that explicitly opens the door for innovative tech and small businesses that meet DoD security rules. AI for SMBs: Meta launched a Business Agent at Conversations in London, aiming to automate tasks like booking meetings and routing sales questions across WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram—built for businesses of all sizes. SMB Growth & Franchising: Fork to Fit Kitchen signed its first multi-unit franchise deal for four San Antonio locations, signaling faster national expansion for a health-focused fast-casual concept. Local Business Momentum: Fishguard (UK) is celebrating 25 new high-street start-ups in 18 months, a rare bright spot for small-town retail. Community + Skills: Africa Skills Hub rebranded to ASH Africa as it marks 10 years of enterprise and SME support, targeting 500,000 youth, women, and SMEs annually by 2030. State Economy Watch: Massachusetts topped WalletHub’s state economy ranking, citing tech workforce strength and research-driven innovation.

SME Funding Crunch: Kenya’s MSMEs need about Sh4tn in financing, but banks supply only Sh700bn—leaving a Sh3.3tn gap and pushing calls for faster, less-collateral-heavy lending. Local Business Support: Evansville is hosting “Doing Business with the City of Evansville” to help small-to-medium firms win contracts and navigate procurement. Entrepreneurship Programs: Loudoun’s Launch Loudoun runs free June workshops on finding retail space, securing funding, and women-focused networking. Regulatory Pressure on Startups: Stellenbosch suspended GoNow scooters after minors were injured; the municipality says e-scooters are illegal on roads and sidewalks. Payments & Accounting Growth: Stub’s accounting software is partnering with Yoco to reach 200,000 merchants, aiming to scale beyond spreadsheet-style bookkeeping. Late Payment Risk: Lancashire’s KeyPlus claims unpaid invoices totaling £465k from the county council, escalating a late-payment dispute to the Small Business Commissioner. Tourism Demand: Aruba reported stay-over arrivals up 9.6% through April, a direct tailwind for local operators.

Affordable Housing & Transit: Affirmed Housing and VTA broke ground on RISE, a 195-unit affordable project next to Berryessa/North San José BART, aiming to connect low-income residents and people exiting homelessness to jobs and services. SME Finance: ONE Bank PLC signed deals with Bangladesh Bank for Tk 4,500 crore in refinancing to support cottage and micro, small and medium enterprises at a 7% concessional rate. SME Export Support: Dubai’s DWTC Free Zone teamed with DHL Express to plug SMEs into DHL’s GoTrade training for export-ready growth. Digital Economy Push: The Philippines’ Digital Economy Framework Agreement is set to boost investment and make digital transformation more inclusive, with the sector already a major share of jobs and GDP. Local Business Growth Tools: Summit County launched SizeUp to give small businesses customized market research and business intelligence. Small Business Resilience & Risk: A Peru report highlights how rising extortion and violence are directly targeting small businesses, forcing many owners to pay to keep operating. Brand & Retail Momentum: VT Creemee Passport is turning cone-hunting into a small-business fundraiser, with hundreds of participating shops and thousands of orders already. Workforce & Leadership: Virginia Tech’s board advanced Hokie Ventures, a nonprofit entity meant to grow athletic revenue, with a $15.2 million seed loan.

SME Disaster Relief: The U.S. SBA says Minnesota businesses and private nonprofits still have until June 30 to apply for low-interest disaster loans after 2025 storms and flooding, with Economic Injury Disaster Loans available for working capital losses. Local Workforce & Family Support: Greater Arvada Chamber of Commerce won a $20,000 grant to study and tackle childcare access gaps in Jefferson County—aimed at reducing friction for employers and working families. Tech Leadership for Merchants: Yuno appointed Edwin Poot as CTO to scale its fintech infrastructure for merchants worldwide, signaling continued investment in payments and engineering capacity. Fintech Transition in Africa: South Africa’s Yoco handed leadership to Carsten Höltkemeyer as it charts its next growth phase after founder Katlego Maphai stepped down. AI vs Small Business Creativity: A UK creator is pushing back on AI-generated “slop,” warning that tools that replicate others’ ideas can squeeze human artists and small custom businesses. Small Business Under Pressure: A Birmingham chef says his Michelin-star restaurant “hadn’t made money” for over a year and warns more closures could follow without government support. Community Commerce: A Herefordshire expo drew 500+ attendees and 80+ exhibitors with free clinics on IP, marketing, Making Tax Digital, and AI basics for SMEs. Payments Inclusion Push: Nigeria’s central bank launched Payments System Vision 2028 targeting 95% financial inclusion and faster digital transactions, with fraud reduction as a core goal. Entrepreneurship Pitch Prizes: SBA’s Patriot Pitch Competition is open with $1M in total prizes for U.S. small businesses. Local Business Ecosystems: Southwest Virginia’s regional destination initiative will map tourism and heritage opportunities to support local businesses across 19 counties and four cities.

Insurance & Risk Markets: Mangrove Property Insurance Company sponsored its inaugural catastrophe bond, Buttonwood Re Ltd. 2026-1, securing $111M in fully collateralized reinsurance protection for Florida named-storm risk. SME Finance: BRAC Bank signed Bangladesh Bank agreements to expand low-cost financing for cottage, micro, small and medium enterprises, including cluster lending at concessional rates starting around 7%. AI Skills for Local Business: San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce teamed with Meta Blueprint for free “Future Proof Your Business” training on AI basics, with translation and lunch. Startup Capital & Pitching: The U.S. SBA launched the Freedom 250 Patriot Pitch Competition, a $1M prize pool aimed at spotlighting and backing entrepreneurs. Coworking Expansion: Priddy Spaces acquired Venture X Palm Beach Gardens, adding 17,425 sq ft of high-occupancy workspace to its Florida/Southeast footprint. Business Support Services: 2Morrow Bookkeeping opened new client intake for flat-rate monthly bookkeeping, payroll, tax prep and fractional CFO support in Phoenix. Policy & Procurement: A House Small Business Committee bill would require agencies to follow a “rule of two,” setting aside certain contracts for small businesses when two offers are reasonably expected. Manufacturing Jobs: Hikma Pharmaceuticals announced a $267M Ohio expansion creating 350 new jobs across Columbus and Bedford.

SME Energy Access: Kelantan’s solar potential is high, but household and SME uptake stays slow because domestic systems still cost RM15,000–RM30,000 upfront; researchers point to solar leasing as a way to cut the barrier. AI for Small Business Sales: SellQuic launches Ghana’s AI customer assistant that answers vendor inquiries instantly across WhatsApp, Instagram and its website—aimed at helping online sellers keep up with message volume. SME Banking & Succession: Woori Bank is backing “productive corporate succession” for aging Korean SMEs, offering legal, tax, M&A and financing support via a dedicated center and partnerships. Local Retail Momentum: Chattanooga’s downtown is adding businesses again—20 new openings in 2025 and 15 more already in 2026—crediting events, tourism and office returns. Community Business Resilience: Lincoln’s Project O Street construction is being softened with a “Wizard of O Street” shop-and-stamp promotion running through October to keep footfall up for local retailers. Tech Supply Chain Boost: NVIDIA says TSMC is using AI and accelerated computing to speed semiconductor design and manufacturing, targeting better yield and productivity. AI Agent Infrastructure Push: NVIDIA also rolled out open physical AI tools and new agent-focused platforms, signaling more build-ready options for developers and enterprises.