AGP Executive Report

California Antitrust: Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 1776 to expand the state’s Cartwright Act, letting California pursue monopoly/monopsony claims against a single company—though critics say the bill’s limits (like employee and revenue thresholds) may still leave some small businesses exposed. Payments Pressure: Australia’s card surcharge ban starts Oct. 1, and small retailers say they’ll be forced to raise prices because processing fees remain—while the ATO adds a new wrinkle by refusing credit card payments after Nov. 30. SMB Growth & AI: NSW research for Small Business Month finds micro-businesses are booming (63% have fewer than four employees) and AI use is rising (47% of small businesses), with a statewide calendar of free/low-cost workshops. Energy Costs Watch: A UK scheme (Bics) aims to cut electricity bills for 10,000+ manufacturers by up to 25% starting April 2027. Local Support Programs: North Texas gets a PepsiCo Foundation Restaurant Accelerator via the Dallas-Fort Worth Urban League, offering grants plus coaching for restaurant owners. Disaster Recovery: Hawaii’s Kauai businesses hit by Hurricane Lowell can apply for recovery loans, including help for a food truck owner whose insurance claim was denied. Cash Access: New Zealand’s Reserve Bank findings show strong support for a standard on cash access, with retailers reporting dissatisfaction and long travel distances.

Trade & Tariffs: A US Court of International Trade heard arguments over Trump’s forced-labor tariffs, with small businesses and Democratic-led states saying the rules were rushed and exceeded authority. Fraud & Lending: Georgia AG Chris Carr secured convictions of 17 people tied to nearly $500,000 in PPP fraud. SMB Compliance Costs: Kenya’s push to formalize foreign-run small businesses is driving up fixed costs tied to permits, taxes, payroll deductions, and paperwork. Digital Safety for Main Street: Malaysia’s Digital Ministry is rolling out online literacy training aimed at senior citizens, micro-entrepreneurs, and small businesses, with a focus on scam prevention and safe AI use. Payments Pressure: Indian traders pulled back a “No UPI Day” protest after meeting Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over proposed merchant UPI fees that could raise costs for SMEs. Local Business Support: Pinckney’s “Light Up the Park” seeks sponsors and community help to keep the event free for Small Business Saturday. Workforce & Growth: ADP says private-sector jobs rose more than expected in September, with small firms adding jobs too. Tech & Privacy: Inhouse.AI launched a private AI legal advice system designed to keep communications protected by attorney-client privilege.

Local Business Relief & Compliance: Malaysia’s KPMG says any move to add GST-style features into SST should include a targeted input tax credit with predictable refunds to prevent tax “cascading,” and it points to e-invoicing data to speed claims. Wage Hike Flexibility: The Philippines’ DOLE says small retail/service firms (under 10 workers) and businesses hit by disasters can apply for wage increase exemptions within 75 days, with retroactive pay rules for rejected late filings. Data Centers & Local Control: South Dakota governor candidates clash over data centers—one argues communities should decide and highlights local water/power impacts, while the other cites state rules requiring power-cost coverage and limits on preempting local regulation. SMB Cash Flow & Growth: Nepal reports rising microfinance borrower blacklisting, with 21,500 small borrowers flagged in FY2025-26, raising fears for small operators as lending tightens. Community Commerce: Greenpoint businesses celebrate the MTA canceling December G-train shutdowns after repairs finished early, protecting a key holiday foot-traffic window. Tech for Small Firms: Meta expands its Muse AI agent for small businesses, aiming to connect with tools like Shopify and productivity apps. Disaster & Permits: Occidental Mindoro in the Philippines gets P25.7M from a quick response fund after monsoon damage estimated above P2B, targeting the hardest-hit communities and sectors.

Small Business Pulse: U.S. owners head into Q4 with their best revenue outlook of 2026, with 54% expecting sales growth in the next three months, per Citizens’ Business Pulse survey. Wage Pressure & Exemptions: The Philippines’ labor department says small retail/service firms under 10 workers (and some disaster-affected businesses) can seek exemptions from wage hike orders, with applications due within 75 days. Cost Crunch Politics: Malaysia’s DAP leader Lim Guan Eng argues foreign workers should be excluded from any minimum wage increase and calls to repeal mandatory EPF contributions for foreign workers. Local Growth Roadmap: A new Chicagoland report says the small-business ecosystem has strengthened since 2018, but points to gaps in turning support into sustained growth. Tools for Scaling: Tennessee-area firm Bold Trace launched a free online scalability assessment for small businesses planning 2027. Trade & Compliance: Gene Mack International earned U.S. CTPAT certification as trade rules tighten. Travel Rules for Hosts: Airbnb urges clear national short-term rental guidelines so small hosts can comply without getting crushed by patchwork local rules.

Cybersecurity & Fraud: Washington is pushing stronger defenses as Congress weighs a Small Business Cybersecurity Assistance Evaluation Act, while banks and states warn that scams often start outside banking and hit small businesses fast. Scams & Consumer Protection: Arkansas AG Tim Griffin’s Fraud and Consumer Protection Summit drew 800+ registrants, focusing on robocalls, crypto scams, and AI deepfakes. SMB Policy & Oversight: Senate Small Business Ranking Member Markey blasted SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler for canceling a Sept. 30 appearance and refusing answers to the 36M+ small businesses. Chemical Safety: California Gov. Newsom signed Sen. Umberg’s SB 883 after the Garden Grove chemical emergency, tightening safeguards for reactive facilities. Local Business Support: Williamsport, Pa. opened $5,000 max 50/50 micro-grants (deadline Oct. 5) for storefront and accessibility upgrades. Cost Pressure: Georgia Gov. Kemp suspended the gas tax for about a month, aiming to cut transport costs for small businesses. SMB Finance Growth: DCB Bank targets 18–20% asset growth, leaning into SME lending and working capital. Cybercrime Reporting: New data highlights heavy losses from business cybercrimes across multiple states, underscoring resilience needs.

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.

SME Finance & Payments: Indonesia is rolling out IP-based financing for MSMEs, letting owners use copyrights, trademarks and patents as loan collateral, with a 2026 credit ceiling of IDR 10T. SME Risk & Insurance: IUMI says marine insurers should shift from “repair” to “prevention,” pushing more loss-prevention focus as climate-driven risks grow. Local Business Costs & Rent: Christchurch’s Greens propose new commercial leasing rules to tackle long-empty shops, including rent reviews, council powers after a year vacant, and a low-cost tribunal for disputes. Energy for Small Firms: Suntech showcased N-type solar and integrated storage tech at Solar & Storage Live UK, reflecting rising demand for rooftop and commercial solar-plus-battery. Raising Capital: NZ solar developer Lodestone is seeking up to $100m via an IPO to expand solar farms and electricity retail for commercial and small business customers. Community Commerce: In South Korea, Baedal Minjok is running festival-linked pickup discounts to boost sales for neighborhood stores in Andong. Small Business Spotlight: A 16-year-old Orillia entrepreneur expanded a window-cleaning service after a $3,000 grant, hiring his first employees this summer.

Oman Growth: Private investment in Oman’s space sector jumped from OMR20mn (2023) to OMR74mn (2025), with space companies rising from 11 to 26 and sector employment climbing to 400—an expansion that’s feeding the digital economy and Vision 2040 goals. SME Finance: Ecobank says it will build a $2.6bn loan portfolio by 2030 for women-owned businesses and agricultural SMEs, combining credit with training and digital tools. Payments Pressure (India): India’s Supreme Court will hear a plea challenging the new UPI Merchant Discount Rate (0.4%) on merchant payments above Rs 2,000—an issue that could affect cash-flow for small merchants. Energy Costs Hit Small Firms (France): Rising fuel prices are squeezing French bakers, with oil-heated ovens costing far more than earlier this year. Local Business Support (US): A new $250,000 investment backs the Harbor Entrepreneur Center in Charleston to help startups and expanding small businesses. Skills for Entrepreneurs: Oman’s World Tourism Day spotlights AI-driven tourism, while Hajjah’s sewing course ends with training for women to start small businesses.

Tourism Policy & Funding: Zimbabwe’s Tourism Act, 2026 creates a dedicated Tourism Fund and pulls Airbnb-style stays into the formal economy, aiming to turn tourism levies into bankable projects. AI in Travel: World Tourism Day 2026 spotlights how AI can speed planning and personalize trips—while warning businesses not to lose the human touch. SME & Payments Pressure: India’s proposed UPI merchant discount rate (0.4% on P2M transactions over Rs 2,000 from Oct. 15) could raise costs for small merchants and change consumer behavior. Local Business & Community Events: Easton, Pa. is opening a renovated speakeasy-style event venue for private parties and ticketed community events, while Parkersburg’s Harvest Moon Festival draws thousands to support artisans and small food vendors. SME Digitalization & Tech Zones: Front Royal, Va. approved a business for its Technology Zone perks, offering tax/fee rebates to help local job-creating growth. Cybersecurity for Small Sites: WordPress Contact Form 7 faces an actively exploited vulnerability (CVE-2026-87902), raising urgent patching needs for small business websites. Workforce & Livelihoods: In Shurugwi, Zimbabwe’s fisheries scheme is restocking dams and boosting cooperative incomes, including women-led gains.

SME Support & Training: Malaysia’s KUSKOP says it has pushed nearly RM10b to about 270,000 entrepreneurs under “Power Up 10K,” and is asking for bigger Budget 2027 allocations for MSMEs and cooperatives. Digital Sales for Small Firms: Meta and KUSKOP launched a Small Business Growth Academy to help Malaysian MSMEs use AI tools and WhatsApp for Business, including free workshops and an AI “Business Agent.” Halal Trade & Logistics: Pahang plans to brand Kuantan Port as a halal-friendly gateway, using the ECRL rail link to cut transit time and boost exports. Cost Pressure on Tenants: Cebu City Council is urging landlords to defer rent hikes as inflation stays elevated and transport costs keep rising. Local Business Access to Cash: UK officials highlighted expansion of face-to-face banking hubs to keep cash services available for communities and small businesses. SME Compliance & Tax Deadlines: UAE’s Federal Tax Authority set Sept. 30 for filing and paying 2025 corporate tax returns, including for small business relief claimants. SME Growth Markets: India’s SME IPO activity is reviving, but investors are more selective as rules tighten and first-day gains cool. Worker Ownership Spotlight: North Carolina’s Electric Violin Shop shows how employee ownership can help small businesses survive leadership transitions.

SME Growth & Tech: Mastercard’s Dreamonomics report says EEMEA SMEs are prioritizing growth and cyber protection, with 78% focused on cyberthreat defense and 42% already using cybersecurity tools, while 77% are excited about AI—often for fraud and security. Energy Costs & Reliability: Philippines consumer, labor and climate groups renewed calls for Energy Secretary Sharon Garin to resign over a Visayas power crisis now in its fifth month, citing months of rotational brownouts and rising electricity costs. SME Finance Access: Bank of Uganda is pushing wider affordable credit for farmers and small businesses via the Agricultural Credit Facility and Small Business Fund, with interest caps and support for machinery, inputs, storage and agro-processing. Local Business Pressure: Leland, North Carolina’s Gateway District “downtown” vision is drawing pushback from existing shops and residents worried about rising costs and displacement. Entrepreneurship Support: In Kashmir, Jamkash Vehicleades re-launched the Maruti Suzuki Eeco Cargo, pitching it as a practical tool for small business transport and pointing to Mission Yuva funding up to ₹1 lakh. Cybersecurity Warning: A cybersecurity consultant says data safety is “fundamentally broken,” noting small businesses struggle with resources and skills as attacks become more common. Community Spotlight: Local Comic Shop Day highlights independent shops and local authors, with events and sales aimed at keeping small retailers thriving.

Disaster Relief: New Richland partners with local foundations to launch the New Richland Disaster Response Fund after flash flooding, aiming to support community and business recovery via centralized donations. SME Finance Access: Qredits expands Curaçao and Caribbean entrepreneurs’ financing using the Dutch BMKB SME Credit Guarantee, helping borrowers with viable plans but limited collateral. Digital Tools for Shops: Signage.com rolls out a free Storefront Readiness Check so small retailers can spot holiday-visibility issues before customers arrive. SME Training & Growth: Maxis and Malaysia’s KUSKOP plan to train 6,000 entrepreneurs by 2029 through the Perkasa Halal initiative, boosting digital marketing and formalization readiness. Banking for Small Business Needs: Absa Kenya launches an all-in-one mobile app with savings, group investing, and borrowing options using open banking to improve access for users with limited credit history. B2B E-Commerce UX: Optimum7 says B2B product pages fail when buyers must add SKUs one-by-one, pushing calculators and bulk ordering for industrial customers. Local Business Climate: Puerto Rico’s CUD unveils a 2026-2028 plan focused on expanding local firms’ growth and reducing barriers to doing business.

SME Trade & Skills: ASEAN-China Centre is expanding free training across ASEAN to help SMEs use FTAs, customs know-how and cross-border e-commerce to sell into China. Local Business Support: Pima County (AZ) approved a $250,000 safety and beautification grant program with up to $10,000 per business for cameras, lighting, murals and cleanups. Disaster Recovery for Small Firms: The U.S. SBA will hold a disaster recovery info meeting in Moberly (1–5 p.m. Friday) covering low-interest physical and economic injury disaster loans for storm-impacted businesses and nonprofits. AI for SMBs (practical angle): New research finds UK SMEs see AI as a growth driver, but most still aren’t integrating it deeply—security, data quality and change management are the biggest blockers. Payments & Lending Watch: State Bank of India is developing UPI-based lending for small businesses without GST registration, using transaction patterns as a sales proxy—raising new questions as MDR rules change how merchants get paid. Flood-hit Entrepreneurs: A Nepal story spotlights women rebuilding after the Trishuli River swept away a 22-year shop.

Global Trade & SME Exports: Malaysia’s MATRADE says its pavilion at the 5th Global Digital Trade Expo is meant to help digital firms—including micro, small and medium enterprises—sell into China, including via a new MoU with ICBC to boost access through cross-border digital trade. Halal Certification Support: Malaysia’s KUSKOP says it has helped 3,000+ MSMEs and cooperatives get halal certification, with plans to streamline approvals through partnerships and add more digital marketing training. Supply Chain Pressure for Recyclers: India’s MRAI is pushing back on an EU proposal that could restrict metal waste exports, warning it would disrupt scrap supply chains and raise raw-material costs for MSMEs. Workplace Compliance Guidance: New federal guidance on religious accommodations is a reminder for small employers to document efforts, stay flexible, and plan solutions before denying requests. Local Business Community: A Modesto SBDC event is set to uplift local businesswomen at its 11th annual symposium, while Cornelius’ Tawba Walk festival returns with 100+ vendors and local artists. Cyber for SMBs: Airties launched integrated cybersecurity for ISPs, aiming to protect connected homes and small businesses by adding security capabilities at the router level. SMB Risk Hedging: Brenden Theaters is using prediction-market contracts on Kalshi to hedge quarterly revenue risk—an unusual but growing tool for small businesses.

Local Relief & Community Business Support: A Cedar Rapids bakery, Bread and Buttered, launched a GoFundMe after equipment failures threatened its free community food program. Local Governance: Griffith City Council adopted a new Community Investment Policy that folds community grants, event sponsorship, small business help, and rate subsidies into one application path. SMB Tax Policy: New Zealand First says it will campaign to cut company tax for SMEs from 28% to 20% for firms under $30M turnover, aiming to free cash for hiring and reinvestment. Tech for Small Businesses: Meta unveiled camera-free smart glasses (Ray-Ban Audio) and pushed its AI agent Muse as the interface for wearables. AI Upskilling for SMBs: Verizon is investing $70M in nationwide AI training with partners including IBM, Google, Anthropic, Microsoft, Coursera, and OpenAI. Cost Pressure on Operators: Truckers and small fleets warn diesel prices near $7 in parts of Georgia could spark a nationwide strike. Energy Reliability: Reports from Kashmir traders and Nigeria’s business leaders highlight how unscheduled power cuts and unreliable electricity keep SMBs from operating smoothly. Growth Coaching: A free “Find Your Growth Bottleneck” workshop targets owners who need help prioritizing what to fix first.

Independent Contractor Rules (NJ): Trenton debate heats up as new independent-contractor regulations near an Oct. 1 start date, with critics warning the “ABC test” could make it harder for parents, caregivers, retirees, and entrepreneurs to earn a living. AI for Small Business Marketing: askotter.ai launched AI agents that run SEO, AI search optimization, and ads for small business websites via text message—owners approve changes and get performance updates without logging into dashboards. Local Business Support (Seattle): The Seattle Medium’s “Pack the House” campaign adds the Central Area Collaborative to boost Black-owned restaurants through community dining and visibility. MSME Supply-Chain Link (Indonesia): Indonesia’s MSME ministry is pushing medium firms as “anchors” to connect micro and small businesses to supply chains, financing, and markets. Energy Costs & Data Centers (Texas): New research looks at whether rapid Texas data-center growth is driving higher residential bills, but points to aging infrastructure and fuel costs as bigger culprits. Small-Business Grants (West Haven, Conn.): $7.5M state funding includes downtown improvements and a microgrant program for small businesses in a revitalization district. Entrepreneurship Center (Nigeria): Nigeria’s Abuja Centre for Entrepreneurship gets $12M backing to support training, facilities, and enterprise support for MSMEs and startups.