The Business Nearby

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Diverse group of aspiring entrepreneurs, including many women, collaborating and brainstorming innovative business ideas for 2026 with laptops and sketches.
Market Trends

New Small Business Ideas for 2026

The Story Exchange recently received an unprecedented 1,100 submissions for its 'Brilliant Business Ideas' list, signaling a booming interest in new ventures for 2026.

Eleni Kassian·May 20
CEOs in a boardroom struggling with a complex AI interface, highlighting leadership challenges in AI strategy implementation.
New Openings

CEOs Must Avoid These AI Strategy Blunders This Year

Despite billions pouring into artificial intelligence projects, most CEOs are missing the real reason their AI initiatives aren't paying off: the bottleneck isn't the technology, but their own leaders

Rizza Valencia·May 20
Diverse individuals of different ages and fitness levels walking briskly in a sun-dappled park, embodying health and community.
New Openings

Regular walks lower blood pressure by 4.11 mm Hg

Just 20 to 40 minutes of walking, three to five times a week, can dramatically boost heart health!

Rizza Valencia·May 18
5 Elder Law Services Houston Seniors Actually Trust in 2026
Main Street Properties

5 Elder Law Services Houston Seniors Actually Trust in 2026

Navigating the complexities of aging requires foresight, compassion, and expert legal guidance. For seniors in Texas, securing a future that protects both assets and well-being is a top priority. This is where specialize…

Sponsored by Your Legacy Legal Care·Aug 24
Union members and Samsung executives in a tense negotiation meeting, discussing pay demands and the threat of a strike.
New Openings

Samsung Union Negotiates to Avert Potential Strike

Get ready for a major shake-up!

Rizza Valencia·May 18
A diverse group of people celebrating with Athletic Brewing's non-alcoholic beer near a restored natural trail, highlighting community and environmental commitment.
New Openings

Athletic Brewing prioritizes community to drive business growth

A non-alcoholic beer company, Athletic Brewing, is making waves by committing up to two million dollars annually to environmental causes!

Rizza Valencia·May 18
Diverse local businesses and community members networking at a vibrant Chamber of Commerce Business Showcase event.

Local Chambers Adapt to 2026 Trends, Driving Small Business Growth

Local chambers of commerce are adapting in 2026 to support small businesses navigating economic challenges like inflation. They are evolving beyond traditional networking to offer digital tools, community engagement, and multi-faceted resources for growth and resilience.

Kendra Baptiste·May 15
An entrepreneur studying a flowchart of permits and licenses, symbolizing the process of obtaining business approvals.
Business Resources

How to Get Local Business Permits and Licenses

Restaurateurs in New York City typically need some 30 permits, registrations, licenses, and certificates, along with up to 23 separate inspections to start their business, according to the Manhattan I

Simone Ito·Sep 7
Best Home Buying Resources for Property Buyers in 2026, Led by Paul & Melissa Kotze
Main Street Properties

Best Home Buying Resources for Property Buyers in 2026, Led by Paul & Melissa Kotze

Navigating the property market in 2026 requires more than just browsing listings; it demands access to the best resources and expert guidance. For prospective home buyers in Townsville, understanding the landscape of ava…

Sponsored by Paul & Melissa Kotze·Aug 24
A flooded Main Street in 2026, showing widespread water damage and debris, with a solitary figure walking through the scene.
Main Street Revival

Main Street disaster relief in 2026 is an illusion, recovery efforts fall short.

After a historic flood, my fiancée and I incurred $5,000 in out-of-pocket costs for basement damage, even after insurance coverage.

Kendra Baptiste·Aug 25
A lively street in Lubbock, Texas, filled with diverse new restaurant openings and people enjoying the summer evening.
Shop Local Guides

New Restaurant Openings and Expansions

In July 2026 alone, Lubbock, Texas, welcomed at least 23 new business openings!

Rizza Valencia·Aug 7
Diverse entrepreneurs, including veterans and minority business owners, facing a large bank building, symbolizing the struggle for funding and access to capital.
Business Resources

Veteran and Minority Businesses Face Persistent Funding Gaps

In 2023, a Black woman veteran seeking a $50,000 business loan was 40% less likely to be approved by a traditional bank than a non-minority male applicant with identical credit scores and business pla

Simone Ito·Aug 1
A lively and historic Main Street in a small town, filled with people and showcasing successful community-led revitalization efforts.
Main Street Revival

Community-led Main Street revival initiatives are poised for major success.

In Columbia, Tennessee, one of the state's first Main Street programs launched in 1983.

Kendra Baptiste·Aug 27
What FinanceCorp Cockburn Actually Does — And Who It's For
Main Street Properties

What FinanceCorp Cockburn Actually Does — And Who It's For

FinanceCorp Cockburn is an Australian finance brokerage that provides expert guidance and access to a wide range of lenders for home loans and refinancing. For individuals navigating the complexities of the property mark…

Sponsored by FinanceCorp Cockburn·Aug 24
A lively Main Street with people engaging, showcasing sustained community activity and economic vitality beyond temporary festivals.
Main Street Revival

Main Street Revival Needs More Than Festivals; Sustained Engagement Is Key.

While many towns close Main Street for a single Fall Festival, the Alleghany Highlands saw $69 million in tourism spending in 2023.

Kendra Baptiste·Aug 17
A lively Main Street with diverse small businesses and people of various backgrounds, showcasing community and economic revitalization.
Main Street Revival

Diverse entrepreneurs are key to Main Street revitalization

In Arlington County, Virginia, immigrants are 41.

Kendra Baptiste·Aug 11
A solo entrepreneur working on a computer powered by AI, demonstrating the reshaping of local economies and individual economic empowerment.
Market Trends

The AI Solo Revolution Is Reshaping Local Economies

Last year, a single graphic designer in rural Ohio, leveraging advanced AI tools, generated more revenue than the town's largest advertising agency.

Eleni Kassian·Jun 25
A vibrant city street showcasing thriving small businesses, with a prominent city hall building symbolizing local government's role in economic development.
Business Resources

Three Ways Local Governments Grow Small Businesses: Reform Rules, Connect Resources, Provide Direct Support

Local governments can foster small business growth through three core strategies: reforming regulations, connecting businesses to resources, and providing direct support. These approaches are vital for strengthening local economies by creating jobs, driving innovation, and increasing community wealth.

Eleni Kassian·Jun 23
The Vincere Portfolios Review Roundup: Praise, Critiques, and Verdicts
Market Trends

The Vincere Portfolios Review Roundup: Praise, Critiques, and Verdicts

Investors exploring automated trading systems often face a landscape of bold claims and opaque performance metrics. Vincere Portfolios aims to address this with a focus on transparent, rules-based algorithmic trading in …

Sponsored by Vincere Portfolios·Aug 24
A small business owner contemplates a complex SBA organizational chart, symbolizing the new scrutiny and challenges faced by entrepreneurs seeking federal support.
Business Resources

SBA's Two-Step Reshaping: 2025 Reorganization Meets the 2026 Size Standards Overhaul

The SBA is implementing a dual policy shift: a March 2025 agency reorganization and a proposed August 2026 overhaul of size standards. These changes aim to refocus the SBA's mission and redefine small business eligibility, significantly impacting federal contractors and competition.

Simone Ito·Jun 18
A lively and revitalized small-town main street filled with diverse people enjoying shops and community spaces during golden hour.
Main Street Revival

Beyond the Facade: How Community-Led Associations Drive the Main Street Approach to Revitalization

The Main Street Approach revitalizes downtowns through a structured, community-driven process focused on a 'Transformation Strategy' and economic goals. Its success hinges on independent, community-led associations that translate grassroots ideas into tangible change, distinct from government initiatives.

Kendra Baptiste·Jun 8
Diverse individuals with vibrant hair, glowing skin, and strong nails, representing the booming global market for hair, skin, and nail supplements.
Market Trends

Global Hair, Skin, Nail Supplements Market Poised for Billion-Dollar Boom

Last year, a single TikTok video featuring a celebrity's 'secret' hair supplement drove a 300% surge in sales for an obscure brand, illustrating social media's immense, often unscientific, power in th

Eleni Kassian·Jun 7
Diverse groups of people enjoying meals at a vibrant outdoor cafe in a global city during summer.
Eats & Drinks

The World's Best New Restaurants of 2026

The global dining scene in 2026 is shifting towards intimate, chef-driven experiences that prioritize local ingredients and storytelling over spectacle. This new wave of acclaimed restaurants offers personal, memorable meals rooted in a distinct point of view.

Shira Edelman·Jun 3
Everything Health-Conscious Coffee Drinkers Should Know About Tieman's Fusion Coffee
Eats & Drinks

Everything Health-Conscious Coffee Drinkers Should Know About Tieman's Fusion Coffee

Tieman's Fusion Coffee is a unique coffee blend designed for health-conscious individuals, combining Arabica coffee beans with superfoods like matcha green tea, rooibos red tea, and goji berry. This innovative approach a…

Sponsored by Tieman's Fusion Coffee·Aug 21