Governor Josh Shapiro signed a $47.6 billion budget package into law Thursday night, ending an 11-day delay from the deadline in the State’s Constitution. The package is a 6% increase from last year’s budget, but $700 million less than Shapiro’s initial proposal in February. The package includes several of key initiatives, including a $1 billion increase in K-12 funding, gap funding for mass transit, infrastructure funding, a cap on the net operating loss tax, and funding for site development to attract and retain employers.  The budget will pull $3 billion of the state’s surplus but leave approximately $10.5 billion in the State’s reserves.  ​

​ Connections matter to small businesses. That’s not just about networking with the right people. Success depends on having the right technology in place to seamlessly connect with customers, suppliers, and employees. Here are five steps small business owners can follow to give their businesses the best chance to succeed this National Small Business Week (4/28-5/4) and beyond:
 
Step 1: Evaluate Bandwidth Needs
Specific bandwidth needs will vary from business to business. A small office with a handful of employees has different bandwidth and connection needs than a 100-seat restaurant with a state-of-the-art point-of-sale (POS) system and a robust Wi-Fi network for its patrons.
 
Step 2: Add Layers of Technology
Build on an Internet connection with business-grade technology solutions, such as cyber-security tools and Wi-Fi-enabled data analytics, that give companies insight into how to run their operations more efficiently.
 
For example, a retailer might use Wi-Fi-enabled data analytics tools to understand customer foot traffic patterns in their store. This can provide insights into the busiest times and areas within the store and help the retailer make smarter decisions around everything from staffing to inventory management.
 

Name: Janell Johnson
Hometown: Chester, PA
Company: City of Chester, The Suite by J. Nicole &Co., Suite 828 Co. LLC
Position: City of Chester- Human Resources Generalist. Owner of The Suite by J.Nicole & Co. Boutique Aston PA. Owner Suite 828 Co. LLC
Length of time you have been with your company: City of Chester- 1 year 4 months. The Suite by J. Nicole & Co. 2 years. Suite 828 Co. LLC 5 years.
Briefly describe your journey, noting both personal milestones and obstacles you may have faced along the way. My journey consists of 2 different paths that take a lot of balancing. Being a 9-5er and entrepreneur on top of being a mother can be a lot, overwhelming at times. However, this journey has been a rewarding one. My daughter is seeing all the things that are possible with a little faith and work ethic. Both my business and I have been awarded multiple times (This Missing Plug "Entrepreneur of the Year" 2021 and 2023, The Missing Plug "Best New Business of the Year" 2022, Buy from a Black Woman "Home Goods Business of the Year" 2020, and Hustle Hard Recognition Award Honors 2020)