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NEW YORK – KPMG and Anthropic today announced KPMG Digital Gateway Powered by Claude, bringing Anthropic’s frontier AI directly into KPMG’s client delivery platform. The launch is part of a global alliance, with an initial focus on tax clients and private equity (PE) firms. By embedding Claude into Digital Gateway, KPMG’s market leading AI-enabled platform, clients can build agentic workflows in real time to help drive better outcomes. KPMG in the U.S. will also embed Claude into its PE-focused product offerings, and the two organizations will co-develop new Claude-powered products for portfolio companies.

“At KPMG, we’re innovating and redefining how work gets done,” said Bill Thomas, Global Chairman and CEO, KPMG International. “This global alliance with Anthropic reflects our shared commitment to responsible AI, prioritizing security, trust, and governance as KPMG firms scale these capabilities to our clients and people around the world.”

“KPMG works in industries where accuracy, accountability, and trust aren’t optional, and they’re applying the same standard to AI. They’re rolling Claude out to 276,000 people across the business and using it for client work in tax and private equity. They’re also bringing it into cybersecurity, where it helps find and fix vulnerabilities. That’s what a firm-wide commitment to AI looks like, and we’re proud to be the partner they chose,” said Daniela Amodei, Co-founder and President of Anthropic.

“Our clients depend on us where accuracy, judgment and knowledge matter most,” said Tim Walsh, Chair and CEO of KPMG US. “AI is changing how we deliver – trust and innovation are the core of this new offering and we’re proud to partner with Anthropic to deliver incredible value to our clients and our people. It’s one of the most important things we’ll do.”

The alliance brings together Anthropic’s frontier AI, KPMG professionals’ domain experience, and a shared commitment to security and trust in AI.

Claude Cowork and Managed Agents embedded inside Digital Gateway. Digital Gateway is KPMG’s global technology platform, built on Microsoft Azure, that combines KPMG tax insights, proprietary tools, and client data in one environment. It’s where KPMG professionals already build the AI tools they use every day to serve clients. With Claude embedded, professionals and clients work with AI inside the platform itself, building new capabilities in real time.

“Building an AI agent to help clients adjust to changing tax regulations used to take weeks and required teams to switch between multiple tools and chat windows,” said Rema Serafi, Vice Chair, Tax at KPMG US. “With Cowork and Managed Agents integrated in Digital Gateway, that same capability takes minutes. This is a totally different way of working.”

Value creation for Private Equity clients. KPMG in the U.S. will be a preferred consultant for deploying Anthropic AI capabilities to PE clients, helping portfolio companies responsibly use Anthropic AI and agents to drive productivity gains and create new AI-driven products and services.
Modernizing work with Claude. KPMG’s 276,000 global workforce will have access to Anthropic’s Claude suite of AI capabilities, building on the successful adoption of Claude across KPMG’s Advisory, AI and Data Labs and enterprise support teams in the U.S. over the last two years. As part of the strategic alliance, KPMG and Anthropic will help shared clients reimagine their business functions and co-develop AI-enabled product offerings that will solve client challenges in ways that were previously not possible. For example, the new portfolio of offerings for PE clients includes KPMG Blaze, which can embed Claude Code to help clients accelerate IT modernization, cut development lifecycles and enable faster delivery of AI-enabled technology systems.

Across the alliance, KPMG and Anthropic will embed cybersecurity, risk, and AI assurance into how AI systems and tools are designed and operated, with teams finding and fixing vulnerabilities and protecting critical systems. All work is guided by the KPMG Trusted AI framework.

“We’ve worked on the KPMG Digital Gateway platform for years. Adding Anthropic’s Claude models inside the platform changes what’s possible – not just the speed, but the type of work itself. Our team is genuinely doing different things than they were six months ago, and this alliance takes it further. That’s the kind of progression we want from advisors who are serious about leading on AI.”

– Neil Dougherty, EVP and CFO, Keysight Technologies, Inc.

“Organizations often talk about keeping a ‘human in the loop’ when using AI, but KPMG and UT Austin’s research helps clarify what that human should be doing. We find that the greatest value comes not just from technical adoption, but from the ways employees exercise judgment, shape workflows, interface with the technology, evaluate its outputs, and make decisions with AI. As these tools become more embedded in consequential work, responsible deployment will require both capable technology and a much clearer understanding of the human role in creating value.”

– Ethan Burris, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, McCombs School of Business at UT Austin

About KPMG
KPMG is a global organization of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. KPMG is the brand under which the member firms of KPMG International Limited (“KPMG International”) operate and provide professional services. “KPMG” is used to refer to individual member firms within the KPMG organization or to one or more member firms collectively. Some or all of the services described herein may not be permissible for KPMG audit clients and their affiliates or related entities.

KPMG firms operate in 138 countries and territories with more than 276,000 partners and employees working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. Each KPMG member firm is responsible for its own obligations and liabilities.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark – Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has completed its acquisition of Mjølner Informatics from Norlys, strengthening Accenture’s software engineering, digital engineering and embedded software development capabilities in Denmark. The acquisition expands the company’s presence across the country. Following the receipt of all required regulatory approvals, approximately 400 professionals from Mjølner Informatics have joined Accenture.

“We are delighted to officially welcome our new colleagues from Mjølner Informatics to Accenture,” said Carsten Sachmann, Country Managing Director of Accenture Denmark. “Mjølner brings deep expertise in developing complex, business-critical software solutions. Together, we will be even better positioned to help clients turn technological opportunities into practical solutions that create tangible business value.”

Founded in 1988, Mjølner Informatics is a Danish technology company delivering end-to-end digital solutions, with deep industry expertise in Energy & Utilities and Manufacturing, serving a range of clients located in Western Denmark. Headquartered in Aarhus, the company operates offices in Silkeborg, Fredericia, Copenhagen and Madrid.

The acquisition further strengthens the strategic relationship between Accenture and Norlys. Under the expanded collaboration, Accenture will continue delivering a range of digital development and IT services that support Norlys’ ongoing business and technology transformation.

About Accenture
Accenture helps the world’s leading enterprises reinvent by building their digital core and unleashing the power of AI to create value at speed for organizations across industries. Our strategy is to be the reinvention partner of choice for our clients and lead in the safe, widespread adoption of AI, and to be the most client-focused, AI-enabled, great place to work in the world. We bring together the talent of our approximately 814,000 people with proprietary assets and platforms, deep process and industry expertise, and leading ecosystem relationships to deliver end-to-end solutions and measurable outcomes at scale. Through our Reinvention Services, we offer broad expertise across Cybersecurity, Digital Core, Finance, Industry and Enterprise, Song, Supply Chain and Engineering, and Talent, with advanced capabilities in AI and Data, Industry and Process, and Technology. We serve approximately 9,000 clients and generated approximately $74 billion in FY26 revenue. Visit us at accenture.com.

All are invited to participate in the discussion:
Business Services Industry Entity Features Live Video Blog Schedule: February 25th, 2025 @ 11am
Venue: https://www.cibunet.com/

INDUSTRY PROFILE:

Quick Summary of Participants in this Industry: Management Consultants, Management Services, Accountants, Tax Preparers, Employment Agencies, Payroll Services etc.

The Management of Companies and Enterprises sector comprises establishments that hold the securities of (or other equity interests in) companies and enterprises for the purpose of owning a controlling interest or influencing management decisions or establishments (except government establishments) that administer, oversee, and manage establishments of the company or enterprise and that normally undertake the strategic or organizational planning and decision making role of the company or enterprise. Establishments that administer, oversee, and manage may hold the securities of the company or enterprise.

Establishments in this sector perform essential activities that are often undertaken, in-house, by establishments in many sectors of the economy. By consolidating the performance of these activities of the enterprise at one establishment, economies of scale are achieved.

The Internet is changing the way companies do business and the kind of consulting they need. Many traditional consulting practices are in danger of becoming less relevant in the Internet Age. The consultants of tomorrow will require different skills than the consultants of today. Many consultancies have some sort of e-business push underway, whether it’s a specific e-biz practice, a special initiative, or just funneling a ton of cash into figuring out all the ways they can use the Internet to help their clients.

A slew of e-business boutique firms have arisen in recent years, including Razorfish, Scient, USWeb/CKS, Viant and Agency.com. Look for these firms to increasingly butt heads with the more traditional consulting firms for Internet-related and eventually, perhaps, general-consulting projects.

To help you understand the consulting landscape, we’ve divided the industry into six different categories: the industry elite, the Big Five, boutiques, information technology (IT) consultancies, human resources specialists and the independents. Most players in the industry can be put into one or more of these different categories.

The rich and famous of the consulting world. These companies focus on providing cutting-edge strategy and operations advice to the top management of large corporations. They generally hire the best candidates from the best undergraduate, MBA and other graduate programs. Slackers need not apply. Players in this group include: Arthur D. Little, A.T. Kearney, Bain & Co., Booz-Allen & Hamilton, the Boston Consulting Group, McKinsey & Co., Mercer Management Consulting and Monitor Co., to name a few.

The consulting operations of the Big Five accounting firms. Although these firms provide some of the same strategy and operations advice as the elite, they tend to put a stronger emphasis on implementation work, particularly in the IT world. The players are Accenture, Deloitte Consulting (part of Deloitte & Touche), Ernst & Young, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers. The Big Five may get out of the consulting business, partly because the SEC is concerned about possible conflicts of interest that could result in overly rosy audits of firms that are consulting clients of the accounting firm performing the audit. The Big Five deny that a conflict of interest problem exists. At any rate, Arthur Andersen is spinning off Accenture, Ernst & Young may sell its consulting business to French consultancy Cap Gemini, and industry observers expect more of the same.

Boutique Firms that specialize along industry or functional lines. Although often smaller, these firms may have top reputations and do the same operations and strategy work the elite firms do, but with more of an industry focus. Representative players include: Advisory Board Company and APM (health care); Corporate Executive Board (cross-company research); CSC Planmetrics (energy and utility industry); Cluster Consulting (telecommunications and the internet); Marakon Associates (strategy), marchFIRST, formerly Mitchell Madison Group (financial and strategy); Oliver Wyman (financial services); MarketBridge, formely Oxford Associates (sales); PRTM (high-tech operations); Strategic Decisions Group (decision analysis), Roland Berger and Partners (strategy and operations); Braun Consulting, formerly Vertex Partners (strategy).

Information technology specialists constitute one of the fastest-growing sectors of the consulting world, although this sector’s growth isn’t quite as meteoric as that of strategy consulting, according to Kennedy Information Group. IT firms provide advice, implementation and programming work on issues related to computer systems, telecommunications and the Internet. Representative players include American Management Systems, Computer Sciences Corp., Diamond Technology Partners, EDS, IBM, Mondial and the Big Five firms.

Human Resource consulting focuses on personnel issues such as employee management and evaluation systems, payroll and compensation programs, pensions and other benefits programs. Representative firms include The Hay Group, Hewitt Associates, William M. Mercer, Sibson & Co., Towers Perrin and Watson Wyatt Worldwide. In addition, several of the Big Five firms have practices devoted to this area.

Independent one-man or one-woman shops. By sheer numbers, independent consultants far outnumber the larger firms. Fully 45 percent of all consultants are reported to be independents. They typically have some sort of industry or functional specialty and get hired on a project basis. If you have an MBA and several years of useful and topical business experience, there’s no reason not to hang out a shingle yourself.

For more on this profile, please click here: https://www.cibunet.com/industries/business-services/

Profile Is Courtesy of www.bls.gov , www2.deloitte.com , www.doingbusiness.org, www.dnb.com and WetFeet.com

Discussion Questions:
1. What are some of the obvious ethics/practices of the industry or entity in the industry that violate scriptures?
2. What are the notable complaints of those who patronize this industry or entity in this industry?
3. What services or products of this industry or entity of this industry ultimately hurt people?
4. Does the industry or entity in the industry violate Environmental Social and Governance ESG sustainability goals in any way?
5. How does this industry or entity in this industry compete that is flawed in your opinion?
6. What are some of the tactics of this industry or entity in this industry that does not augur well for other industries and the overall economy?

‘Harness Networking Tuesdays

The Harness Networking sessions entails discussion of teaching from the book ‘Harness’. This is followed immediately by ‘Industry Analysis’ or ‘Entity Features’ alternating bi-weekly.

Discussions From The Book ‘Harness’

The Israelites were freed from bondage in Egypt through the leadership of Moses the servant of God. They did not leave Egypt in a disorganized manner but were harnessed in orderly ranks as a family of tribes. Under the auspices of God’s glory, the entire Israelite community journeyed to the Promised Land and possessed their allotments. No one was left disenfranchised because corporate progress translates into individual progress. Can that be said about the Body of Christ today?

The prophetic destinies of the twelve tribes of Israel unveil our dominant and recessed potentials that ought to be engaged in our endeavors. Altogether these potentials are the basis of our spiritual senses that determine our choices.

This book teaches how the twelve tribes provide insight into our prophetic purposes and the corresponding apostolic foundations for a grasp of basic kingdom economics as well as the dimensions of how God works.

About The Author

Kenneth Walley is bi-vocational and serves as the Senior Pastor of New Faith Tabernacle at Fair Lawn, NJ. He is a Business Analyst and is the President of Cibunet Corporation serving as advisor to several organizations. American Culture In Water, Blood, Oil and Bread and Substitutional Arrangement are among other books he has authored.

‘Industry Analysis’ Session

Our divine destiny places us in an industry where we ought to function in our dominant potentials. Duning the bi-weekly ‘Industry Analysis’ feature, we look intently into some of the prominent entities of an industry in focus and discuss their practices that violate scriptures. This way, those called to an industry can position themselves to compete effectively.

‘Entity Features’ Session

Those who intend to start an enterprise, develop projects or go to the next level with their existing organization can pitch their strategic plan to garner the support required. Bi-weekly ‘Entity Features’ would alternate with the ‘Industry Analysis’ feature. Potentials who plan to be showcased during the ‘entity features’ Tuesday should notify admin@cibunet.com at least, one week prior for prepping.

Tuesdays: 9.30AM US EASTERN TIME

Online at: https://www.cibunet.com

This report focuses on the equity investments and advisory services of Goldman Sachs in medium and large-scale enterprises. While the firm has a record of outstanding performance in its business overall; from the vantage points of global trends to the variables of potential disruptions, this report evaluates how the firm may already be facing light headwinds that will tend to increase significantly in the long-term.

Global challenges that are just brewing up include cybersecurity and artificial intelligence while localized issues range from mission dynamics, human and corporate resource, productivity, market and finance disruptions. As artificial intelligence technology matures, we are headed to the point where everyone has similarly equal access to information and methodologies that were previously confidential. How do we compete if we are all privy to the same strategies? With artificial intelligence increasing the capacity of computing prowess significantly, what will be the exponential degree of cybercrime escalation? As many professionals become redundant what could be the potential and consequences for mass human dissension.

While it is not yet clear how such global challenges may impact the economics of tomorrow, more than is rational has already been invested in anticipation of high dividends. With such magnitude of underlining unknowns, the current methodologies for risk assessment and mitigation will certainly be inefficient hence the essence of new calculus for computing the path through these emerging realities.

Goldman Sachs furnishes investments through the prudent processes of the Investment Committee for Investments, Criteria, Structure and Allocation of Opportunities and while the firm has incorporated awareness of the recent pandemic related work-from-home challenges, cybersecurity threats and extreme weather to factor in their corporate diligence, it would soon be apparent and catch many by surprise that the overall dynamics of enterprise success is forever changed…

Full report by Kenneth Walley is available only to Goldman Sachs and may be requested by email to kwalley@cibunet.com

PHILADELPHIA— Today, July 25, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced $13.9 million in funding coming to Pennsylvania to help disadvantaged communities tackle environmental and climate justice challenges through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity.

Made possible by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the Community Change Grants Program is the single largest investment in environmental and climate justice in history. The funding announcement today is the first tranche of nearly $2 billion from the program that was designed based on community input to award grants on a rolling basis.

In Pennsylvania, nearly $14 million is being awarded to the Pittsburgh Conservation Corps and PowerCorpsPHL to work in disadvantaged neighborhoods in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia to expand and create critical infrastructure for upcycling and commercializing materials from urban tree waste. The project will offer workforce development and training for area residents to provide career pathways in land stewardship services and wood products.

These selected applications are the first to come under the Community Change Grants Program’s rolling application process. Informed by robust stakeholder engagement and community feedback, the innovative rolling application process will ensure that applicants have ample time to prepare and take advantage of this historic resource. The Community Change Grants Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), administered through EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights, is still accepting applications through November 21, 2024. EPA will continue to review applications and announce selections on a rolling basis.

“Our ability to deliver tangible results for communities depends on listening to them and developing innovative solutions through inclusive stakeholder engagement,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Today, thanks to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, EPA has selected the first cohort of community partnerships to solve emerging and longstanding environmental and climate justice challenges.”

“These organizations recognized a need and took the steps to make their communities stronger now and in the future. This funding is a boost towards a cleaner environment while also building community capacity and addressing environmental justice”, said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “We will continue to partner with these groups and look forward to watching the progress that will be made.”

The Community Change Grants also deliver on President Biden’s commitment to advance equity and justice throughout the United States through his Justice40 Initiative to ensure that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments go to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.

See the full listing of the initial 21 organizations receiving a CCGP grant and learn more about CCGP here: https://www.epa.gov/inflation-reduction-act/community-change-grants-selections.

The Community Change Grants Program is still accepting applications through November 21, 2024, so EPA encourages applicants to submit applications as soon as they completely meet the NOFO requirements. EPA will be making additional selections on a rolling basis for the remainder of 2024. EPA also encourages interested applicants to apply for technical assistance as soon as possible, as the last day to request new technical assistance is August 16, 2024.

Read the Community Change Grants NOFO here: https://www.epa.gov/inflation-reduction-act/inflation-reduction-act-community-change-grants-program.

To learn more about the Community Change Grants and Technical Assistance: https://www.epa.gov/inflation-reduction-act/inflation-reduction-act-community-change-grants-program

To learn more about environmental justice at EPA, visit: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice

For up-to-date information about the NOFO, including information on the webinars, subscribe to the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights’ listserv by sending a blank email to: join-epa-ej@lists.epa.gov. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): @EPAEnvJustice.

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BOSTON – On Monday, July 22, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 33 million small businesses, traveled to Boston alongside U.S. Senator Ed Markey, member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, to highlight the impact of Inflation Reduction Act investments in community energy projects and to introduce a new SBA initiative to attract additional private capital to support small business investments in the clean energy transition.

In the morning, Administrator Guzman toured Team Sunshine, a local solar, roofing, and HVAC installation company that has received SBA support. The Administrator met with the company’s four owners and heard firsthand about the revenue growth opportunities created for their business by the Biden-Harris Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act.

Administrator Guzman then traveled to Indigo Block, a mixed-income housing development in Dorchester, Massachusetts where she was joined by U.S. Senator Ed Markey, Boston’s Chief Climate Officer Brian Swett, Resonant Energy CEO Isaac Baker, and Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation CEO Kimberly Lyle. At Indigo Block, the leaders viewed Resonant Energy’s rooftop solar installation, which saves the residential rental portion of Indigo Block approximately $700-$1,300 per month on electricity costs.

Following the tour, Administrator Guzman hosted a press conference to formally announce the SBA’s new Green Lending Initiative to enroll additional climate lenders in the SBA’s loan programs. The initiative will employ SBA loan guarantees to attract additional private capital in support of clean energy investments spurred by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.

To conclude the day, Administrator Guzman and Senator Markey hosted a Climate Finance and Innovation Roundtable at MIT’s Engine Accelerator where they discussed federal investments in climate innovation that will power America’s clean energy future.

For follow up interviews with Administrator Guzman, please reach out to Teddy Lake at theodora.lake@sba.gov.

WASHINGTON – Today, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 33 million small businesses, announced $3 million in new funding(Link is external) under the Cybersecurity for Small Businesses Pilot Program. Three grants will be awarded to state agencies to provide training, counseling, and other tailored cybersecurity services for startups and emerging entrepreneurs.

“With small businesses accounting for 99.9 percent of all American businesses and employing nearly half of the private workforce, any cyber threat to our small businesses is a threat to our country’s overall economy,” said SBA Administrator Guzman. “The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to strengthening our nation’s cybersecurity and equipping small businesses with the tools they need to strengthen their cyber health and prevent costly attacks that disrupt their businesses. Through this new funding, the SBA will fund ecosystem partners to provide more cyber training and counseling to strengthen small businesses’ ability to compete in this increasingly digital economy.”

Applications will be accepted from July 2-Aug. 2, and applicants can apply for awards ranging from $1,000,000 to $1,045,000 for a performance period of 24 months ending September 2026.

Eligible applicants include state and territorial government agencies that seek to provide training, counseling, and other tailored cybersecurity services for startups and emerging entrepreneurs.

The competitive funding opportunity for state governments will support efforts to educate emerging small businesses when they are most vulnerable to cyber threats, and to help them develop robust cybersecurity measures.

SBA’s Cybersecurity for Small Business Pilot Program has awarded nearly $9 million in funding since 2022. Proposals responding to this Funding Opportunity Number SB-OEDCS-24-001(Link is external) must be posted to Grants.gov(Link is external) under “Cybersecurity for Small Business Pilot” by 11:59 p.m. (EDT), Aug. 2.

In addition to the grant program, the SBA along with Resource Partners offers other cybersecurity resources to small businesses, including in-person and online training. To find these SBA local resources, visit www.sba.gov/local-assistance. To learn more about SBA’s programs and services related to cybersecurity, visit www.sba.gov/cybersecurity and https://www.nist.gov/itl/smallbusinesscyber(Link is external).

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About the Cybersecurity for Small Business Pilot Program
Cyberattacks are a growing threat to small businesses and the U.S. economy. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Report(Link is external), the cost of cybercrimes against the small business community reached $2.9 billion in 2023. Small businesses are attractive targets because they have information that cybercriminals want, and they typically lack the security infrastructure of larger businesses.

According to an SBA survey, 88% of small business owners felt their business was vulnerable to a cyberattack. Yet many businesses can’t afford professional IT solutions, have limited time to devote to Cybersecurity, or don’t know where to begin. Eligible applicants consist of state governments that seek to provide training, counseling, and other tailored cybersecurity services for emerging small businesses.

This pilot program empowers state governments to expand existing services, innovate, adapt to current environments, develop new resources, and scale solutions to assist more small businesses. Additionally, expanding access to underserved and underrepresented small business ecosystems will be a critical marker of success.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

WASHINGTON – Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 33 million small businesses, announced a new funding solicitation for the SBA’s Regional Innovation Cluster (RIC) Initiative that will make awards for the first time at two funding levels: emerging and mature clusters. The RIC solicitation will open on July 1, 2024, and will close on July 26 at 1:00 PM ET.

“President Biden is delivering historic Investments in America that continue to strengthen innovation, supply chains, and new industries, as well as spark a small business boom with 18 million new business applications filed,” said Administrator Guzman. “The SBA’s Regional Innovation Cluster Initiative provides communities with funding to spur further development of industry-focused entrepreneurship ecosystems that support small businesses developing and commercializing critical technologies in key areas, such as developing safe, secure, and trustworthy AI. Our two new funding levels will support both emerging and mature industry clusters and help ensure small business innovators have access to the technical assistance, industry knowledge, and capital products necessary to start and grow their businesses.”

The SBA launched the RIC Initiative in September 2010 to promote and support the development of clusters, which are geographically concentrated groups of interconnected businesses, suppliers, service providers, and associated institutions in a particular industry or field across the country. Clusters act as a networking hub for small businesses, convening several resources to help navigate the funding, procurement, and supply-chain opportunities in a specific industry. They also assist businesses in matching cutting-edge technology to industry needs and increase the number of innovative small businesses and entrepreneurs in the nation’s supply chain. Emerging clusters develop and deploy small business support services in their designated regions and industries, and the RIC Initiative enables them to scale their current and future programming to reach more small businesses. Mature clusters have experience building and implementing programming to support small businesses, and the RIC Initiative enables them to increase the effectiveness of programming and operations to reach more small businesses and strengthen existing and new partnerships.

“The Office of Investment and Innovation catalyzes the development and growth of industry clusters across the country, and the new funding levels are part of our ongoing effort to right-size our support for industry clusters across their full life span,” said Associate Administrator Bailey DeVries.

The SBA’s Investment and Innovation Ecosystem Development in the Office of Investment and Innovation will host a webinar on July 9, 2024 at 3:00 PM ET to discuss the solicitation. Interested offerors also have until July 11, 2024 at 1:00 PM ET to submit any questions related to the solicitation to RICInitiative2024@sba.gov. All answers will be posted publicly to the solicitation page.

The solicitation is available at SAM.gov. Regional Innovation Clusters are established through contracts. Eligibility to apply is open to all non-profit and for-profit firms with an active SAM.gov registration eligible for federal contracts at time of offer.

To learn more about the RIC Initiative, including current RICs, please visit: Regional Innovation Clusters | U.S. Small Business Administration (sba.gov)

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About SBA’s Office of Investment and Innovation
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Investment and Innovation (OII) leads programs that provide the U.S. growth-oriented small business and startup community with access to financial capital, networks, assistance, and R&D funds to develop commercially viable innovations. Our work is underpinned by public-private partnerships that help small businesses on their trajectory from idea to IPO. Learn more at sba.gov.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. Learn more at sba.gov.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced over $1 million in new funding to provide critical training and counseling to aspiring and existing veteran small business owners as a Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC).

The new funding opportunity will make awards of up to $400,000 to up to three entities. Eligible awardees include private organizations, colleges and universities, private sector firms, nonprofit organizations, and state, local, or tribal governmental agencies.

“Through this initiative, the SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD) is investing in military-connected entrepreneurs that will grow the VBOC program from 28 to 31 locations nationwide,” said Robert Yannuzzi, Assistant Administrator for the SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development. “This expansion will enhance the entrepreneurship experience across all U.S. states and territories.”

With this SBA funding, recipients will offer training to transitioning service members and military spouses via the Boots to Business(Link is external) entrepreneurship program, a key component of the Department of Defense’s Transition Assistance Program, as well as Boots to Business Reboot(Link is external) and the Military Spouse Pathway to Business(Link is external) program. Applicants will deliver counseling, technical support, financial skills development, comprehensive business evaluations, and mentorship to veterans, transitioning service members, Reserve and National Guard members, and military spouses aiming to launch or expand their small businesses.

The locations for new VBOCs are as follows: Arkansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Florida, and Puerto Rico, and organizations anywhere may apply for a portion of the total $1.1 million in funding available for this program in Fiscal Year 2024.

Each award is made for a base project period of 8 months, with four 12-month option periods, starting Sept. 1, 2024. Additional information about the funding opportunity, including specific coverage areas and instructions on how to apply, can be found at www.grants.gov(Link is external) and by searching “ SB-OVVB-24-001(Link is external).”

Applications submitted via other media, including SBA’s website, will be rejected and will not be evaluated. Applications must be submitted via grants.gov(Link is external) no later than 11:50 p.m. EST on Friday, July 19, 2024.

The SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development will host information sessions on the funding opportunity via this Microsoft Teams link(Link is external)or this call-in number (202-765-1264; access code: 265 542 768#, phone conference ID: 736 752 338#) at the following times:

Monday, June 24: 4-5 p.m. ET
Monday, July 15: 2-3 p.m. ET
Please direct all questions about the VBOC funding opportunity to Tangela Liddell at tangela.liddell@sba.gov. For issues with grants.gov, please call the support line at 1-800-518-4726 or email.

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About the SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development
The SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD) works through the SBA’s extensive resource partner network, which includes Small Business Development Centers, SCORE, Women’s Business Centers, and 28 VBOCs located throughout the nation. VBOCs are also the leading partner in hosting the “Boots to Business” and “Boots to Business Reboot” programs, which offer courses on entrepreneurship on military installations and in local communities. Since the program’s inception in 2013, Boots to Business has trained and graduated more than 200,000 service members, veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses. For more information on the resources available for veteran entrepreneurs, visit sba.gov/veterans.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Francisco Sánchez Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration, today reminded Nevada small businesses of the July 10, 2024, deadline to apply for an SBA federal disaster loan for economic injury caused by Hurricane Hilary in Clark county that occurred Aug. 18 – 24, 2023.

According to Sánchez, small nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. “Economic Injury Disaster Loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster’s impact. Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the applicant suffered any property damage,” Sánchez said.

These low-interest federal disaster loans are available in Clark, Lincoln and Nye counties in Nevada; Mohave County in Arizona; and Inyo and San Bernardino counties in California.

Interest rates are 4 percent for businesses and 2.375 percent for private nonprofit organizations with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

Interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the first disaster loan disbursement. SBA disaster loan repayment begins 12 months from the date of the first disbursement.

Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Francisco Sánchez Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration, today reminded Nevada small businesses of the July 10, 2024, deadline to apply for an SBA federal disaster loan for economic injury caused by Hurricane Hilary in Clark county that occurred Aug. 18 – 24, 2023.

According to Sánchez, small nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. “Economic Injury Disaster Loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster’s impact. Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the applicant suffered any property damage,” Sánchez said.

These low-interest federal disaster loans are available in Clark, Lincoln and Nye counties in Nevada; Mohave County in Arizona; and Inyo and San Bernardino counties in California.

Interest rates are 4 percent for businesses and 2.375 percent for private nonprofit organizations with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

Interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the first disaster loan disbursement. SBA disaster loan repayment begins 12 months from the date of the first disbursement.

Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

ROSELAND, N.J., June 5, 2024 — Private sector employment increased by 152,000 jobs in May and annual pay was up 5.0 percent year-over-year, according to the May ADP® National Employment ReportTM produced by the ADP Research Institute® in collaboration with the Stanford Digital Economy Lab (“Stanford Lab”). The ADP National Employment Report is an independent measure and high-frequency view of the private-sector labor market based on actual, anonymized payroll data of more than 25 million U.S. employees.

The jobs report and pay insights use ADP’s fine-grained anonymized and aggregated payroll data to provide a representative picture of the private-sector labor market. The report details the current month’s total private employment change, and weekly job data from the previous month. Because the underlying ADP payroll databases are continuously updated, the report provides a high-frequency, near real-time measure of U.S. employment. This measure reflects the number of employees on ADP client payrolls (Payroll Employment) to provide a richer understanding of the labor market. ADP’s pay measure uniquely captures the earnings of a cohort of almost 10 million employees over a 12-month period.

“Job gains and pay growth are slowing going into the second half of the year,” said Nela Richardson, chief economist, ADP. “The labor market is solid, but we’re monitoring notable pockets of weakness tied to both producers and consumers.”

May 2024 Report Highlights*

View the ADP National Employment Report and interactive charts at www.adpemploymentreport.com.

JOBS REPORT

Private employers added 152,000 jobs in May
Job gains were slower in May due to a steep decline in manufacturing. Leisure and hospitality also showed weaker hiring.

Change in U.S. Private Employment: 152,000

Change by Industry Sector

– Goods-producing: 3,000

Natural resources/mining -9,000
Construction 32,000
Manufacturing -20,000
– Service-providing: 149,000

Trade/transportation/utilities 55,000
Information -7,000
Financial activities 28,000
Professional/business services -6,000
Education/health services 46,000
Leisure/hospitality 12,000
Other services 21,000
Change by U.S. Regions

– Northeast: 44,000

New England -1,000
Middle Atlantic 45,000
– Midwest: 9,000

East North Central 6,000
West North Central 3,000
– South: 101,000

South Atlantic 45,000
East South Central -4,000
West South Central 60,000
– West: -10,000

Mountain 8,000
Pacific -18,000
Change by Establishment Size

– Small establishments: -10,000

1-19 employees 26,000
20-49 employees -36,000
– Medium establishments: 79,000

50-249 employees 49,000
250-499 employees 30,000
– Large establishments: 98,000

500+ employees 98,000
PAY INSIGHTS

Pay gains for job-changers slowed in May
Year-over-year pay gains for job-changers fell for the second month. Pay for job-changers was up 7.8 percent while pay growth for job-stayers held steady for the third month at 5 percent.

Median Change in Annual Pay (ADP matched person sample)

– Job-Stayers 5.0%

– Job-Changers 7.8%

Median Change in Annual Pay for Job-Stayers by Industry Sector

– Goods-producing:

Natural resources/mining 4.4%
Construction 5.3%
Manufacturing 4.7%
– Service-providing:

Trade/transportation/utilities 4.6%
Information 4.6%
Financial activities 5.1%
Professional/business services 4.8%
Education/health services 5.5%
Leisure/hospitality 5.5%
Other services 5.3%
Median Change in Annual Pay for Job-Stayers by Firm Size

– Small firms:

1-19 employees 4.2%
20-49 employees 5.0%
– Medium firms:

50-249 employees 5.2%
250-499 employees 5.0%
– Large firms:

500+ employees 4.9%
To see Pay Insights by U.S. State, Gender, and Age for Job-Stayers, visit here:

* Sum of components may not equal total, due to rounding.

The April total of jobs added was revised from 192,000 to 188,000. The historical data file, and weekly data for the previous month, is available at https://adpemploymentreport.com/.

The April Pay Insights numbers have also been revised from 9.3 percent to 8 percent for job-changers due to a process correction in March to the Pay Insights data.

To subscribe to monthly email alerts or obtain additional information about the ADP National Employment Report, including employment and pay data, interactive charts, methodology, and a calendar of release dates, please visit https://adpemploymentreport.com/.

The June 2024 ADP National Employment Report will be released at 8:15 a.m. ET on July 3, 2024.

About the ADP® National Employment Report™
The ADP National Employment Report is an independent measure of the change in U.S. private employment and pay derived from actual, anonymized payroll data of client companies served by ADP, a leading provider of human capital management solutions. The report is produced by ADP Research Institute in collaboration with the Stanford Digital Economy Lab.

The ADP National Employment Report is broadly distributed to the public each month, free of charge, as part of the company’s commitment to offering deeper insights of the U.S. labor market and providing businesses and governments with a source of credible and valuable information.

About the ADP Research Institute®
The ADP Research Institute delivers data-driven discoveries about the world of work and derives reliable economic indicators from these insights. We offer these findings as a unique contribution to making the world of work better and more productive by delivering actionable insights to the economy at large.

About ADP (NASDAQ – ADP)
Designing better ways to work through cutting-edge products, premium services and exceptional experiences that enable people to reach their full potential. HR, Talent, Time Management, Benefits and Payroll. Informed by data and designed for people. Learn more at ADP.com

ADP, the ADP logo, and Always Designing for People, ADP National Employment Report, and ADP Research Institute are registered trademarks of ADP, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

Copyright © 2024 ADP, Inc. All rights reserved.

ADP-Media

SOURCE ADP, Inc.

For further information: Joanna DiNizio, ADP, Inc., (973) 369-8167, joanna.dinizio@adp.com

WASHINGTON – Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 33 million small businesses, announced that the agency has removed its 504 Loan Program’s cap on lending for clean energy projects as part of broader SBA and Biden-Harris Administration efforts to usher in our nation’s clean energy future.

“Small businesses and start-ups play a crucial role not only in innovating to develop the future of climate technology but also in adopting sustainable practices and transitioning to clean energy to help advance President Biden’s ambitious goal of net zero by 2050,” said Administrator Guzman. “As the Biden-Harris Administration makes historic public investments in climate resilience, clean energy, and infrastructure, the SBA is focused on ensuring small businesses have access to the capital they need to help our nation transition to a clean energy economy. By outlining SBA resources in the White House Climate Capital Guidebook and removing the cap on 504 loans for energy projects, the SBA can put itself in a stronger position to achieve this vital goal.”

The SBA’s lending cap removal for clean energy projects is part of a suite of initiatives under the Biden-Harris Administration announced today to catalyze and democratize investment in climate and clean energy. Previously, small businesses financing “energy public policy projects” were limited to three SBA 504 loans of $5.5 million each, for a maximum total of $16.5 million. Going forward, borrowers may secure as many 504 loans up to $5.5 million for which they otherwise qualify. Energy public policy projects include those that reduce energy consumption (e.g., retrofits) and renewable energy projects (e.g., adding solar), etc.

In addition to this announcement, the SBA continues to advance its core lending and investment programs in collaboration with the private capital markets to advance capital access for small businesses fueling the clean energy economy. A new Climate Capital Guidebook released today by the White House provides a comprehensive map of financing programs across the federal government, including from the SBA, that are available to climate-related small businesses and their investors. The guidebook complements the SBA’s recently released Investing in America Small Business Hub, which provides technical assistance to small businesses on how to access grants, loans, and market opportunities stemming from the climate investments under the Biden-Harris Administration.

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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that it was ranked as 7 of the top 10 best midsize agencies to work in the federal government in 2023, with a score of 76.9, up slightly from 76.6 in 2022.

“The SBA’s strength lies in its people. Our dedicated mission-driven team works day in and day out to serve the small businesses across our country, support disaster-impacted communities, and ensure that all entrepreneurs – no matter their background or where they live – can start, build, and grow resilient businesses,” said SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman. “Thanks to these hard-working public servants, the SBA provides crucial assistance to America’s small businesses, whose impact is clear as we celebrate and support our nation’s historic Small Business Boom.”

The SBA will be presented the award for its ranking during a breakfast hosted by the Partnership for Public Service and Boston Consulting Group on May 20 in Washington, D.C.

This annual ranking is compiled by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service and Boston Consulting Group and is based on a comprehensive assessment of several factors, including employee engagement in the federal government, employee perspectives on leadership, pay, recognition, and work-life balance. It is a means of holding agency leaders accountable for the overall health of their organizations and provides a roadmap for all federal agencies to improve their workforce and workplace culture.

The Best Places to Work in the Federal Government® rankings have been conducted since 2003. Participating agencies are divided into four categories based on their size consisting of large agencies, midsize agencies, – to which the SBA belongs – small agencies, and agency subcomponents. The overall agency ranking is also further broken down into subsections, including effective leadership, mission match, pay, teamwork, innovation, work-life balance, diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, recognition, performance, and customer service.

For more information about the 2023 Best Places to Work in the Federal Government® rankings, click here: https://bestplacestowork.org/.

To learn more about what the SBA has to offer and find an SBA office near you, visit www.sba.gov/tools/local-assistance.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration 
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. 

MILWAUKEE — ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN), the leading global workforce solutions company, will ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday, May 2nd, to mark its 75th anniversary. Chairman and CEO Jonas Prising, along with the executive leadership team and members of the Board of Directors, will be at the Stock Exchange to celebrate this significant milestone and the company’s ongoing commitment to shaping the future of work.

“For more than seven decades, our mission has been clear: to connect people with meaningful, sustainable employment.”
“For more than seven decades, our mission has been clear: to connect people with meaningful, sustainable employment while providing our clients with the talent and workforce solutions they need to succeed. As we celebrate this milestone, I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to our clients and the millions of associates we have placed with them for their enduring trust and collaboration,” said Prising. “As the world of work undergoes unprecedented changes, driven by AI and the shift toward a more sustainable future, we’re committed to providing our clients with the global solutions and talent they need to adapt, prosper, and grow.”

Recognizing that the rapid pace of digital transformation and the growing emphasis on environmental responsibility will require new skills and increase the need for specialized talent, ManpowerGroup is actively preparing to help organizations and individuals navigate this transition.

“Since day one, we have believed that every permanent and temporary assignment, every learning opportunity, has the potential to change someone’s life. We know this from the millions of people we have placed in meaningful employment throughout our history,” said Ruth Harper, Chief Sustainability Officer. “And when we look to the future and see the speed with which skills are changing, we are committed to being creators of talent at scale – especially for emerging sectors like tech and in roles that will power the green transition. This is good for people, their prosperity, and the planet.”

ManpowerGroup was founded as Manpower in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1948 when attorneys Elmer Winter and Aaron Scheinfeld struggled to find a temporary typist to meet a deadline, identifying a gap in the market. At the same time, there was an influx of working women as men returned from World War II. Manpower quickly expanded internationally and today, the company’s Diversification, Digitization, and Innovation (DDI) strategy is transforming how it operates, allowing it to navigate the current landscape and offer a full spectrum of workforce solutions across its family of brands in more than 70 countries and territories:

Manpower specializes in contingent staffing, permanent resourcing, and upskilling through its Manpower MyPath® program.
Experis focuses on IT services and professional resourcing, and advanced technical training, coaching, and skills development via the Experis Academy.
Talent Solutions delivers data-driven talent management, including RPO, TAPFIN-MSP, and Right Management, all powered by the company’s PowerSuite® HR tech stack.
The closing bell ceremony will be broadcast on NYSE TV Live from 3:30 – 4:00 pm ET.

To learn more about ManpowerGroup’s 75-year history and its vision for the future of work, visit: www.manpowergroup.com.

ABOUT MANPOWERGROUP
ManpowerGroup® (NYSE: MAN), the leading global workforce solutions company, helps organizations transform in a fast-changing world of work by sourcing, assessing, developing, and managing the talent that enables them to win. We develop innovative solutions for hundreds of thousands of organizations every year, providing them with skilled talent while finding meaningful, sustainable employment for millions of people across a wide range of industries and skills. Our expert family of brands – Manpower, Experis, and Talent Solutions – creates substantially more value for candidates and clients across more than 70 countries and territories and has done so for more than 75 years. We are recognized consistently for our diversity – as a best place to work for Women, Inclusion, Equality, and Disability, and in 2024 ManpowerGroup was named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the 15th time – all confirming our position as the brand of choice for in-demand talent.

For more information, visit www.manpowergroup.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.

SOURCE ManpowerGroup

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and SCORE, mentors to America’s small businesses and a resource partner of the SBA, announced that registration for the 2024 National Small Business Week Virtual Summit is now open. The two-day online event will take place from April 30-May 1. Attendance is free of charge, but registration is required. To register, visit National Small Business Week Virtual Summit registration.

This year’s NSBW Virtual Summit will feature educational workshops presented by event cosponsors, access to federal resources, and networking opportunities. A detailed agenda and list of cosponsor speakers will be published at a later date.

“SCORE is proud to co-host the National Small Business Week virtual summit with the SBA,” said SCORE CEO Bridget Weston. “At SCORE, we believe that anyone can succeed in their business journey, given the right tools and support. Every year, we look forward to this event and the opportunity to connect entrepreneurs with helpful, educational tools and resources from the experts themselves.”

For more information about National Small Business Week, visit www.sba.gov/NSBW.     

—

Co-sponsorship Authorization # 24-1-C. SBA’s participation in this Cosponsored Activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any Cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

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About National Small Business Week
In the spirit of National Small Business Week, we celebrate the unprecedented growth of entrepreneurship in the United States, marked by 16.5 million new business applications since the Biden-Harris Administration took office. This surge highlights the dynamism and innovation that America’s entrepreneurs bring to our local communities. The SBA will continue to champion the endeavors of small businesses and the vital role they play in driving economic prosperity across the nation.

About SCORE
SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, is dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals. Since 1964, SCORE has provided education and mentorship to more than 11 million entrepreneurs. SCORE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

MILWAUKEE — The accelerating pace of the global green transition is intensifying the competition for talent, according to new research from ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN). “Building Competitive Advantage with A People-First Green Business Transformation,” reveals demand for green skills significantly outstripping supply as employers work to recruit and retain qualified talent critical to achieving ambitious sustainability targets.

Based on surveys of nearly 39,000 employers and over 5,000 workers worldwide, the findings spotlight an unprecedented convergence of talent scarcity, climate urgency, and technological disruption hindering sustainability progress. With 2023 now the hottest year ever recorded, this report underscores the urgency for organizations to deliver on their environmental goals and commitments.

“As companies accelerate their sustainability efforts, it’s critical we bring people along on the journey,” said Riccardo Barberis, President, ManpowerGroup Northern Europe Region. “Investments in green technology will only get us halfway if employers fail to properly skill and reskill workers to operate in a greener future. Prioritizing workforce development must be a core pillar of net-zero strategies.”

Key findings:

Unprecedented Demand: 70% of employers are urgently recruiting or planning to recruit green talent and people with sustainability skills, with the highest demand in renewable energy, manufacturing, operations, and IT.
Widening Global Skills Gap: Despite demand, only 1 in 8 workers currently have more than one green skill, sparking an exponential shortage as companies compete for limited talent.
High Industry Demand: Energy & Utilities (81%), Information Technology (77%), Financials & Real Estate (75%), Industrials & Materials (74%), and Transport, Logistics & Automotive (73%) top the leaderboard with the highest intentions to hire green talent to meet sustainability targets.
Roadblocks Slowing Progress: Talent leaders cited finding qualified candidates (44%), creating effective reskilling programs (39%), and identifying transferable skills (36%) as the top barriers to execute green transitions.
Workforce Skepticism: While 70% of white-collar workers say they are ready to embrace the green transition, only 57% of their blue-collar peers say the same.
Gen Z Calls for Accountability: Three-quarters (75%) of Gen Z candidates research a prospective employer’s green reputation and nearly half (46%) say it will impact their likelihood of choosing a particular employer.
Generational Divide: 66% of Gen Z and 64% of Millennials believe sustainability efforts will enhance their work, compared to just 44% of Baby Boomers.
Given these results, creating a roadmap for workers to transition into high-demand green roles remains a pressing priority.

For more details on the green jobs landscape, workforce readiness perceptions, and recommendations for planning for the greening world of work, download the complete report here.

ABOUT MANPOWERGROUP
ManpowerGroup® (NYSE: MAN), the leading global workforce solutions company, helps organizations transform in a fast-changing world of work by sourcing, assessing, developing, and managing the talent that enables them to win. We develop innovative solutions for hundreds of thousands of organizations every year, providing them with skilled talent while finding meaningful, sustainable employment for millions of people across a wide range of industries and skills. Our expert family of brands – Manpower, Experis, and Talent Solutions – creates substantially more value for candidates and clients across more than 70 countries and territories and has done so for more than 75 years. We are recognized consistently for our diversity – as a best place to work for Women, Inclusion, Equality, and Disability, and in 2023 ManpowerGroup was named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the 14th time – all confirming our position as the brand of choice for in-demand talent.

For more information, visit www.manpowergroup.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release, and the related report “Building Competitive Advantage with A People-First Green Business Transformation”, contain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the impact of the green transition, the limited availability of labor that has green skills, and the impact of such shortages. Actual events or results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements due to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These factors include those found in the Company’s reports filed with the SEC, including the information under the heading “Risk Factors” in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, which information is incorporated herein by reference. ManpowerGroup disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking or other statements in this release, except as required by law.

SOURCE ManpowerGroup

John Julitz, +1 (414) 502-9314, john.julitz@manpowergroup.com

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) marks the one-year anniversary of the agency accepting applications through the Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) program, the SBA’s primary certification vehicle to expand federal contracting opportunities for all Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSBs) and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs). This effort is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to expanding access to resources for veterans and other underserved populations. Since the VetCert Program’s transfer to the SBA, VetCert approved more than 10,000 applications from VOSBs and SDVOBs, averaging a remarkable 15-day processing time.

“SBA’s VetCert, in just its first year of operation, has delivered a platinum standard of customer experience in this critical veteran small business certification program. With new policies, processes, and technology, we’ve simplified doing business with the federal government for America’s military community,” said SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman. “We have now approved over 10,000 applications during the first year of SBA leading the VetCert program, which is a huge milestone as supporting our veteran entrepreneurs with access to government contracting promotes innovation, competition, job creation, and wealth generation — which is a win for the American people and economy.”

The VetCert program is SBA’s primary certification vehicle for VOSBs and SDVOSBs, important classifications that enable those businesses to qualify for sole-source and set-aside federal contracting awards. Certified VOSBs are eligible to compete for sole-source and set-aside contracts at the Department of Veterans Affairs, while certified SDVOSBs can compete for sole-source and set-aside contracts government-wide.

The Agency began accepting applications on Jan. 9, 2023. The National Defense Authorization Act 2021 granted a one-time, one-year extension grace period to self-certified SDVOSBs until Jan. 1, 2024. Any SDVOSB company that applied to VetCert before the end of the grace period is still authorized to vie for federal-wide SDVOSB set-aside contracts until a program determination is made. Since the grace period ended at the start of the new year, self-certified SDVOSBs that did not apply before the deadline are encouraged to complete their applications as soon as possible to ensure they will be able to continue to do business with the federal government as certified contractors.

The SBA implemented several improvements to streamline the certification experience for veteran entrepreneurs. Those improvements and other notable accomplishments in the first year of implementation of the VetCert program include:

Provided veterans with a central support platform for their small business certification needs.

Provided reciprocal certification for businesses with remaining eligibility in the women-owned small business (WOSB) and 8(a) programs.

Created a more business-friendly approach by streamlining the application process and aligning ownership and control requirements across the VetCert, 8(a), and WOSB programs.

Established the VetCert web-based Veterans Case Management System (VCMS) material change module in May 2023. This key change allowed veteran-certified companies to report changes in ownership company structure and veteran status.

Retained the best customer-friendly aspects of prior veteran certification programs. The VetCert customer call center and mailbox were transferred from the Veterans Affairs program. The SBA also maintained the ability to correct business documents during the process and direct contact with case processing agents at every phase. A robust Frequently Asked Questions library was re-established as part of the VetCert Program. To date, 42,525 VetCert customer service responses have been completed by the VetCert Verification Support personnel.

Rolled out the VetCert VCMS recertification module in September 2023, approximately four months before the first recertification applications were due. The recertification process also retains legacy streamlined concepts that ensure accurate and fast VetCert determinations.

Began offering monthly virtual VetCert webinars starting in Fall 2023 for any interested veteran applicants starting the veteran certification process.

Registration for the January VetCert webinar can be found at: https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/30a4093b-6b0f-4caf-a782-a7d32d60b8f1@3c89fd8a-7f68-4667-aa15-41ebf2208961

Background on the Veteran Small Business Certification Program

To be eligible to apply for the Veteran Small Business Certification Program, an applicant must:

Be considered a small business, as defined by the size standard corresponding to any NAICS code listed in the business’s SAM profile.

Have no less than 51% of the business owned and controlled by one or more veterans.

For certification as a SDVOSB, have no less than 51% of the business owned and controlled by one or more veterans rated as service-disabled by the VA.

For those veterans who are permanently and totally disabled and unable to manage the daily business operations of their business, their business may still qualify if their spouse or appointed, permanent caregiver is assisting in that management.

Eligible new applicants certified by the SBA after Jan. 1, 2024, will receive the standard three-year certification period.

The SBA database of certified veteran-owned small businesses now has over 25,000 firms, including those that were certified before the transfer to the SBA.

For the latest information on the Veteran Small Business Certification program, visit sba.gov/vetcert, reference the program’s FAQs or email vetcert@sba.gov.

All changes to the certification process, along with new eligibility requirements may also be viewed at: federalregister.gov/documents/2022/11/29/2022-25508/veteran-owned-small-business-and-service-disabled-veteran-owned-small-business-certification

About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit sba.gov.

MILWAUKEE — Employers anticipate measured hiring in the first quarter of 2024, while persistent talent shortages continue to impede hiring efforts, according to the latest ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN) Employment Outlook Survey. The research is based on data collected from more than 40,000 employers in 41 countries between October 1 to October 31, 2023. The Net Employment Outlook (NEO) for Q1 is 26%, up +3% year-over-year, but down -4% from last quarter.

“The latest survey reveals that while employer hiring confidence has moderated slightly amid global economic concerns, labor markets remain tight and demand for skilled talent is still strong across multiple sectors,” said ManpowerGroup Chairman and CEO, Jonas Prising. “As companies continue to transform their business models, many are holding onto the talent they have, and struggling to find the new talent they need. This data suggests organizations are committed to offering flexible work options, recognizing that this can give them a competitive edge for attracting and retaining workers. As AI adoption gains traction, employers are turning to upskilling their workforce to maximize potential productivity gains.”

Used internationally as a bellwether of labor market trends, the NEO is calculated by subtracting the percentage of employers who anticipate reductions in staffing levels from those who plan to hire.

EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK SURVEY KEY FINDINGS

While global Outlooks have weakened by -4% since Q4 2023, they have increased by +3% compared to Q1 2023
The strongest hiring is anticipated in North America (34%), followed by Asia Pacific (30%), South and Central Americas (28%), and Europe, Middle East, and Africa (23%)
By country, the strongest hiring plans are reported in India (37%), the Netherlands (37%), and Costa Rica (35%), and the U.S. (35%), while the weakest outlooks are in Hungary (10%), Japan (10%), Czech Republic (8%), and Argentina (2%)
Employers in Hungary (+20%), Poland (+18%), and the Netherlands (+17%) reported the largest year-over-year increases in hiring outlook, while Argentina (-10%), Peru (-10%), Israel (-11%), and Panama (-18%) saw the steepest declines
The IT industry had the brightest global hiring outlook at 36%, followed by Financials & Real Estate at 34%, Communication Services at 31%, Health Care & Life Sciences and Industrials & Materials both at 28%

TALENT SHORTAGE SURVEY KEY FINDINGS

75% of employers report difficulty finding skilled talent, matching 2022’s levels, and decreasing 2% from 2023’s survey
To find, attract, and recruit talent, employers are offering more work flexibility (65%), raising wages (30%), and looking at new talent pools (28%)
The top five most in-demand skills are IT & data, engineering, sales & marketing, operations & logistics, and manufacturing & production
When asked about Artificial Intelligence (AI), employers cite training staff, finding qualified talent, and redefining roles as the top challenges to fully leverage the technology
As companies adopt more sustainable practices, employers estimate at least 54% of all technical skills will need to evolve to keep pace with the green transition
To view the complete results for the first quarter 2024 ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey, including regional and country data, visit: https://go.manpowergroup.com/meos. The next survey will be released in March and will report hiring expectations for the second quarter of 2024.

ABOUT THE SURVEY
The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey is the most comprehensive, forward-looking employment survey of its kind, used globally as a key economic indicator. The Net Employment Outlook is derived by taking the percentage of employers anticipating an increase in hiring activity and subtracting from this the percentage of employers expecting a decrease in hiring activity.

SURVEY METHODOLOGY
The methodology used to collect the data for the Employment Outlook has been digitized in 41 markets for the Q1 2024 report. Survey responses were collected in October 2023. The question asked and the respondent profile remains unchanged. Size of organization and sector are standardized across all countries and territories to allow international comparisons.

ABOUT MANPOWERGROUP
ManpowerGroup® (NYSE: MAN), the leading global workforce solutions company, helps organizations transform in a fast-changing world of work by sourcing, assessing, developing, and managing the talent that enables them to win. We develop innovative solutions for hundreds of thousands of organizations every year, providing them with skilled talent while finding meaningful, sustainable employment for millions of people across a wide range of industries and skills. Our expert family of brands – Manpower, Experis, and Talent Solutions – creates substantially more value for candidates and clients across more than 70 countries and territories and has done so for 75 years. We are recognized consistently for our diversity – as a best place to work for Women, Inclusion, Equality, and Disability, and in 2023 ManpowerGroup was named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the 14th time – all confirming our position as the brand of choice for in-demand talent.