Three hotels have earned the AAA Diamond Program’s highest distinction of Five Diamonds: Waldorf Astoria Chicago, The Setai, Miami Beach, and Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco. These properties are recognized for their luxurious surroundings and unparalleled service. Additionally, more than a dozen hotels and restaurants joined the AAA Four Diamonds list this month. Four Diamond properties offer upscale amenities and distinctive fine dining.

Today, the Biden-Harris Administration announced a new rule aimed at reducing costs for small business owners. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman revealed that the SBA 504 Loan Program will now allow easier refinancing of debt. This move is expected to help small businesses lower their debt payments and access more affordable capital for expansion or growth.

Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM) has finalized the 1GT climate private equity fund, securing $750 million in equity capital commitments. The 1GT fund focuses on growth-oriented investments in North American and European companies with the goal of avoiding or removing one gigaton of carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e) emissions from the atmosphere by 2050. Leading institutions from Europe, Japan, and North America participated in this investor group.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced the 11th annual National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW), scheduled to take place from November 11 to November 15. The event will feature both in-person and virtual events nationwide.

Drew Maloney, President and CEO of American Investment Council (AIC), said private equity has a major impact on American jobs and communities, as well as provides support for local small businesses.

Amazon in Chicago funded a mural for the Green Star Movement (GSM), marking the third time it has partnered with the local art organization for a mural project.

Starbucks Corp. (SBUX) has faced a recent stock downgrade by analysts as the company deals with ongoing lawsuits, leadership changes, and activist pressure, which have impacted its near-term outlook.

On Wednesday, September 25, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and a member of President Biden’s Cabinet, traveled to Nebraska to mark Hispanic Heritage Month and meet with Tribal leaders. The discussions focused on the SBA’s efforts to support entrepreneurship and economic development in Native American communities.

On Tuesday, Sept. 25, SBA Deputy Administrator Dilawar Syed visited Jackson, Detroit, and surrounding areas to meet with local entrepreneurs and highlight the impact of investments by the Biden-Harris Administration in infrastructure, technology, and manufacturing. Since President Biden took office, more than 19.4 million founders have filed to start a business – including more than 528,000 in Michigan alone.

The national average for a gallon of gas fluctuated slightly before stabilizing at $3.22, the same price as a week ago. Recent declines in pump prices have been interrupted by the rapid intensification of Hurricane Helene. In contrast, the average cost of public EV charging remained unchanged.

Damien Patton, founder and former CEO of Banjo, said the rise in extremism and hate groups can be fought against "if we offer a path to redemption" for those who were previously involved in such groups.

Uber announced a month long promotion for its teenage users, offering free rides and meal or snack deliveries throughout September.

Amazon is backing several initiatives to incorporate green energy and farming as part of its commitment to reach net-zero carbon by 2040 through its Climate Pledge.

Uber has launched a number of comprehensive updates to their systems, which are efforts to improve the user experience for the over 7 million drivers and couriers worldwide that work with the company.

Amazon announced a nationwide pay increase, raising the average total compensation to $29 for its front-line team members, including the over 38,000 full and part time workers in Ohio.

Amazon has announced a pay increase for its front-line team members, raising the average total compensation for workers to $29, and investing an additional $2.2 billion nationwide.

The Worldwide Returns & ReCommerce (WWR&R) organization at Amazon is seeking candidates for a Sr. Program Manager, Repair position to enhance its repair business by developing and managing vendor relationships, optimizing performance metrics, and driving data-driven improvements.

Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced $20 million in State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grants awarded to 43 state and territory international trade agencies. These grants aim to support small businesses in increasing their export volume and value. States can start soliciting applications from small businesses immediately, with funding available starting September 30.

Amazon is seeking candidates for a role as Sr. Marketing Manager to drive awareness, customer adoption, and demand generation within the Education Technology (EdTech) and Government Technology (GovTech) sectors. The position involves developing targeted marketing campaigns, collaborating with partners, and ensuring the AWS marketing plan delivers value to these specific customer groups.

State Farm has reported receiving approximately 96,300 claims following the impact of Hurricane Helene across 14 states. The claims predominantly involve auto damage due to flooding and rising waters, as well as homeowner claims related to wind damage. Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, and North Carolina have the highest number of claims.