This week, on ASBN Small Business News, anchor Shyann Malone brings you up to date with the latest tools and resources now available for small to medium-sized businesses.
Top Stories
TikTok and Black Girl Ventures are partnering on a new grant that will empower Black entrepreneurs and improve equity in accessing capital. The Innovate Together Grant Program will provide a combined $50,000 in funds to 12 small businesses, with grants ranging from a minimum of $2,500 to a maximum of $10,000. Read More
Experts are heralding the benefits of fika, a Swedish tradition that has been shown to boost employee productivity and lower stress in professional environments. Fika, coming from the Swedish word for coffee, is the practice of taking a collective coffee break once or even twice a day while at work. Read More
How inflation is affecting metropolitan cities across the country
Inflation remains an economic obstacle for many, but new research indicates the impact on consumers and business owners may vary heavily depending on location. A new study by financial services platform WalletHub has unveiled the best and worst regions in terms of inflation, highlighting the uneven effects of economic headwinds on different locales. Read More
January was a strong month for small businesses thanks to stable consumer demand and cooling economic concerns, according to the latest Fiserv Small Business Index report. Despite marking the close of the holiday season, January’s small business sales were nearly identical to December’s, rising only 0.1%. On a year-over-year basis, last month’s sales were 1.7% higher than in early 2023. Read More