U.S. Small Business Administration

Walmart is reducing prices on thousands of items as part of its value-focused strategy amid grocery inflation concerns, with President Donald Trump praising the move. The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering disaster loans to southeast Louisiana residents affected by Tropical Storm Arthur. Turner Industries was named 2026 Texas & Louisiana Contractor of the Year for its growth and expansion into advanced energy, life sciences, and nuclear manufacturing.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering disaster loans to residents, businesses, and nonprofits affected by Tropical Storm Arthur in Louisiana and Mississippi. The loans include physical damage and economic injury options, with specific interest rates and repayment terms outlined. President Donald Trump declared a major disaster for four Louisiana parishes and provided expanded assistance in additional areas.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger urged residents and small business owners affected by the Eaton Fire to apply for federal disaster loans. The U.S. Small Business Administration extended the timeline for SBA Home and Business Physical Disaster Loans, allowing approved borrowers 24 months to draw down funds.

The Urban League of Louisiana is launching a new Scale Up! Louisiana training cohort in Ascension and St. James parishes to help established small businesses grow. The summer 2026 program, ending enrollment on Wednesday, offers training, mentorship, and business planning support to up to 30 qualifying business owners.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer filed an appeal against FEMA's denial of federal assistance for Michigan residents affected by deadly March 6 tornadoes that caused four fatalities and significant damage. FEMA denied aid on May 31, including funding for hazard mitigation, but low-interest loans from the SBA remain available for affected areas in Southwest Michigan.

Maria Contreras Sweet arrived in the US from Mexico at age five without speaking English. She later achieved her American dream by rising to a leadership role in the US government, specifically the US Small Business Administration.

The U.S. Small Business Administration urged Los Angeles County wildfire survivors to finalize steps to access approved federal disaster loan funds before a June 30 deadline. Nearly 13,000 disaster loan applications totaling over $3.4 billion have been approved, but only about $1 billion has been disbursed to affected residents, businesses, and nonprofits.

Six individuals, including family members, are charged with fraudulently obtaining nearly $11 million through pandemic relief programs and a construction loan by submitting falsified documents. The alleged scheme involved the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programs between April 2020 and October 2022.

Neil Hershman, a young entrepreneur, turned a humble dessert shop into a rapidly expanding empire by acquiring and growing the 16 Handles frozen yogurt brand. He now oversees around 40 franchised locations and six of his own stores. The global frozen yogurt market is projected to grow to $2.65 billion by 2034.

Jamar Johnson pleaded guilty to defrauding over $1 million from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) by falsely claiming to operate an amateur basketball league. He used the funds for personal expenses, including cryptocurrency and foreign transfers, impacting small businesses during the pandemic. The case involved the Department of Homeland Security and the SBA's fraud investigations.