Local Business Pressure: French Quarter owners are demanding the Sewerage & Water Board speed up a $9.8M Decatur/St. Peter utility project after months of stalled contractor work, confusing closures, and lost foot traffic. Community Grants: Georgia’s River Valley Black Chamber is running a Juneteenth mixer with five $7,000 grants for minority-owned businesses, aiming to boost marketing and local visibility. Cash-Flow Strain: A Patriot Software survey finds 47.7% of small business owners have skipped or delayed their own paycheck, with 84.4% sacrificing health or relationships to keep operating. Regulatory/Market Shift: Virginia lawmakers and Gov. Abigail Spanberger unveiled a revised retail cannabis plan for sales starting July 1, 2027, with a 6% launch tax rising later. Banking for SMBs: Orrstown Bank is leaning into community banking—personalized guidance and treasury support—to compete with larger institutions. Disaster Relief: Belleville, NJ businesses hit by a May 3 fire can now apply for low-interest SBA disaster loans, with a recovery center at the public library. Cybersecurity: A French automotive business was targeted with a keylogger and credential theft, and researchers warn that taking down a command server won’t stop attackers if they built an alternate access path. Tax Fight: National City, CA is considering a tiered business license tax tied to revenue, drawing pushback from the local business community. Federal Contracting: Georgia’s 904th Contracting Battalion held a workshop to demystify federal contracting for 74 small businesses. Workforce/Confidence: Business confidence is sliding in New Zealand as geopolitical shocks lift energy costs and worsen outlooks.