SME Grants: The Coramino Fund backed by LISC handed out $200K in grants to 20 small businesses across Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Houston and Los Angeles, aiming to create jobs and revenue in under-resourced communities. Local Business Support: The Virgin Islands and the Caribbean Development Bank launched a three-part MSME capacity-building series for micro, small and medium firms, covering business continuity, digital marketing and financial management with virtual/hybrid access. Capital Access Results: Utah’s USBCI reported Q2 progress—nearly 89% of Tranche 2 deployed, $2.1M committed to 22 small business loans, and 191 total jobs impacted—while preparing Tranche 3 funding. Regulation & Costs: Maryland’s Tax Court struck down the state’s digital advertising tax as illegal under federal law, raising refund pressure and uncertainty for small-business customers. SMB Tech Adoption: New federal data flags an AI adoption gap, with smaller firms lagging larger ones, risking Main Street competitiveness. Small-Business Funding Programs: Kansas State’s fall 2026 accelerator opens Sept. 13 with up to $60K in equity-free grants, and Delaware’s Business on Main Street Accelerator accepts applications through Aug. 31. Energy Pressure: ERCOT hit a record 91.1 GW peak load during a heatwave, a reminder for SMBs to plan for rising power demand. Fraud & Oversight: A lawsuit accuses Selena Gomez and Wondermind investors of misleading claims, while a Florida community bank shifts away from SBA small-dollar lending after losses.