SBA Funding Cut 67% — But Your Best Free Resource Isn’t Going Anywhere
The White House budget proposal that dropped this week cuts SBA funding by 67% — from a billion dollars down to $329 million. That means SCORE mentoring, Small Business Development Centers, and Women’s Business Centers are all on the chopping block. These are real programs that real shop owners have leaned on to figure out merchandising, cash flow, growth plans — the stuff that keeps the lights on.
Whether or not Congress passes it exactly as written, the direction is clear. The free resources on which small businesses have relied are shrinking.
That makes me think about the resources that are already sitting right in front of retailers and costing them nothing. A good manufacturer’s rep is paid by the brand, not the store. They walk in with market knowledge, merchandising ideas, and product expertise that’s specific to your region and your type of shop. That kind of hands-on, human guidance is getting harder to find everywhere — except it’s already built into the wholesale relationship, if you use it.
xoxo, ❤️ AmyFay
What’s happening in the world. What it means for your store. Monday through Thursday, from AmyFay Chandler. More in Weekly Retail Tidbits every Friday.
