State Contracting Overhaul: North Carolina’s DOA is asking small businesses for input as it reimagines the Small Business Enterprise Program after the Office for Historically Underutilized Business was eliminated and the program moved within DOA. Local Shop-Local Push: Vallejo’s “Port of Cultures Passport Program” has expanded to 30+ businesses and adds Chick-fil-A as a monthly raffle partner to drive repeat visits. Workforce & Growth Training: ICIC is opening applications for its Building for Growth program in Greater Los Angeles, aiming to help contractors compete for wildfire recovery and major-event projects. Digital Tools for SMBs: Willow launched a pilot for digital estate-planning workflows with boutique firms ahead of electronic-will rules taking effect in New York in Dec. 2027. Cyber & Compliance Pressure: Cymphony raised $30M to track what AI agents and employees can access, targeting insider risk and oversharing. Small-Business Costs & Policy: A Texas THC shop says shifting rules are cutting sales by about $5,000 a month, showing how regulatory whiplash hits local operators fast. Rural Funding: O’Brien County, Iowa is set to receive a $99,000 USDA Rural Development grant to expand a revolving loan fund for small and emerging businesses.