Employee Ownership Push (Vermont): Vermont Treasurer Mike Pieciak will convene a task force to expand employee ownership for local businesses as succession planning becomes urgent, with more than half of owners 55+ and about $11B in small business value at stake. Opportunity Zones (Delaware): Gov. Matt Meyer nominated 25 census tracts for the next round of Opportunity Zones, aiming to unlock private investment and jobs; certification is still needed for a Jan. 1, 2027 start. SME Growth Networks (ASEAN/Dubai): Singapore’s GTH Rise launches to connect Southeast Asian entrepreneurs with regional visibility and capital partners, while Emirates and Dubai Chambers partner to help Dubai SMEs expand globally via logistics and rewards. Local Business Spotlight: Portage, Michigan’s Muffler Man marks 20 years serving drivers, and Missouri’s Good Neighbor Week names six “Most Neighborly” businesses for community-first practices. Small Business Operations & Services: U-Haul adds SOS Towing & Recovery as a neighborhood dealer in Cookeville, boosting local access to moving and towing equipment. Community Resilience: A feature on a crumbling 150-year-old dike in Maine highlights how infrastructure failures threaten small towns and their main road lifelines.