The Latest NFIB Survey Shows Small Businesses Continued Hiring in February

Job growth continued in February. Firms increased employment by 0.34 workers per firm on average over the past few months, following equally good readings in December and January. Some parts of Main Street remain closed down or seriously restricted, but the economy continues to open up overall, with New York and California lagging.

Source: WSJ

 

Georgia House Representative Introduces Legislation for Direct Lottery Proceeds to be Used for Small Business Startup Loans                               

State Representative Yasmin Neal (D-Jonesboro) recently introduced House Resolution 129, which seeks to allow Georgia lottery revenue to be used for HOPE recipients to convert their HOPE scholarship to a small business startup loan to fund their business venture should they decide they want to try entrepreneurship instead of traditional college upon leaving high school. Rep. Neal’s legislation was recently passed by the House Economic Development & Tourism Committee and was sent to the House Rules Committee.

Source: All On Georgia

 

Boston Will Launch the ‘B-Local’ App to Help Promote Small Businesses

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh announced officials are working on launching the “B-Local” app in partnership with Colu. By using the app when making purchases, customers will earn “Boston Points,” which they will be able to use like cash, with each point worth $1, at participating businesses. The initiative will help residents connect with local Black-owned, women-owned, and Main Street businesses, Walsh said.

Source: Boston Globe 

 

New CDC Guidelines on Vaccinated People Creating Some Concern for Small Business Owners

The CDC released hopeful news on Monday: fully vaccinated people can be around other fully vaccinated people, indoors, without masks. But the news left some small business owners with concerns on how to regulate the guidelines and keep unvaccinated people safe. Business owners are worried about how to continue keeping employees and patrons safe.

Source: Alive

 

North Carolina Small Business Owner Strike $2M Expansion Deal with Support from the Community

MeMa’s Chick’n’ & Ribs in Burgaw, NC is working on a $2 million development in partnership. MeMa’s is the only black-owned restaurant in the county and has been in Burgaw for around four years, and patrons say the business is ready to scale up.

Sources: ABC News 12