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2026-03-23T08:47:00

(BPT) – Family-owned businesses play a key role in the U.S. economy, generating about 59% of employment and 54% of the gross domestic product (GDP). Over one-fourth of U.S. companies (27.3%) are owned by two or more family members, and these family businesses strive to create prosperity that can endure from one generation into the next. But generational succession is at a crossroads, facing an environment of increasing economic uncertainty just as the wave of retiring baby boomers, known as the “silver tsunami,” leads to a potential $10 trillion-$14 trillion in business assets changing hands.

Second- and third-generation businesses can face mounting and unforeseen challenges. Historically speaking, as many as 70% of legacy family businesses often don’t survive past the second generation.

Local businesses that took years, or even decades, to build are an integral part of their neighborhoods, embodying the entrepreneurial spirit the nation was built upon. These small family businesses often have far fewer resources and less ability to pivot in response to economic challenges, putting their longevity in jeopardy.

This makes it more critical than ever for American communities, especially at the state and local level, to provide the next generation with the tools and support needed to carry small businesses into the future and ride the wave of the Silver Tsunami.

How state investments make an impact

States can help family business entrepreneurs and their heirs navigate the succession journey into the next generation with financial support through grants and loans, as well as by providing vital resources, information and mentoring to help them grow. States already invest millions of dollars toward technical assistance, capital investments and loans to aid small businesses, but the need is still great. State investments that are planned and managed smartly can contribute to the resiliency of these businesses, strengthening their communities and helping ensure they can thrive for many years to come.

For example, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), along with local economic development partners and Michigan’s network of Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), helps small business owners connect to the right support at pivotal moments, such as financial support, key information, assistance and helpful resources, whether they’re just starting out or ready to transition to the next generation.

“By supporting entrepreneurs who choose to build on Main Street, the state of Michigan offers a model that other states in the country can follow,” said Amy Rencher, senior vice president of Small Business and Talent at the MEDC. “These programs help neighborhood businesses strengthen the connective tissue between local identity and statewide growth, benefitting communities and leading the way to a stronger future with each new generation.”

An instrumental success story

Stan Werbin and Sharon Burton were fresh out of graduate school when they started the nationally and internationally recognized Elderly Instruments in Lansing, Michigan. The business was born from their love of vintage acoustic fretted instruments, which they were already collecting and trading for fun. The business grew quickly through the 1980s and ’90s, becoming more than a retail store: a hub for repairing, appreciating and celebrating musical instruments and musicians.

Heading into the second generation, Stan’s daughter Lillian Werbin drew on her education in public relations as she learned the business from the ground up. After meticulously studying the business’s sales, marketing and shipping operations, Lillian grew into the role of CEO and co-owner as her father began stepping back from leadership.

For the past decade, Lillian has worked to modernize the business while maintaining the warmth and service Elderly Instruments is known for. The challenge was, how could she afford to make necessary improvements to the showroom and enhance the customer experience in order to keep the business thriving in an increasingly competitive retail environment?

Looking to fulfill these goals, Lillian sought support from the MEDC, earning a 2022 Match on Main grant that has been instrumental in the ongoing growth and success of Elderly Instruments. Match on Main is part of MEDC’s broader community development efforts to support vibrant, resilient, inclusive downtowns and commercial districts across Michigan. The program provides reimbursement-based grant funding of up to $25,000 per project to support new and expanding place-based small businesses. A total of $5.9 million of funding has been contributed since 2019. The result? Ninety-one percent of the small businesses are still in business after benefiting from the program and an average of $58,200 in annual revenue increases per awarded business.

Since receiving a Match on Main grant, Elderly Instruments continues to thrive, recognized as America’s Top Small Business by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 2023, and one of the 2024 Michigan 50 Companies to Watch by Michigan Celebrates Small Business. As a second-generation business owner, Lillian aims to honor her father’s legacy, appreciated by musicians and music lovers in Michigan, across the U.S. and even worldwide.

“It’s important for me to preserve what people feel when they come to Elderly. This should be a people’s music store,” said Lillian. “This is a family business and a community business. It’s important to be able to preserve that legacy.”

Learn more about how the state is supporting small businesses throughout their evolution at MichiganBusiness.org/services/small-business/.

2026-03-19T09:01:00

(BPT) – Did you know that the average American spends over seven hours looking at a screen each day? It’s easy for people — young and old — to spend their downtime in the digital world instead of engaging with the people they love. Time that could be used to lay the foundation of a genuine connection between children, parents and grandparents is lost to endless scrolling.

What if just 15 minutes of your phone time could be used to strengthen relationships or provide a cure for boredom? If you’re tired of screens dominating family time, you can change the dynamic by bringing out an item that sparks laughter, connection and memories that last a lifetime: a game!

The power of play

Playing games including dice, cards and tabletop games as a family is a simple and entertaining experience that provides benefits that go beyond a single game session. In fact, a 2024 study published in the Family Relations journal found that games offer enjoyable family relaxation and foster emotional connections and communication across generations.

Reyn Guyer, the inventor of the iconic games Twister and Nerf, is no stranger to the power of play. His family is living proof of how playing games can bring family members together.

“My family has played games together for decades, and we continue to pass down this tradition to each generation,” said Guyer. “It’s these moments of laughter, love and connection that have inspired me to bring these games into the homes of other families so they can also experience the joy of play.”

Maurna Donovan Crosby echoes her grandfather’s sentiment. She shared that her most cherished childhood memories are of sitting at his kitchen table playing Rally Roll.

“I remember barely knowing how to count, struggling to grasp the strategy, yet he’d gently guide me through each round. We played over and over again — and those moments became the foundation of our relationship.”

If you’re overwhelmed by the thought of hosting a family game night every week, there’s good news. You don’t have to spend hours playing games for your family to reap the benefits of play. According to Guyer, all you need is 15 minutes.

How 15 minutes create a lifetime of connection

While at a diner, Guyer observed a mother and her two children enjoying a game together instead of being glued to their phones. That heartwarming moment ignited the spark for his creation of the 15 Minute Fun & Done series of games. These games are easy to learn, appropriate for most ages and guarantee giggle-worthy memories in just 15 minutes.

This series of unique games includes Rally Roll (a Guyer family favorite), Rip Chip and Comeback. Each screen-free game is specially crafted to foster real connection and joy in brief, engaging bursts of playtime, perfect for today’s busy families.

When creating these family dice games, Guyer applied his signature Three Rules of Engagement. Everyone’s involved, players are excited for each other’s turns and the games are always short and sweet.

“These aren’t just games; they’re engaging get-togethers designed to transform life’s mini moments into something memorable,” Guyer said. “They’re quick, quirky and absolutely perfect for families who crave real laughter and genuine connection instead of the isolation of endless scrolling.”

A gift that can spark a family tradition

When time is short, connection matters. If you want to bring your family closer this year, try one (or all!) of these games and transform short windows of time into engaging moments of connection, laughter and lasting memories. To learn more about 15 Minute Fun & Done games, visit FifteenFunAndDone.com.

2026-03-18T11:21:00

(BPT) – By Jae-cheol Lyu, President & CEO of LG Electronics

Since CES 2026, much of the spotlight was on industrial robots, led by humanoids. Alongside them, our vision for home robots at LG Electronics drew strong attention by offering a clear and credible blueprint for the role robots can play inside the home — one of the most personal and complex spaces in our lives.

From a robotics perspective, the home is the ultimate unstructured environment. A sock left on the floor, a child suddenly running into a room, or the constantly shifting rhythms of family life expose the limits of robots that lack true situational understanding.

Our differentiated competitiveness in this environment comes from three core strengths. The accompanying infographic, “LG Home Robots: The Final Piece of the Zero-Labor Home,” further details these strengths. It shows they are built on an understanding of key industry growth drivers — such as convenience-driven living, connected smart homes and the demands of an aging society — and highlights LG’s clear roadmap for the future of robotics, from appliance robots to space-driven robots.

First, we are experts in the home. Moravec’s Paradox reminds us that tasks humans find effortless — grasping objects, organizing spaces, adjusting force — are extraordinarily difficult for machines. Even “simple” home robot functions demand exceptional technology and data. Over nearly 70 years, our home appliance and customer service businesses have generated what we call “life data” — deep domain knowledge of real homes, real inconveniences, and moments when customers want to feel genuinely cared for. Guided by our concept of Affectionate Intelligence, we focus on technologies that truly matter in everyday life.

Second, we have built robotics expertise over time. LG CLOiD did not appear overnight. Through sustained investment, we have strengthened key robotics capabilities. Through Bear Robotics — whose solutions have been proven across commercial sites — we have built strong expertise in real-world service environments, while our affiliate ROBOSTAR has advanced industrial robot technologies for smart factories. At the same time, expanded investments in AGIBOT and Figure AI are further accelerating our robotics capabilities across both hardware and software.

Third, we combine internal technologies with strategic partnerships. Our AI-powered appliances have secured strong on-device AI capabilities, supported by vertically integrated hardware and software optimized for robotics. At the same time, we collaborate with global technology leaders — working with Google on Gemini to enhance contextual understanding, and with NVIDIA’s Isaac platform to train and test robots in digital twin environments.

Our roadmap is clear: start with specialized service robots, evolve appliances into robotic solutions, and ultimately introduce robots that act as “conductors of space,” orchestrating the entire home.

Through robotics, we will continue advancing our vision of the Zero Labor Home. Beyond home appliances, LG Electronics is setting a new standard for home robotics — and I invite you to watch this journey unfold.

2026-03-15T08:01:00

(BPT) – For over a decade, Gallup has shown that engaged employees yield better results than those who are disengaged. In 2023, for example, the analytics firm reported that disengaged employees cost the world $8.8 trillion in lost productivity, or equal to 9% of global GDP.

On the other hand, companies with engaged employees are 23% more profitable, 18% more productive in sales, and 63% safer. If you don’t want your company to be on the wrong side of those percentages, here are the Top 5 things employees want, and how to make them happen.

Stat #1: Employees are 45% less likely to leave their jobs when they receive recognition.

Solution: Publicly praise employees. Managers who make positive recognition part of their day-to-day work ensure their teams know they are valued. “Employee of the Month” and quarterly certificate programs remain popular because they give managers the opportunity to shout out team members during all-hands meetings and regularly celebrate their accomplishments together.

Stat #2: According to a 2021 Grant Thornton study, 45% of workers don’t feel that their needs as employees are understood by their managers.

Solution: Provide feedback and support. Feedback lets employees know that they — and their work — are noticed. Give real-time, positive, constructive feedback and incorporate a mentorship program for newer teammates to learn from more tenured employees. Some companies even provide stipends for one-on-one lunches at popular local restaurants to make the experience more memorable.

Stat #3: Per a 2023 study, 70% of Gen Z expect to be promoted within 18 months of starting a new role.

Solution: Offer career development. Employers provide in-house professional development opportunities through companies like Niche Academy or by offering stipends for conferences, workshops, or webinars.

Stat #4: According to Deloitte, 89% of Gen Z workers consider a sense of purpose to be important to their job satisfaction and well-being.

Solution: Create enjoyable work. SHRM recommends incorporating corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs to align with employees’ passions. To ensure alignment, companies conduct surveys to identify employees’ passions, then partner with organizations like United Way to coordinate volunteer activities.

Stat #5: Density reports that 87% of employees want the ability to collaborate with team members and build relationships at work.

Solution: Foster collaboration. Create an inviting break room and encourage coworkers to grab a drink and work together in the office rather than venturing out. Some companies offer a variety of beverages, such as Java House’s ready-brewed Peel & Pour Pods, which allow employees to make cafe-quality, eco-friendly cold brews, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate right in the office.

All workplaces and employees have different needs, but the drivers of employee engagement tend to be consistent across the board. Tap into these engagement techniques to help your team and business thrive.

2026-03-15T05:01:00

(BPT) – Benchmarks can help gauge your child’s development and flag concerns for cerebral palsy and other health conditions. While every child develops a little differently, there are certain milestones that can help parents understand whether their child is progressing typically as they grow, according to the pediatric health experts at Gillette Children’s.

2026-03-13T08:01:00

(BPT) – Planning a special spring break trip, exciting weekend getaway or a bucket-list experience? The best travel experiences happen when you embrace simplicity, immersing yourself in and capturing each moment with thoughtful planning and the freedom to explore, unburdened by constant notifications or overpacking.

So before you head out on your spring or summer getaways, make sure you’re fully equipped to make the most of every experience — enjoying and sharing each moment with loved ones right away, and cherishing those memories long after the travel dust has settled.

The experts at Motorola share their tips to help ensure you have an amazing journey wherever you’re headed, plus smartphones designed to go wherever you do.

Plan smart

Looking for simple ways to research and organize your itinerary, build a packing list, and stay on top of travel to-do’s? Motorola razr devices feature Google Gemini, acting as your personal AI assistant. From brainstorming destinations to generating custom packing lists in seconds, Gemini helps streamline every step of your trip planning.

Even better, Gemini is accessible directly on the external display, so you can interact with AI, manage plans, and check details without opening the phone.

Travel light, experience big

When space in your weekender bag is at a premium, devices that fold neatly into your pocket and open when inspiration strikes allow you to stay immersed in the experience, not weighed down by it. The motorola razr family — including the motorola razr, razr+ and razr ultra — delivers pocket-sized freedom without the compromise.

Whether you’re capturing a quiet sunrise or setting up a hands-free photo with friends, the motorola razr, razr+ and razr ultra help preserve every moment, without the added weight of bulky cameras or tripods. Thanks to the device’s versatile form factor and advanced camera capabilities, you can effortlessly capture high-quality photos and videos that are social media-worthy, even when you’re on the go or your hands are occupied.

Motorola razr devices blend design-forward innovation with style, performance and ease, giving you access to AI-powered functionality and enhanced camera capabilities in a compact form that’s perfect for making the most of your travel and entertainment experiences.

Think fashion-forward with color

The warmer months are the perfect excuse to refresh your look, and when you’re moving from one destination to the next, color and texture are some of the easiest ways to make a bold, visual statement. Think breezy fabrics, playful hues and tactile details that feel as good as they look. You can coordinate your fresh spring and summer travel wardrobe with the latest, trending motorola razr colorways developed in partnership with Pantone. From the soft, optimistic energy of Parfait Pink to the fresh vibrancy of Spring Bud and the rich, coastal-inspired depth of Gibraltar Sea, each shade is paired with Motorola’s signature finishes and textures — from luxe, soft-touch vegan leather to thoughtfully crafted tactile details — designed to elevate both your style and your everyday carry. It’s a seamless way to incorporate your tech into your look, not just something you pack.

Live fully in the moment

Spring and summer travel is also about balance: knowing when to capture a moment or simply live it. Don’t let text and email notifications interrupt your ability to soak in what’s happening all around you.

With the razr family’s unique external display and AI features like “Catch Me Up,” you can quickly manage notifications and access key information at a glance, keeping you in the moment when exploring a fascinating new city, discovering picturesque landscapes or cheering on your favorite team.

When you truly want to disconnect, take advantage of unique software experiences like Moto Unplugged. This enables you to tailor a digital break based on your individual needs. Simply choose which apps are permitted to send notifications during a customizable time frame and block out the noise from everything else for as long as you choose.

Capture once-in-a-lifetime experiences

No matter where your travel takes you, make sure to seize opportunities that are like no other and find ways to celebrate the kinds of peak experiences that offer a global impact. From electric stadium atmospheres to spontaneous celebrations in city streets, the most unforgettable trips are often shaped by events that unite fans around the world.

In celebration of one of the year’s biggest sporting moments, the motorola razr FIFA World Cup 26™ Edition captures the energy and excitement of the season in one distinctive device. Inspired by the passion, pride and shared spirit that define the tournament, it’s a statement piece designed for fans who want to carry a piece of the magic wherever the game takes them.

Inspired to hit the road and discover new magical moments? Get ready for whatever journeys await you this year with help from motorola razr.