AGP Executive Report

Ownership Reporting: Twenty-one attorneys general sued to block the Treasury Department’s exemption of most companies from federal ownership reporting, arguing the rollback violates the law and could hinder investigations of fraud and money laundering. Restaurant Rules: A bipartisan bill would bar delivery apps from listing restaurants without their consent. If passed, the measure would add federal protections for small restaurants starting in 2027. Disaster Aid: Nebraska’s governor requested federal assistance after flooding caused more than $23 million in damage across eight counties, and separately sought an SBA disaster declaration for Douglas County businesses. Utility Costs: Consumer advocates warn that small businesses could share the cost of $3.1 billion in ComEd grid upgrades for data centers; the utility disputes their analysis. Small-Business Spotlight: Laurel Fork Farm in West Virginia was named among the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s 100 top small businesses for its adaptability and community impact.

Cash Flow Tools: Intuit is adding AI features to QuickBooks to flag overdue invoices and automate payment reminders. Its report says 59% of small businesses have invoices at least 30 days late. Shipping Shift: UPS says small and midsize businesses made up 35.1% of its U.S. package volume in the third quarter, up 2.4 percentage points from a year earlier, as it shifts away from Amazon deliveries toward more profitable customers. Smarter Purchasing: Amazon Business has expanded its AI assistant to help U.S. customers track orders, manage approvals and spot savings. Disaster Relief: Nebraska is seeking federal aid after flooding caused more than $23 million in damage across eight counties; the governor also requested an SBA disaster declaration for Douglas County. Business Recognition: Ithaca’s Trade Design Build won the U.S. Chamber’s 2026 Top Small Business award and $25,000. Local Contracts: A November Atlanta summit will train small firms to pursue state, local and education contracts, an alternative to focusing only on federal work.

Disaster Aid: The SBA is offering low-interest working-capital loans to small businesses and nonprofits hit by wildfires in parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin, even if they suffered no physical damage. Polk County businesses can also apply for up to $5,000 in disaster-preparedness grants by Nov. 15. Government Contracts: North Carolina businesses previously certified as HUBs can use a streamlined process to join the state’s small-business program through Nov. 30, opening access to contracting opportunities. SBA Lending: First Internet Bank says AI tools cut compliance review times for SBA loan applications by 87%; the bank plans to use the added capacity to handle more business, not reduce staff. Fraud Warning: A Georgia lender’s founder was sentenced to 15 years for a Ponzi scheme that cost more than 300 investors over $76 million. He had pitched the investments as bridge loans to small businesses seeking SBA financing.

Cash-Flow Strain: A survey of 209 U.S. small-business owners found 79% used personal money to keep their businesses running in the past year; 57% had at least $1,000 held up in pending deposits, payment holds or unpaid invoices. Local Funding: Oswego County is offering grants of $5,000 to $35,000 for small businesses to launch, expand or stabilize. Applications require a 10% cash match, and owners must pay project costs upfront before seeking reimbursement. AI Skills: Goldman Sachs committed $500 million to AI training for small-business owners, as more firms look for practical ways to use the technology. Awards and Rural Support: SBA nominations are open for its 2027 National Small Business Week awards. In Wisconsin, a $95,000 rural development grant will fund training, technical assistance and flexible financing for small businesses across 13 northern counties.

Federal Contracting: The SBA referred 689 firms removed from its 8(a) program to the GSA for reviews of past contracts, with possible fraud findings eligible for referral to the Justice Department. Local Growth: Invest Newark says its programs generated $178.3 million in economic activity and helped create about 1,000 jobs; it also offers small businesses financing, training and commercial space. SBA Awards: Nominations are open for the 2027 National Small Business Week awards, with entries due Dec. 7. Rising Costs: Independent truckers are among those hardest hit by diesel prices near $6.50 a gallon, with drivers reporting longer waits as companies seek cheaper fuel routes. Workforce: County College of Morris and the Morris County Chamber have built a network of about 400 business collaborators to connect education with employer needs.

Supply-Chain Resilience: Small importers can spot disruptions in about nine hours, but fragmented systems may leave them waiting 40 more to understand the impact. Many stockpile extra inventory, tying up cash; better tools connect pricing, freight costs and transit times to speed decisions. Holiday Shipping: UPS is adding RFID tracking and PIN-protected deliveries for the peak season, giving small businesses more visibility and package security. Public Contracts: Pennsylvania says state spending with small, diverse and veteran-owned businesses reached nearly $1.5 billion in fiscal 2025–26, up 24% from the prior year. Business Costs: Wellesley, Massachusetts, now offers solar rebates of up to $15,000 for small businesses, easing the upfront cost of installations. Economic Pressures: A new index reported small-business bankruptcies jumped 46%, underscoring the strain on owners even as broader bank metrics remained calm. Regional Investment: Audi plans a $4 billion Georgia manufacturing facility expected to create 4,500 jobs, a major project that could bring opportunities for local suppliers.

Public Contracts: Pennsylvania reports nearly $1.5 billion in state spending with small, diverse and veteran-owned businesses in FY 2025–26, up 24%. The state also raised the revenue ceiling for small-business eligibility and shortened certification times. Investment and Jobs: Audi plans to invest about $4 billion in its first U.S. manufacturing plant, in Georgia, and create roughly 4,500 jobs—an opportunity for local suppliers and service firms. Small-Business Support: Goldman Sachs committed $500 million to AI training for small-business owners, while the SBA is offering disaster loans to businesses in three Wisconsin counties hit by drought. Rural Energy: A new USDA rule could make energy-efficiency and renewable-energy grants harder for rural businesses to access, requiring applicants to complete projects and show a year of results before applying for funding.

AI for Small Firms: Goldman Sachs committed $500 million to AI training for small-business owners. Anthropic is also testing Claude Duet, an assistant that can check emails and calendars, draft replies and flag tasks such as unpaid invoices. Disaster Relief: The SBA is offering low-interest loans to businesses and nonprofits hit by drought in parts of Wisconsin, and to businesses affected by September flooding in New York. Local Business Growth: Willits manufacturer Artefex made the U.S. Chamber’s list of America’s top 100 small businesses and plans to triple its facility, from 4,000 to 12,000 square feet. Business Support: The SBA announced $7 million for nine regional innovation clusters, while nominations opened for its 2027 National Small Business Week awards.

AI Training: Goldman Sachs committed $500 million to AI training for small business owners, as Anthropic previews Claude Duet, an assistant designed to handle tasks such as invoice reminders and customer follow-ups. Disaster Relief: The SBA is offering loans to businesses and nonprofits hit by drought in Ashland, Bayfield and Price counties in Wisconsin. Rural Main Street: Rural grocery stores across the Midwest face mounting pressure, threatening both access to essentials and community gathering places. Business Risks: A new distressed-business index reports small business bankruptcies jumped 46%, even as broader bank metrics remained calm. Trade and Costs: Tariffs, inflation and fuel costs are weighing unevenly on small business expansion, while a possible rollback of some Canadian tariffs could ease pressure on Maine businesses. Local Commerce: Astoria-area businesses say unreliable mail delivery is disrupting payments and deliveries, prompting Oregon lawmakers to seek answers from the Postal Service.

AI for Main Street: Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon says most small businesses need practical AI tools, not frontier models. The bank is committing $500 million to expand its 10,000 Small Businesses program with training, capital access and support. Payroll Disruption: ADP users reported sign-in and time-clock problems Friday morning, highlighting the risks when a major payroll platform goes down. ADP had not publicly explained the outage at the time of reporting. Federal Contracts: More than 300 businesses attended Huntsville Center’s Small Business Industry Day to learn about upcoming programs and meet contracting staff. Funding Opportunities: A Nov. 6 Hawaii conference will connect entrepreneurs with federal research and technology funding programs. Tourism and Main Street: Sevier County now draws about 21 million visitors a year, and local businesses have benefited from growth tied in part to Dolly Parton’s Dollywood and promotion of the region. Disaster Aid: SBA says low-interest disaster loans are available to businesses and residents in Erie and Niagara counties after September flooding.

Small Business Week: The SBA has opened nominations for its 2027 awards, including honors for rural, veteran-owned, women-owned and manufacturing businesses. Disaster Aid: Low-interest SBA loans are available to businesses in Erie and Niagara counties after September flooding. Financing: Enova reported small-business originations up 28% year over year in the third quarter, with receivables growing 34%. Business Health: A newpoint Advisors index found small-business bankruptcies jumped 46%, even as broader bank metrics remained steady. Growth Support: The SBA awarded $9.5 million to two tribal organizations for manufacturing development, while Tampa was named the best large U.S. city to start a small business. Holiday Readiness: Small retailers can use practical accounts-payable steps to manage cash flow as they stock up for the holiday season.

AI for Main Street: Anthropic’s new Claude Duet agent is aimed at professionals and small businesses, with tools for tasks like scheduling, financial forecasts and web development. It’s currently available by waitlist to U.S. Pro and Max subscribers. Disaster Readiness: Pasadena businesses can apply by Nov. 15 for $5,000 grants to reduce future disaster risks; applicants must first complete a short online preparedness course. SBA Support: The SBA has awarded $7 million to nine Regional Innovation Clusters focused on areas including advanced manufacturing, defense and biotech, offering support for small firms developing new technologies. Business Stress: A Newpoint Advisors report says small-business bankruptcies rose 46%, with financial strain especially high in construction, healthcare and manufacturing. Storm Relief: Indiana residents affected by recent storms have until Oct. 25 to apply for FEMA aid and SBA disaster loans, with in-person help available in eight counties.

Health Benefits: Antidote Health plans to offer small-group coverage to Texas employers with 2 to 50 workers in 2027, adding a new option for businesses weighing benefit costs. AI and Hiring: A U.S. Chamber report says small businesses are nearly eight times more likely to report AI-related job growth than job cuts; 47% said AI helped them add employees, versus 6% reporting reduced staffing. Federal Support: The SBA announced $7 million for nine regional innovation clusters and $5.3 million to expand support for women entrepreneurs. It also expanded its surety bond program to help small firms compete for contracts. Access to Capital: Utah opened a final $24 million tranche of small-business financing, with programs designed to lower loan costs and ease collateral requirements. Disaster Recovery: SBA disaster loans are available to businesses affected by recent flooding and storms, including in Arizona and West Virginia.

SBA Support: The agency opened nominations for its 2027 National Small Business Week awards, with entries due Dec. 7. It also announced $5.3 million to expand support for women entrepreneurs and expanded its surety bond program to help small firms compete for contracts. Disaster Relief: Guam businesses hit by Typhoon Bavi can apply for SBA economic injury loans through July 7, 2027; Montana businesses affected by last year’s storms face a Nov. 23 deadline. AI and Costs: A new report says 76% of small businesses use AI, but only 14% have fully integrated it. Meanwhile, inflation, tariffs and fuel costs are affecting businesses unevenly. Defense Suppliers: During a Wisconsin visit, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth highlighted the role of small manufacturers in U.S. defense work and called for more firms to enter the sector.

Defense Supply Chains: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the Pentagon wants to grow the number of major contractors from five to as many as 20, creating room for small manufacturers like Wisconsin’s Riverside Machine & Engineering to win more defense work. SBA Support: The SBA announced $5.3 million for women entrepreneurs and expanded its surety bond program to help small firms compete for contracts. Arizona businesses affected by Grand Canyon-area flooding are also eligible for SBA disaster loans. AI for Main Street: A Dallas-focused guide outlines how small businesses can use AI to automate tasks, cut costs and make data-informed decisions. Business Costs: Small businesses are seeing uneven effects from inflation, tariffs and fuel costs.

Small-Business Financing: North Carolina hemp processor Renaissance Fiber secured $2.24 million, including $2 million in SBA-backed financing, to launch commercial production. The company says early flexible funding helped unlock bank financing. Local Growth: Kokomo’s Olive Tree Boutique won $10,000 in a business pitch contest to expand its products, bring embroidery in-house and reach wholesale customers. Bluevine’s 2026 metro ranking named Colorado Springs the top city for small businesses, followed by Denver. Payments: Klarna is expanding to Fiserv’s Commerce Hub after launching at 100,000 U.S. merchant locations through Clover, giving more small businesses a way to offer installment payments. SBA Support: The agency is seeking Iowa nominations for its 2027 small business awards, while Grand Canyon-area businesses affected by floods can apply for disaster loans. Holiday Outlook: Small businesses are forecast to capture a record $118 billion in holiday spending this season.