Local Business Survival: Gate City’s Mama Inez will close at the end of August after a 30-year run, with the family citing the owner’s death and the hard reality of keeping a community staple going. Downtown Foot Traffic: A longtime Raleigh restaurant (Vic’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria) is asking customers to swing by while construction in City Market disrupts access, saying the timing is hitting small businesses hardest. Supply Chain & Growth: U.S. officials say they’re working with foreign investors to plug U.S. manufacturing supply-chain gaps so small and medium-sized firms can scale as investment surges, spotlighting Hanwha’s Philadelphia shipyard expansion and its supplier network. Payments & Platform Risk: A Seattle teriyaki shop owner is set to receive about $40,000 in unpaid Uber Eats sales after months of payment delays. Workforce & Skills: Aurora’s Indigenous participants completed bread-and-pastry training and earned national certification, while Lima’s GenNext program wrapped paid internships that helped young adults map career paths. Community Recognition: Skipton Business Awards finalists were announced, and East Tennessee’s 40 Under 40 nominations are closing soon. Policy Watch: Victoria delayed a work-from-home reform until July 2027 after business groups pushed back. Small Business vs Big Brand: Beavercreek formalized the beaver as a city symbol amid national attention from Buc-ee’s lawsuit against a local mini mart’s logo.