When State Programs Stall, Shift to Local: A Smart Pivot for SMB GovCons
Jameson Barlow Jameson Barlow

When State Programs Stall, Shift to Local: A Smart Pivot for SMB GovCons

If your federal or state contracting pipeline has slowed to a crawl lately, you're not alone. Between the ongoing federal shutdown and Texas’s surprise freeze of the HUB program, small businesses chasing set-asides and state-funded work are finding themselves stuck in limbo. But here’s the good news: procurement hasn’t stopped, it’s just shifted closer to home.

Local governments and school districts still need IT support, maintenance crews, classroom equipment, and more. And unlike paused state programs or federally delayed payments, these buyers tend to move fast and pay reliably. Let’s break down why this pivot matters, how to do it, and what smart GovCons are doing to stay cash-flow positive during these freezes.

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Texas Freezes HUB Certifications, What It Means for Small Businesses in Government Contracting
Jameson Barlow Jameson Barlow

Texas Freezes HUB Certifications, What It Means for Small Businesses in Government Contracting

In a move that’s already sending shockwaves through the small business community, the Texas Comptroller has frozen all new and renewed certifications under the Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) program. That means no new HUB certifications will be issued, and expiring ones won’t be renewed, effectively putting the brakes on one of the largest state-level programs supporting minority-, women-, and disabled veteran–owned businesses in public procurement.

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Texas Contractors Are Feeling the Heat: $863M in Cuts and What Comes Next
Jameson Barlow Jameson Barlow

Texas Contractors Are Feeling the Heat: $863M in Cuts and What Comes Next

Federal budget politics just got real for small businesses in Texas. In the first half of 2025, more than $860 million in federal contracts and grants across the state have been canceled, and the ripple effects are already hammering local contractors—especially in San Antonio. If you're a small or disadvantaged business in the government procurement space, this is more than just a headline. It’s a wake-up call.

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When the Grant Well Dries Up: How SMBs in Texas and Michigan Can Bounce Back
Jameson Barlow Jameson Barlow

When the Grant Well Dries Up: How SMBs in Texas and Michigan Can Bounce Back

It’s the kind of news no small business wants to wake up to: the grant you were counting on just got paused, defunded, or outright canceled. That’s exactly what’s happened to dozens of small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) in Texas and Michigan this year, where political shifts and federal budget freezes have gutted DEI, clean energy, and workforce-related funding.

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