small.news: March 9, 2026 Pandemic Project to Creative Powerhouse: Inside Creative House of Art & Design small.storiesBy Kekeletso Nkele, small.news Assistant What began as a boredom-fueled pandemic experiment has grown into one of the most vibrant creative spaces in the Northern Kentucky area. Creative House of Art & Design was founded during the height of COVID-19, when its owner—known affectionately as Mr. Chad—began selling his artwork from home. The goal was simple: See what was possible. By saving proceeds from art sales, Mr. Chad secured a physical location and launched what would become a multi-location creative hub for children and adults alike. Read more → Top Stories Small Businesses Build the Global Economy, So Why Are They Left Out of It? small.worldBy Sierra Campbell, Director of Brand & Content at Silver Lining The roughly 400 million small and medium-sized businesses operating worldwide today account for about 90% of all businesses, employ 70% of the global workforce, and contribute nearly half of global GDP. In economies where the gap between promises and reality is often the largest, small businesses still create 45% of jobs and serve as the primary engine of growing local communities. This isn’t a niche sector, but the economy. Read more → Canada & US Trade Tensions Strain Small Business Relationships small.deskBy Kekeletso Nkele, small.news Assistant Canadian small businesses increasingly view the United States as an unreliable trading partner one year into the ongoing tariff dispute, according to a new study from the CFIB. Read more → Australia Considers Legal Right to Work From Home, Sparking Backlash small.deskBy Kekeletso Nkele, small.news Assistant Workers in the Australian state of Victoria could soon have a legal right to work from home two days a week, under legislation proposed by Premier Jacinta Allan, according to The Guardian. Read more → How Catalytic Capital Can Help Small Businesses Grow small.adviceBy Kekeletso Nkele, small.news Assistant Access to capital is a major hurdle for small businesses in emerging markets. Traditional banks often hesitate to lend due to limited financial history, weak documentation, or a lack of collateral. At a recent CEO Virtual Roundtable on SME Finance, panelists highlighted how catalytic capital and early-stage investment can bridge this gap, enabling small businesses to scale and create jobs. Read more → small.laughs By Dave Zaboski Disclaimer: All resemblances to any persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental and in no way meant to intentionally hurt anyone’s feelings. Keep laughing → Small Businesses Will Win by Choosing Clarity Over Hype In 2026 small.opinionsBy Annette Burgess, Co-Founder of GurlCo Media “Posting more won’t fix a message that isn’t grounded. Saying more won’t strengthen a story that isn’t true. But when your communication reflects your actual strengths—your real values, your real lane, your real season—trust compounds.” – Annette Burgess Empowering Communities and Small Businesses Through Connection and Action small.talkBy Kekeletso Nkele, small.news Assistant On Feb. 25, 2026, Lucia Pašková, Founding Partner of Curaprox Slovakia, joined our small.talk. Lucia spoke with Silver Lining Founder and CEO Carissa Reiniger about supporting civic projects to foster confidence and recognition for small business owners. Read more → Thank You To Our Founding Sponsor!