Data Centers & Local Growth: Google will invest $1.5B in Jackson County, Alabama, expanding its data center campus and pairing it with energy affordability, STEM, and workforce programs—aimed at supporting small businesses and local opportunity. SMB Payments & Investing Access: VEON’s JazzCash and Mobilink Bank in Pakistan are letting eligible users buy 3-month Treasury Bills in-app from PKR 5,000, widening formal investment access beyond traditional bank routes. Cybersecurity for Small Firms: ESET reports new Windows variants of the FishMonger SprySOCKS backdoor targeting government orgs across Asia and Latin America, a reminder for SMBs to tighten defenses. Procurement & Finance Tech: Procurement Magazine’s webinar with Coupa, Rossum, and Accenture focuses on using AI to reduce accounts payable fragmentation and improve spend visibility. Local Business Survival: Memphis’ INSPIRE Community Cafe will close after rising costs, while a Ravenna “Coffee and Connections” event spotlights chamber resources for local operators. Regulation Watch: Nigeria’s MAN is urging a pause on NESREA’s proposed ban on single-use plastics under 80 microns, warning of job and supply-chain disruption. Community & Safety: A Queensland grant will help a women-only gym upgrade security after vandalism.