Achieve big wins this Small Business Month

Welcome to Midnight Oil: Resources & Tips! This week's edition features a must-see Small Business Update event and growth strategies that will help you win at Small Business Month (and beyond!).

This is the condensed version of CO- by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s weekly Midnight Oil newsletter. Sign up to receive the full version packed with small business news you can use.

Top Tip of the Week

“Consumers are interested in small companies and understand that they are driven by real people who have their own quirks and interests. Always remember that your smallness and your personality are your superpowers.”

— Roya Shariat, senior manager of impact for Glossier.

Growing your business is the name of the game

Happy National Small Business Month! Use this time to scale your business, focusing on the growth and marketing strategies that will help knock out those business goals. This month is the perfect time to buckle down and get inspired to boost engagement, cultivate community, and drive sales.

By paying special attention to certain aspects of your business, owners can jumpstart growth initiatives and motivate their teams to rise to the challenge. Prepare for this next phase of 2022 by implementing these small business growth methods.

Food for Thought

There are over 810 million users on LinkedIn in over 200 countries worldwide. The social platform has recently implemented a new feature called LinkedIn Services Marketplace, allowing freelancers and entrepreneurs of service based-businesses to increase their visibility to their vast audience. Showcase your skills and maximize your connections using this helpful feature.

Grant Opportunities

• Hello Alice recently launched round two of the Small Business Growth Fund. Fifty small business owners will be awarded $5,000 grants and must apply by May 20. Find more eligibility requirements on the grant announcement page.?
• The Comcast Rise grant provides marketing, media, technology, and creative services to small businesses majority-owned by women and people of color. Eligibility requirements are outlined on their website, and applications are due by June 17.?

Find more small business grants and funding opportunities here.

The CO— Corner

Small Business Update

Join us on May 5 at 12 PM EST for SBU: Economic and Policy Outlook. Experts will discuss the trends/policies impacting small businesses, resources available to help, and strategies for success in today’s business climate.

Dream Big Awards 2022

Apply for a chance to win $25,000 and celebrate the success of your small business by signing up for the Dream Big Awards. Applications close July 8.

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