5 Small Business Stories, Trends and Tips for Today

1. Small businesses in Illinois can't find enough workers to fill open positions

Small businesses in Illinois and across the country can't find enough workers to fill open positions. That’s the word from a recent national survey from the National Federation of Independent Business in which nearly 90-percent of respondents reported few or no qualified applicants for job openings. Read more at http://bit.ly/2z6nuvQ

2. Webinar Will Teach Small Business Owners to Better Manage Inventory

Keeping track of your inventory is a necessary but time-consuming part of running your business. Scott Gregory will teach you the basics of tracking inventory in QuickBooks Pro, Premiere, and Enterprise from purchase to shipment. Read more at https://smallbiztrends.com/2018/11/webinar-will-teach-small-business-owners-to-better-manage-inventory.html

3. Small businesses awarded grants for innovative growth ideas

About two dozen small businesses in Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park will share $260,000 in grants.The New Economy Initiative says the awards are part of its NEIdeas Small Business Challenge, a program geared to existing businesses. Read more at http://bit.ly/2z3knom

4. Time to nominate small business for this year's awards

Know of any small businesses that deserve recognition? The Small Business Administration Vermont District Office is accepting nominations for the 2019 small business awards.Categories include: Small Business Person of the Year; Exporter of the Year; Family-owned Business of the Year; Woman-owned Small Business of the Year; Veteran-owned Small Business of the Year; Minority-owned Small Business of the Year; Young Entrepreneur of the Year; Microenterprise of the Year. Read more at http://bit.ly/2z6arKP

5. Small business in Davenport gets big grant from the state

The coffee shop and used book store already has plans to expand, and co-owner Tony Fuhs said this money will help make those dreams a reality much faster than he had planned. Fuhs said he's glad the state is investing in small businesses. Read more at http://bit.ly/2z2ecAL