Broadband Boost for Small Business: Spectrum says its Seminole County buildout now serves 900+ homes and small businesses with up to 1 Gig speeds, plus a $15,000 “Beyond the Build” digital education grant for Christian Tech Center Ministries. Workforce Pipeline for Manufacturers: The SBA announced its first-ever Manufacturing Workforce Expo on Aug. 26 at Atlantic Technical College in Coconut Creek, co-hosted with the U.S. Department of Labor and OpenAI, aimed at connecting students to apprenticeships and jobs with small manufacturers. Franchise Growth in Central Florida: Potbelly signed a 10-shop franchise development deal for Central Florida with BD Patel and his nephews, Bhavesh and Mihir, targeting high-visibility trade areas first and expanding toward neighborhoods and universities. Local Entrepreneurship Spotlight: Three FIU football players are building apparel brands off the field, showing how student-athletes are turning NIL and campus visibility into small-business momentum. Policy Watch—Amendment 3: Florida AG James Uthmeier rewrote the Amendment 3 ballot language after a judge ordered changes, keeping the homestead exemption increase plan but altering the ballot’s framing. Election-Year Business Climate: In Florida’s 7th Congressional District GOP primary, candidates are centering affordability, federal spending, and taxes—issues that directly shape costs for small businesses.