• Kick off Q3 with expert tips and budget-friendly trends

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    July 03, 2024
     
     
    CO by U.S. Chamber of Commerce
    MIDNIGHT OIL
    EDITION 261
     
     
     
    RESOURCES & TIPS
    Get tips for making this summer a success at our free, virtual Ready. Set. Scale. event on June 20.
    Why you should apply for our exclusive business list
    Brand visibility, unparalleled networking opportunities, and a $25K award are just some of the many reasons to apply for our exclusive small business awards program, the CO—100. Find out why businesses nationwide are competing for a spot on our distinguished list.
     
     
     
     
    Budget-friendly event planning strategies
    Planning a professional event takes time and effort, but surprisingly, it doesn't have to cost much money. Here's how to throw a big event that builds customer loyalty and boosts brand awareness on a small budget. 
     
     
     
     
    Image Copyright 101: Marketing Best Practices
    Digital images can make your marketing pop, but remember: copyrights matter! Use this guide to avoid unnecessary legal woes by obtaining proper permissions before using online imagery.
     
     
     
     
    A MESSAGE FROM PURE LEAF
    Apply for the Pure Leaf Tea Breaks grant program to help fund your small business ideas and foster a healthier workplace.
    Let's Make Tea Breaks Happen! Apply for a Pure Leaf Tea Break Grant Today
    The Pure Leaf Tea Break Grants Program funds ideas that foster healthier workplace culture and norms. Ideas can be new or already underway, can come from HR, C-level, or the frontline--as long as they improve employee well-being through culture change. Winning ideas will serve as models for other employers who prioritize the well-being of their people through an effective break culture solution.
    Learn More
     
     
     
     
     
    QUOTABLE MOMENT
     
    "Igniting a passion about making a positive difference in your community can boost morale and help your employees look at their employment as more than a paycheck."
     
    — Ron Lou, Founder of the Angry Crab Shack, explains how implementing charitable efforts at your business can help build camaraderie and motivate employees to continue giving back outside the workplace.
     
     
    A MESSAGE FROM THE U.S. CHAMBER FOUNDATION
    Be a part of the change — take some Civic Time Off
    Join the USCC Foundation in bridging the national divide with the Civic at Work initiative, a series of programs designed to boost employees' civic knowledge and engagement. The first program, Civic Time Off, encourages employees to become nonpartisan poll workers, offering firsthand insights into the U.S. election process while filling a crucial need. National Poll Worker Recruitment Day is August 1 — are you in? 
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    Click below to register for a 30-minute call on July 11 at 2:30 pm EST to learn about Civic Time Off and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's upcoming Civics at Work programs. Contact Jessica Schrank at Jschrank@uschamber.com for more information.
    Join the Call
     
     
     
     
     
    BY THE NUMBERS
     
     
    55%
     
    The percentage of small business owners that said inflation was their main challenge from April-June. Get the full rundown of the top Q2 small business opportunities and setbacks from the Small Business Index, a report by MetLife and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
     
     
     
     
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    Employees can utilize wellness app Wellhub to visit gyms in their area for as little as zero dollars. Check out other health and wellness perks to help boost morale and increase employee retention at your business.
     
     
     
     
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    Limited budgets and lack of awareness make small businesses easy targets for cyber attacks. Check out five common cybersecurity standard options that small businesses should consider to defend against cyber threats.
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CO— Events
    Register now for our upcoming episode of Ready. Set. Scale: Creative Marketing Tips That Work on July 18 at noon.
    Refresh your creative marketing toolkit + drive results
    FREE VIRTUAL EVENT | July 18 at 12 pm ET
    Join us on July 18 at noon for the next episode of Ready. Set. Scale, as Moira Vetter, Founder of Modo Modo Agency, reveals creative techniques small businesses can use to help boost marketing ROI.
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    Refresh, revamp, and reinvigorate your business with strategies that work — secure your spot now! 
    RSVP Now!
     
     
     
     
     
    GRANTS & AWARDS
    Skip Instant Grants are accepted on a rolling basis, providing funding opportunities with shorter turnaround windows. Applicants are required to participate in Skip’s YouTube livestream during the selection process. Learn more about these ongoing funding opportunities by following Skip on social media. 
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    The Intuit QuickBooks Grant Program is offering $200,000 in funding for small businesses, awarding 20 U.S.-based small business owners $10,000 each, along with business mentorship resources to help drive their success. To be eligible, entrants must have been actively operating for a minimum of one year at the time they apply and must have less than 100 employees. Applications are accepted through June 30.
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    The 2024 CO— 100 recognition program celebrates the achievements of 100 small and medium-sized U.S. enterprises, spotlighting their innovation and role in driving economic growth and community development. A total of ten businesses will be awarded $2,000 each, with one ultimate winner receiving $25,000 as America’s Top Small Business of the Year. Applications can be submitted online until July 8.
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    The Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Awards provides $50,000 to four to six Native artists, recognizing their lifelong efforts to nurture and pass on their cultural traditions through arts such as storytelling, clothing design, and music. Nominations — accepted until July 8 — must be submitted by someone other than the artist.
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    The Queer to Stay: LGBTQ+ Business Preservation Initiative supports LGBTQ+ small businesses that serve as crucial community spaces, particularly for LGBTQ+ people of color, women, and transgender individuals. Eligible businesses must be U.S.-based, for-profit entities that primarily serve the LGBTQ+ community and have been financially impacted by COVID-19. Applications are open until August 31.
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    More grant & program information can be found here.
     
     
     
     
    Consider becoming a small business member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for exclusive perks, including a special offer from FedEx.
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