Local Business Spotlight: Back Alley House Plants is drawing plant lovers with a neighborhood-style shop built from a hobby, now anchored in Ames’ main street area and tied to its founders’ personal plant-care stories. Community + Small Business Boost: Punta Gorda’s America 250 “Red, White, and Blue Day” drew thousands with vendors and a drone show, with organizers explicitly aiming to help local small businesses during the slower summer stretch. Entrepreneurship + Branding: Skinny Joey’s Cheesesteaks & Pizza in Wildwood is turning a celebrity comeback into a storefront business, blending food sales with social-media content and a new partnership model. Business Growth Blockers: Sarasota County small manufacturers say they can’t expand because industrial space is scarce and fragmented, pushing an Economic Development Corp. push to amend business park zoning rules. Housing + Investment Conference: South Florida hosted “From Deed to Key,” bringing investors, professionals, and the Jamaican diaspora together to talk land ownership, housing, and wealth-building. Juneteenth Market: Miami’s Overtown Block Party & Heritage Market is set for June 20 at Dunns Josephine Hotel, spotlighting local Black-owned businesses and community culture. Tourism Funding: Brevard County’s tourism office opened its FY 2026-27 marketing support grant application, with a June 22 deadline for sports and cultural event funding. Political Race Watch (Small Business Angle): Florida AG James Uthmeier endorsed former Boca Raton mayor Scott Singer for the GOP nomination in the redrawn 25th District, citing a record of backing small businesses.