Main Street

The three million businesses that line the main streets and side streets of the local economies. These businesses are diverse and include retail shops, small grocery stores, personal services such as hair and nail salons and spas, hardware stores, local contractors, restaurants, trade services such as plumbers and electricians, and small manufacturers and wholesalers. The health of these businesses is directly related to the health of the local economies in which they operate, which is why their success is vital to the communities they serve.

New Report: Why Real-Time Settlement Can Make or Break Main Street Businesses
New Report: Why Real-Time Settlement Can Make or Break Main Street Businesses
July 27, 2020  |  SMBs

It’s been long said that small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are the backbone of the American economy. That’s hard to argue with considering more than...

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The Main Street Cash Crunch, Quantified
The Main Street Cash Crunch, Quantified
July 20, 2020  |  SMBs

Cash flow is the lifeblood of Main Street small business. Under COVID-19 cash flow dried up almost overnight, triggering what’s starting to look like a...

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Today In Payments: BigCommerce Eyes IPO; Biggest Banks Brace For Loan Losses
Today In Payments: BigCommerce Eyes IPO; Biggest Banks Brace For Loan Losses
July 15, 2020  |  News

In today’s top news, BigCommerce filed for an IPO, and the country’s largest banks have set aside almost $30 billion to cover COVID-19-related losses. Plus,...

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NEW REPORT: Helping Main Street SMBs Close The Cash Flow Gap
NEW REPORT: Helping Main Street SMBs Close The Cash Flow Gap
July 15, 2020  |  SMBs

Main Street small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are a barometer for the economic vitality and the health of the broader U.S. economy. After all, a...

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Saving Main Street: College Towns Deal With Economic Devastation
Saving Main Street: College Towns Deal With Economic Devastation
July 02, 2020  |  Economy

Downtowns everywhere from Maine to California are dealing with varying degrees of economic and existential pain as a result of the pandemic, but nowhere is...

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Why Saving Main Street Will Take More Than Just More Money
Why Saving Main Street Will Take More Than Just More Money
June 22, 2020  |  SMBs

The nonprofit Opportunity Fund — which makes loans to small businesses owned by low- and moderate-income immigrants, women and other underserved clientele — started 2020...

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SMBs Look For Lawsuit-Liability Protection As They Plan Reopening
SMBs Look For Lawsuit-Liability Protection As They Plan Reopening
June 16, 2020  |  Coronavirus

Main Street shops and restaurants are preparing to reopen in the safest way they can conceive of — with things like masked staff, temperature checks,...

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Saving Main Street: Running Retailers Take The Baton
Saving Main Street: Running Retailers Take The Baton
June 05, 2020  |  Retail

Terry Schalow is the executive director of the Running Industry Association (RIA). In addition to working toward its general mission of moving the sport and...

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Fed To Launch Main Street Lending Program For Mid-Sized Companies
Fed To Launch Main Street Lending Program For Mid-Sized Companies
June 04, 2020  |  B2B Payments

The Federal Reserve will launch the Main Street Lending Program, which is geared toward mid-sized businesses, this week. By contrast, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)...

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