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AI-Powered Business Helps Companies Make Sense Of Complex Laws
In 2019, longtime politics and policy enthusiast Pat Utz started his AI-powered firm, Abstract, to help people understand how complex legislative changes could impact their businesses. Today, Abstract uses advanced AI to analyze proposed legislative and regulatory changes, helping clients better prepare for likely risks and opportunities. With a growing roster of clients, the company…
How Digital Tools Help Small Businesses Weather Economic Challenges
Sharon Nguyen and Prisha Punjwani, 3C’s Tech Policy Fellows Recent trade policy changes have created serious challenges for small businesses. Most notably, steep new tariffs are driving up the costs of imported goods and materials, forcing small businesses to choose between two bad options: They can either absorb the higher costs and accept pared-down margins,…
Fashion Entrepreneur Brings African-Inspired Fashion Designs to Customers Across the US
For Addie Ajayi, fashion is more than just clothing — it’s a way to celebrate culture and identity. After immigrating to the U.S. from Nigeria, Addie found herself searching for modern, ready-to-wear African-inspired fashion that reflected her heritage. When she couldn’t find it, she decided to create it. Working from her small studio apartment, Addie…
3C’s Response: Request for Information on the Development of an Artificial Intelligence Action Plan
March 15, 2025 Thank you for the opportunity to offer comments on the development of a national artificial intelligence (AI) action plan. On behalf of the Connected Commerce Council (3C) — a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring small businesses have the digital tools they need to thrive in today’s economy — I urge you to…
3C Applauds Governor Moore for Withdrawing Delivery Tax Proposal
WASHINGTON (March 20, 2025) — Connected Commerce Council Executive Director Rob Retzlaff today issued a statement in response to Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s withdrawal of a proposed 75-cent tax on online-order deliveries. “Governor Moore made the right decision. The proposed doorstep-delivery tax would have unfairly burdened Marylanders — particularly those with mobility issues — who…
3C Endorses Sen. Young’s Small Business Technological Advancement Act
WASHINGTON (March 13, 2025) — The Connected Commerce Council (3C), a nonprofit organization that advocates on behalf of digitally empowered small businesses, today voiced its support for the Small Business Technological Advancement Act. The bipartisan legislation would clarify that small businesses can use the Small Business Administration’s (SBA’s) 7(a) loan program to purchase digital tools,…
New Study Finds Small Business Leaders Rely on Digital Tools and AI to Succeed in Today’s Uncertain Economy
WASHINGTON (March 13, 2025) — A new study from the Connected Commerce Council (3C) found that small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are using digital tools to manage economic uncertainty and compete with larger companies. The report also showed that SMBs’ continued success depends on access to digital tools — including those powered by data and…
Another FTC Myth Busted – Small U.S. Sellers Choose What Services Work Best for Their Business
Many policymakers fail to understand the complex realities of today’s digital retail ecosystem. Perhaps most notably, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) claims Amazon forces sellers to use its in-house products and services at the expense of third-party services. But this is far from the truth. Our new report, Super Selling: How Retail Choices and Competition…
Maryland Retailers Alliance & Connected Commerce Council Applaud Proposed Bill to Balance Consumer Privacy and Small Business Competitiveness
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (March 7, 2025) — Today, the Maryland Retailers Alliance (MRA) and Connected Commerce Council (3C) voiced support for a proposed bill fixing overbroad data regulation in the Maryland Online Data Privacy Act. The legislation would keep important consumer data privacy protections in place, but change current provisions that make it harder for small…
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AI-Powered Business Helps Companies Make Sense Of Complex Laws
How Digital Tools Help Small Businesses Weather Economic Challenges
Fashion Entrepreneur Brings African-Inspired Fashion Designs to Customers Across the US
