Local Business Support & Downtown Revitalization: Wood River Business Alliance director Kristen Burns says the push is about rehabbing historic buildings, attracting new shops, and helping entrepreneurs with planning, grants, and women-owned business spotlights. Community Events for SMBs: DeKalb County’s Oct. 14 Small Business Summit will cover turning ideas into businesses, using AI, and finding funding. Tech for SMB Marketing: Rooted Web launched a redesigned site plus RW iQ, an AI-assisted platform aimed at giving small and midsize firms ongoing content and search/social marketing at lower cost. Payments Simplified: Landmark Data Processing added Square to its merchant services portfolio, expanding POS, online selling, invoicing, and inventory tools for SMBs. Capital Access: Illinois SBDC at SVCC will host an Oct. 22 Lenders Forum and Access to Capital workshop to connect owners with SBA and financing options. AI Adoption in the Real World: Citrin Cooperman acquired Rosetree Solutions to help mid-market clients embed AI into day-to-day operations. SMB Resilience & Costs: Ireland’s Budget 2027 includes €15m for rural pubs, a bid to ease mounting cost pressures on small operators. Local Business Survival Story: Sarasota’s Historic Downtown Village of 17 locally owned businesses avoided demolition after a planned apartment project fell through.