Small Business News & Updates

🗞️ New Federal Grants Support Small Business Innovation
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has announced Phase II of its 2025 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program, offering funding to small businesses for advanced research and development projects. This initiative aims to foster technological innovation and commercialization.
🔗 Grants.gov

🗞️ SBA Clarifies Minority Equity Holder Roles
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has issued a final rule providing uniform guidelines on the role of minority equity holders in small businesses, particularly concerning control and ownership requirements. This clarification affects eligibility for various SBA programs, including 8(a), HUBZone, and Women-Owned Small Business programs.
🔗 Holland & Knight

🗞️ Texas Offers Over 300 Small Business Grants
Texas has made available more than 300 grants aimed at supporting small businesses, including those owned by women, minorities, and veterans. These grants provide financial assistance for business development and expansion across various industries.
🔗 GrantWatch

🗞️ Report Highlights Need for Digital Safety for Women Entrepreneurs
A recent report by the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women emphasizes that 57% of women entrepreneurs in low- and middle-income countries have experienced online harassment, leading many to limit their digital presence. The report calls for tech companies to implement stronger safety measures to protect women entrepreneurs online.
🔗 Reuters

🗞️ SBA’s New Rule Clarifies Role of Minority Equity Holders
The SBA has finalized a rule that standardizes the negative controls minority equity holders can have in small businesses, impacting eligibility across SBA’s socioeconomic programs. This change aims to provide clarity and uniformity for businesses seeking SBA assistance.
🔗 Holland & Knight

April 16, 2025

🗞️ Shein and Temu to Raise U.S. Prices Amid Tariffs
Chinese e-commerce giants Shein and Temu announced upcoming price increases for U.S. customers, effective April 25, due to new tariffs and the end of the “de minimis” exemption. These changes may impact small retailers relying on affordable imports.
🔗 AP News

🗞️ T.D. Jakes Foundation and Wells Fargo Award $9M in Grants
The T.D. Jakes Foundation, in partnership with Wells Fargo, has granted over $9 million to 13 organizations across the U.S. as part of a 10-year, $1 billion initiative to empower communities. This funding aims to support small businesses and drive lasting change.
🔗 Wiley College News

🗞️ Nimble Launches AI-Powered CRM for Small Businesses
Nimble unveiled its 2025 AI-driven CRM and marketing tools designed to help small businesses streamline operations, capture leads, and accelerate growth. The platform offers features like email sequence automation and marketing automation.
🔗 Business Wire

🗞️ NFIB Highlights Rising Healthcare Costs for Small Businesses
The National Federation of Independent Business reports that small businesses are paying nearly twice as much for health insurance as large corporations, lacking the bargaining power to negotiate lower premiums. This financial strain underscores the need for policy reforms to make healthcare more affordable for small enterprises.
🔗 NFIB

🗞️ Microsoft Previews Upcoming Dynamics 365 Features
Microsoft announced an upcoming Business Applications Launch Event on April 30, 2025, to showcase new features in Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and Copilot Studio. These tools aim to help businesses adapt faster, enhance customer experiences, and boost efficiency.
🔗 Microsoft Blog

🗞️ Comcast RISE Awards $3M in Grants to Nashville Businesses
Comcast is providing $3 million in grants to 100 small businesses in Nashville through its RISE program, offering $30,000 each to support growth and resilience. This initiative aims to bolster local entrepreneurship and economic development.
🔗 PR Newswire

🗞️ SBA Plans 43% Workforce Reduction Amid Reorganization
The Small Business Administration announced a significant reorganization plan that will reduce its workforce by 43%, aligning with the Trump administration’s strategy to downsize the federal government. This move may impact the agency’s capacity to support small businesses nationwide.
🔗 Politico

🗞️ U.S. Bank Launches All-in-One Spend Management Platform
U.S. Bank introduced a new platform that enables business owners to monitor expenses, set spending controls, and streamline accounting processes through a single dashboard. This tool aims to enhance financial oversight and efficiency for small businesses.
🔗 Fintech Global

🗞️ Salesforce Debuts Tableau Next with AI-Powered Analytics
Salesforce unveiled Tableau Next, an AI-driven analytics platform designed to help businesses extract actionable insights from their data more effectively. The tool aims to improve decision-making and operational efficiency for entrepreneurs.
🔗 Salesforce DevOps

🗞️ Governor Abbott Announces Small Business Summit in Orange, TX
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that the next Governor’s Small Business Summit will be held in Orange on April 24. The event aims to connect small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs with resources and information to start, strengthen, and grow their businesses.
🔗 Office of the Texas Governor

April 14, 2025

🗞️ SBA Increases Lending Cap to $500K
The Small Business Administration has raised the cap on its Standard 7(a) loans from $350,000 to $500,000, providing small businesses with greater access to funding for operational needs. This change aims to support economic growth and equity, particularly benefiting underserved communities.
🔗 Investopedia

🗞️ MBDA Ordered to Serve All Disadvantaged Businesses
A federal judge has ruled that the Minority Business Development Agency must assist all businesses owned by socially or economically disadvantaged individuals, not just minority-owned businesses. This decision mandates the agency to adjust its operations to comply with the ruling.
🔗 AP News

🗞️ DEI Grants Reduced Amid Legal Challenges
Several large companies, including UBS, PepsiCo, Progressive, and TikTok, are scaling back or eliminating grants aimed at supporting minority-owned small businesses. These actions follow legal challenges and public pressure, particularly after the Supreme Court’s decision against college affirmative-action programs in 2023.
🔗 The Wall Street Journal

🗞️ SBA Enhances Support for Women Entrepreneurs
The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership continues to provide training, counseling, and access to credit for women entrepreneurs through its network of Women’s Business Centers. These centers aim to level the playing field for all women entrepreneurs, who still face unique obstacles in the business world.
🔗 SBA.gov

🗞️ Texas Launches Small Business Resource Portal
The Texas Governor’s Office has introduced the Small Business Resource Portal, offering a customized list of useful business resources to assist entrepreneurs in starting or growing their businesses in Texas. This tool provides relevant resources and contacts to help businesses find success.
🔗 Office of the Texas Governor

April 11, 2025: Top Stories