Tag: 3BL

AMSTERDAM, February 3, 2026 /3BL/ – SCS Global Services (SCS), an international leader in third party certification and sustainability verification for more than 40 years, today announced the launch of SCS Global Services Europe B.V. (SCS Europe) — a dedicated EU-based legal entity established to help companies navigate the existing and rapidly expanding landscape of European climate and sustainability regulations.

As the EU introduces far-reaching rules including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and the emerging Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and Digital Product Passport (DPP), companies operating in Europe face increasing pressure to demonstrate transparent, independently verified compliance.

SCS Europe was created to meet this moment.

“Companies need verification partners that understand the requirements from the inside and can act quickly,” said Maggie Schwartz, Managing Director, SCS Europe and Vice-President of Natural Resources for SCS Global Global Services. “Establishing SCS Europe enables us to deliver faster, more tailored support to clients, expand our European accreditations, and help organizations meet new compliance obligations with confidence.”

Bringing Certification, Verification, and Regulatory Assurance Closer to EU Markets

SCS Europe expands the company’s offerings beyond voluntary sustainability programs to include a full portfolio of compliance-ready assurance services, supporting clients impacted by:

• CBAM reporting and emissions verification
• EU ETS requirements
• EUDR deforestation-free supply chain validation
• CSRD data assurance and supply chain due diligence
• ESPR and Digital Product Passport data and traceability needs

These services build on SCS Global Services’ long-standing expertise in climate change mitigation, emissions quantification, sustainable supply chains, and responsible sourcing.

Broad Portfolio of Certification and Verification Services

Based in Amsterdam, SCS Europe will deliver a comprehensive suite of globally and regionally recognized certifications across sustainability, responsible sourcing, forestry, agriculture, and biofuels, including:

• ISCC and RSB
• Italian National Scheme
• RSPO
• FSC, PEFC, SBP
• SMETA and BRC
• Textile Exchange
• MSC Fisheries and ASC Aquaculture
• FEMB Level

Visit our website for a full list of EU services.

About SCS Global Services: 

SCS Global Services is an international leader in third-party environmental and sustainability verification, certification, auditing, and standards development with over 40 years of experience. Its programs span a cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in climate mitigation, green building, product manufacturing, food and agriculture, forestry, consumer products, and more. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, SCS has representatives and affiliate offices throughout the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and Africa. Its broad network of auditors are experts in their fields, and the company is a trusted partner to companies, agencies, and advocacy organizations due to its dedication to quality and professionalism. SCS is a California-chartered Benefit Corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices. SCS is also a Participant of the United Nations Global Compact and adheres to its principles-based approach to responsible business. For more information, visit www.scsglobalservices.com. 

Media Contact 

Rachel Barnhart  
Director, Corporate Communications and Public Relations  
SCS Global Services  
Email: rbarnhart@scsglobalservices.com 

LINCOLN, Neb., February 2, 2026 /3BL/ – One year after the Eaton Fire that blazed through Los Angeles County, the Arbor Day Foundation collaborated with local partners and community members to grow hope at an elementary school impacted by the fire. Volunteers joined the Foundation’s local tree planting partner Amigos de los Rios on Saturday to plant trees and greenery at Mary W. Jackson STEAM Multilingual Magnet Elementary School, located within the burn zone of the Eaton Fire.

“The students and staff in this school district have endured such immense challenges in the wake of the Eaton Fire, and they deserve to enjoy a welcoming, thriving environment to learn. We believe enhancing campus green spaces with new trees and plants will help provide hope and healing for this community as they continue on their path to recovery,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “We’re grateful for the collaboration of our corporate partners and local planting partner to help make a meaningful impact through trees.”

“Public schools, such as Mary Jackson STEAM Magnet, serve as critical community hubs and gathering spaces. Now more than ever, post-fire, we want school community members to feel the campus is well cared for and to make sure that students and teachers can benefit from beautiful outdoor spaces that are inspiring and reassuring. We are very grateful for the Arbor Day Foundation’s support,” said Claire Robinson, founder and managing director of Amigos de los Rios.

Project supporters include AT&T, Fera Pets, Niagara Cares, and Edward Jones. The latter two also supported emergency tree watering last fall to protect the remaining trees that survived the fire.

The Eaton Fire started on January 7, 2025 and burned 14,000 acres in the Altadena and Pasadena areas. According to the Pasadena Educational Foundation, more than 1,000 families throughout the school district and 200 staff members lost their homes in the fire.

The Arbor Day Foundation has been heavily invested in assisting disaster-affected communities and forestlands since Hurricane Katrina made landfall in 2005 and has planted and distributed millions of trees as a result. The work has aided recovery efforts following wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. 

Restoring tree cover after a wildfire isn’t quick or easy. Fire damages the land so severely it can take years before trees are ready to be planted in some areas. Visit arborday.org to learn more about the long road to recovery and what it takes to replant after a wildfire. 

About the Arbor Day Foundation 

The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. They foster a growing community of more than 1 million leaders, innovators, planters, and supporters united by their bold belief that a more hopeful future can be shaped through the power of trees. For more than 50 years, they’ve answered critical need with action, planting more than half a billion trees alongside their partners.

And this is only the beginning.  

The Arbor Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pursuing a future where all life flourishes through the power of trees. Learn more at arborday.org.

###

LINCOLN, Neb., February 2, 2026 /3BL/ – One year after the Eaton Fire that blazed through Los Angeles County, the Arbor Day Foundation collaborated with local partners and community members to grow hope at an elementary school impacted by the fire. Volunteers joined the Foundation’s local tree planting partner Amigos de los Rios on Saturday to plant trees and greenery at Mary W. Jackson STEAM Multilingual Magnet Elementary School, located within the burn zone of the Eaton Fire.

“The students and staff in this school district have endured such immense challenges in the wake of the Eaton Fire, and they deserve to enjoy a welcoming, thriving environment to learn. We believe enhancing campus green spaces with new trees and plants will help provide hope and healing for this community as they continue on their path to recovery,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “We’re grateful for the collaboration of our corporate partners and local planting partner to help make a meaningful impact through trees.”

“Public schools, such as Mary Jackson STEAM Magnet, serve as critical community hubs and gathering spaces. Now more than ever, post-fire, we want school community members to feel the campus is well cared for and to make sure that students and teachers can benefit from beautiful outdoor spaces that are inspiring and reassuring. We are very grateful for the Arbor Day Foundation’s support,” said Claire Robinson, founder and managing director of Amigos de los Rios.

Project supporters include AT&T, Fera Pets, Niagara Cares, and Edward Jones. The latter two also supported emergency tree watering last fall to protect the remaining trees that survived the fire.

The Eaton Fire started on January 7, 2025 and burned 14,000 acres in the Altadena and Pasadena areas. According to the Pasadena Educational Foundation, more than 1,000 families throughout the school district and 200 staff members lost their homes in the fire.

The Arbor Day Foundation has been heavily invested in assisting disaster-affected communities and forestlands since Hurricane Katrina made landfall in 2005 and has planted and distributed millions of trees as a result. The work has aided recovery efforts following wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. 

Restoring tree cover after a wildfire isn’t quick or easy. Fire damages the land so severely it can take years before trees are ready to be planted in some areas. Visit arborday.org to learn more about the long road to recovery and what it takes to replant after a wildfire. 

About the Arbor Day Foundation 

The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. They foster a growing community of more than 1 million leaders, innovators, planters, and supporters united by their bold belief that a more hopeful future can be shaped through the power of trees. For more than 50 years, they’ve answered critical need with action, planting more than half a billion trees alongside their partners.

And this is only the beginning.  

The Arbor Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pursuing a future where all life flourishes through the power of trees. Learn more at arborday.org.

###

By Sue Henry

February 2, 2026 /3BL/ – For the past two decades, Entergy has viewed early childhood education as a key investment in the strength and well-being of the communities we serve. Through sustained philanthropy, policy advocacy, and strategic partnerships, the company has helped to strengthen early learning systems at scale. This long-term approach has translated into measurable improvements in school readiness and meaningful progress for children and families across the city.

Entergy’s commitment to improving early learning systems combines philanthropic support with outreach and advocacy efforts to advance systemic change. We work closely with local and statewide coalitions to expand access to high-quality early learning. These efforts contributed to the creation of a statewide fund for early childhood education and the passage of a millage in Orleans Parish in 2022 dedicated to early childhood education. Together, these mechanisms generate approximately $42 million annually to expand access to high-quality educational opportunities.

Direct philanthropy has strengthened policy achievements. The Entergy Charitable Foundation provided $300,000 for a challenge grant to advance early learning in New Orleans. This contribution helped launch the City Seats program which expands access to quality early learning across the city. Entergy has also funded research that documents the broader impact of these efforts. A Modern History of Early Care and Education in Louisiana: 2001–2022, a research paper by Monica Candal Rahim, outlines the progress of the movement and highlights the company’s role in advancing early childhood systems statewide.

In only two years, this investment in the passage of the millage has produced population-level results in school readiness. New Orleans kindergarteners now outperform the statewide average across every subgroup, including economically disadvantaged children, English learners, and children with disabilities. At a time when statewide indicators show decline, New Orleans continues to improve.

The data also shows meaningful gains for economically disadvantaged students. A higher share now meet or exceed kindergarten readiness benchmarks, while the percentage of students entering school below those benchmarks has declined. More children enter kindergarten with foundational early literacy skills, increasing the likelihood of long-term academic success.

“These outcomes demonstrate what is possible when communities commit to early learning and sustain that commitment over time,” said Patty Riddlebarger, vice president of corporate social responsibility at Entergy. “By investing in early education and working alongside trusted partners, we are helping ensure more children in New Orleans have access to high-quality early learning opportunities that will prepare them for greater success in life.”

Policy change has played a key role in this progress. Entergy supported the Campaign for Grade Level Reading, which helped advance the Orleans Parish millage that generates $21 million annually. That revenue receives a state match through a fund created with advocacy support from the United Way of Southeast Louisiana, which Entergy also supported through funding and executive leadership.

Community partnerships remain essential to this work. Organizations supported by Entergy include the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children and Families, Agenda for Children, STAND, EduCare, United Way of Southeast Louisiana, and the Campaign for Grade Level Reading. Each parter strengthens a different part of the early learning ecosystem, from policy design to family engagement.

Recent investments reflect a continued emphasis on comprehensive, community-centered solutions. In November 2025, the Entergy Charitable Foundation awarded a $150,000 grant to Wilcox Academy in central city. The Wilcox Academy of Early Learning, currently under construction and scheduled to open next spring, will serve 350 low-income children and families. In addition to high-quality early care and education, the center will provide wraparound support services such as healthy take-home dinners, individualized success coaching, on-site health services, extended hours for working families, and college scholarships for program graduates.

The results in New Orleans reinforce the broader lesson that early childhood education delivers its greatest returns when investment remains consistent, coordinated, and focused on long-term outcomes. Building on the progress achieved in New Orleans, Entergy will continue to work across its service territories in Mississippi, Texas, and Arkansas to support early learning efforts.

Learn more about our corporate social responsibility initiatives by visiting entergy.com/community.

About Entergy

Entergy produces, transmits and distributes electricity to power life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We’re investing for growth and improved reliability and resilience of our energy system while working to keep energy rates affordable for our customers. We’re also investing in cleaner energy generation like modern natural gas, nuclear and renewable energy. A nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship, we deliver more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to the communities we serve through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is a Fortune 500 company headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. Learn more at entergy.com and connect with @Entergy on social media.

View original content here.

By Sue Henry

February 2, 2026 /3BL/ – For the past two decades, Entergy has viewed early childhood education as a key investment in the strength and well-being of the communities we serve. Through sustained philanthropy, policy advocacy, and strategic partnerships, the company has helped to strengthen early learning systems at scale. This long-term approach has translated into measurable improvements in school readiness and meaningful progress for children and families across the city.

Entergy’s commitment to improving early learning systems combines philanthropic support with outreach and advocacy efforts to advance systemic change. We work closely with local and statewide coalitions to expand access to high-quality early learning. These efforts contributed to the creation of a statewide fund for early childhood education and the passage of a millage in Orleans Parish in 2022 dedicated to early childhood education. Together, these mechanisms generate approximately $42 million annually to expand access to high-quality educational opportunities.

Direct philanthropy has strengthened policy achievements. The Entergy Charitable Foundation provided $300,000 for a challenge grant to advance early learning in New Orleans. This contribution helped launch the City Seats program which expands access to quality early learning across the city. Entergy has also funded research that documents the broader impact of these efforts. A Modern History of Early Care and Education in Louisiana: 2001–2022, a research paper by Monica Candal Rahim, outlines the progress of the movement and highlights the company’s role in advancing early childhood systems statewide.

In only two years, this investment in the passage of the millage has produced population-level results in school readiness. New Orleans kindergarteners now outperform the statewide average across every subgroup, including economically disadvantaged children, English learners, and children with disabilities. At a time when statewide indicators show decline, New Orleans continues to improve.

The data also shows meaningful gains for economically disadvantaged students. A higher share now meet or exceed kindergarten readiness benchmarks, while the percentage of students entering school below those benchmarks has declined. More children enter kindergarten with foundational early literacy skills, increasing the likelihood of long-term academic success.

“These outcomes demonstrate what is possible when communities commit to early learning and sustain that commitment over time,” said Patty Riddlebarger, vice president of corporate social responsibility at Entergy. “By investing in early education and working alongside trusted partners, we are helping ensure more children in New Orleans have access to high-quality early learning opportunities that will prepare them for greater success in life.”

Policy change has played a key role in this progress. Entergy supported the Campaign for Grade Level Reading, which helped advance the Orleans Parish millage that generates $21 million annually. That revenue receives a state match through a fund created with advocacy support from the United Way of Southeast Louisiana, which Entergy also supported through funding and executive leadership.

Community partnerships remain essential to this work. Organizations supported by Entergy include the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children and Families, Agenda for Children, STAND, EduCare, United Way of Southeast Louisiana, and the Campaign for Grade Level Reading. Each parter strengthens a different part of the early learning ecosystem, from policy design to family engagement.

Recent investments reflect a continued emphasis on comprehensive, community-centered solutions. In November 2025, the Entergy Charitable Foundation awarded a $150,000 grant to Wilcox Academy in central city. The Wilcox Academy of Early Learning, currently under construction and scheduled to open next spring, will serve 350 low-income children and families. In addition to high-quality early care and education, the center will provide wraparound support services such as healthy take-home dinners, individualized success coaching, on-site health services, extended hours for working families, and college scholarships for program graduates.

The results in New Orleans reinforce the broader lesson that early childhood education delivers its greatest returns when investment remains consistent, coordinated, and focused on long-term outcomes. Building on the progress achieved in New Orleans, Entergy will continue to work across its service territories in Mississippi, Texas, and Arkansas to support early learning efforts.

Learn more about our corporate social responsibility initiatives by visiting entergy.com/community.

About Entergy

Entergy produces, transmits and distributes electricity to power life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We’re investing for growth and improved reliability and resilience of our energy system while working to keep energy rates affordable for our customers. We’re also investing in cleaner energy generation like modern natural gas, nuclear and renewable energy. A nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship, we deliver more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to the communities we serve through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is a Fortune 500 company headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. Learn more at entergy.com and connect with @Entergy on social media.

View original content here.

ST PAUL, Minn., February 2, 2026 /3BL/ – Data Center Safety Council (DCSC) is pleased to announce a newly elected Chair of the Steering Committee, Thomas Lee, QTS Data Centers; replacing Donna Lynch, STACK Infrastructure, who has served as chair for the last 2-year term since the inception of the group.

The Data Center Safety Council (DCSC) is a member-driven organization guided by an industry steering committee and supported by active participation from members. Together, they work to advance a unified approach to protecting the health, safety, and wellbeing of personnel across data center operations. As the sector continues to experience rapid growth, the need for consistent best practices, shared learning, and clearly defined resources for training and workforce development has become increasingly important. While awareness of safety risks within complex, often multi-employer environments has grown over the past 5–7 years, implementing comprehensive, organization-wide safety programs remains a challenge. Through collaboration, knowledge sharing, and advocacy, the DCSC helps align health and safety expectations and supports a consistent approach to managing operational risks across the industry.

“I am honored to serve as Chair of the Data Center Safety Council and to collaborate with industry peers during this period of rapid growth and transformation. As our industry continues to evolve, we share a responsibility to ensure that safety remains at the forefront of everything we do. Together, we will advance our collective safety culture, strengthen industry practices, and build a safer environment for all,” Thomas Lee, QTS Data Centers.

We appreciate the effort and guidance provided in this role by Donna Lynch and initiating the formation of this industry collective.

“By working together, we can ensure that safety remains at the forefront of our rapidly evolving industry, safeguarding the well-being of all those who contribute to its success. I look forward to continuing to see the DCSC grow and evolve and thanks to Thomas Lee for taking on this next term in the role of Chair,” Donna Lynch, STACK Infrastructure.

For more information, please check our website, LinkedIn page or contact the below.

 

Media inquiries: 

Kate Asleson, Marketing Director

Kate.asleson@anteagroup.us

 

Membership inquiries:

Jennene Lyda, Executive Director

Jennene.lyda@anteagroup.us

ST PAUL, Minn., February 2, 2026 /3BL/ – Data Center Safety Council (DCSC) is pleased to announce a newly elected Chair of the Steering Committee, Thomas Lee, QTS Data Centers; replacing Donna Lynch, STACK Infrastructure, who has served as chair for the last 2-year term since the inception of the group.

The Data Center Safety Council (DCSC) is a member-driven organization guided by an industry steering committee and supported by active participation from members. Together, they work to advance a unified approach to protecting the health, safety, and wellbeing of personnel across data center operations. As the sector continues to experience rapid growth, the need for consistent best practices, shared learning, and clearly defined resources for training and workforce development has become increasingly important. While awareness of safety risks within complex, often multi-employer environments has grown over the past 5–7 years, implementing comprehensive, organization-wide safety programs remains a challenge. Through collaboration, knowledge sharing, and advocacy, the DCSC helps align health and safety expectations and supports a consistent approach to managing operational risks across the industry.

“I am honored to serve as Chair of the Data Center Safety Council and to collaborate with industry peers during this period of rapid growth and transformation. As our industry continues to evolve, we share a responsibility to ensure that safety remains at the forefront of everything we do. Together, we will advance our collective safety culture, strengthen industry practices, and build a safer environment for all,” Thomas Lee, QTS Data Centers.

We appreciate the effort and guidance provided in this role by Donna Lynch and initiating the formation of this industry collective.

“By working together, we can ensure that safety remains at the forefront of our rapidly evolving industry, safeguarding the well-being of all those who contribute to its success. I look forward to continuing to see the DCSC grow and evolve and thanks to Thomas Lee for taking on this next term in the role of Chair,” Donna Lynch, STACK Infrastructure.

For more information, please check our website, LinkedIn page or contact the below.

 

Media inquiries: 

Kate Asleson, Marketing Director

Kate.asleson@anteagroup.us

 

Membership inquiries:

Jennene Lyda, Executive Director

Jennene.lyda@anteagroup.us

Savitri’s busy cosmetics and grocery store in Nasopur village, located in Rajasthan, India, hasn’t always been as large and well-stocked as it is today. A few years ago, she ran her business from a small room, offering limited items with little opportunity to expand. After losing her husband, Savitri became the sole breadwinner for her family but struggled to grow her business while managing her household. Today, however, Savitri runs a thriving store, fully stocked with a variety of products, and attracts 50 to 70 customers daily.

When asked how she got here, Savitri highlights that her lack of financial, business, and digital capabilities, and her limited knowledge of how to access credit, savings, and insurance products, held her back from seizing business opportunities in the past. With the support of our partner Frontier Markets and training from Ovante, a digital financial capability program supported by FedEx, she gained the resources and skills needed to sustainably grow her business.

Savitri isn’t alone in her struggle to expand her business. Many of India’s microenterprises are constrained by a lack of financial and business development knowledge. Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) contribute around 30 percent of India’s GDP, with rural microenterprises providing valuable employment opportunities and financial stability for business owners. However, many enterprises find it difficult to expand. Ovante’s digital tools help these microentrepreneurs gain the confidence and skills they need to grow their businesses with training programs and access to tools for savings, credit, and insurance.

Building rural microentrepreneurs’ opportunities through education and innovation

To bring learning opportunities to India’s rural last mile, Accion Advisory has partnered with Frontier Markets. Frontier Markets provides products, services, and entrepreneurship opportunities to rural India through a network of women entrepreneurs, field agents, and a robust tech stack. Frontier Markets introduced Ovante, Accion’s digital financial capability program designed to strengthen the financial, business, and digital capabilities of microentrepreneurs, to 11 districts in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Through Ovante, Frontier Markets has reached over 6,400 rural women entrepreneurs, with more than 3,500 rural women actively participating in Ovante’s programs.

The Ovante training modules are delivered via Frontier Markets’ Meri Saheli app, which also offers solutions for e-commerce, customer data, lead generation, marketing, and order fulfillment to entrepreneurs in rural areas.

To implement Ovante within their network of rural women entrepreneurs, Frontier Markets uses field agents to motivate microentrepreneurs and facilitate training sessions. With education through Ovante, in-person support from field agents, and the digital tools Frontier Markets provides, microentrepreneurs can increase their rural communities’ access to products and services, achieving financial stability for their households and strengthening their communities. To date, the partnership has resulted in over 3,500 active users, with 75 percent of users completing the entire Ovante program, including three core programs: “Make More Money,” “Get Access to Credit,” and “Buy and Sell Online.”

The Ovante modules have had tangible benefits for users. For example, before receiving support from Frontier Markets, Savitri had an average daily footfall of 10 to 20 customers. Frontier Markets enabled her to set up a bigger store with more products. To manage this store, Savitri needed to understand how to manage her sales and purchases, accurately market and price her products, and utilize the profits to invest in her business. With the introduction of Ovante, Savitri learned more about credit, sales tracking, online purchases, and savings, resulting in a thriving business. Her confidence in using digital tools has also increased. For instance, she now uses UPI to accept payments and pay her suppliers. She is an active WhatsApp user, using the platform to communicate with her customers. Savitri is also carefully tracking her sales and profits, giving her insight into her shop’s performance so she can make informed decisions about her business.

More than 3,500 Ovante users like Savitri now have access to the guidance and knowledge to grow their businesses. Of women surveyed, 91 percent reported feeling more confident managing their day-to-day business activities after taking the modules, and two-thirds said the training improved how they manage their money. Notably, 76 percent of respondents from Uttar Pradesh and 51 percent from Rajasthan reported earning additional income directly linked to the skills and behaviors they learned on Ovante. The relevance of the content was particularly strong in Rajasthan, where 95 percent of users said they were able to apply the learnings from the coursework into their business operations.

These insights show that while digital literacy and business confidence remain major barriers for rural entrepreneurs, practical, mobile-friendly education, combined with trusted last-mile support from partners like Frontier Markets, can drive meaningful improvements in income, decision-making, and financial resilience.

Opportunities and the growth of Ovante

Ovante has helped more than 150,000 customers across the globe gain the confidence and necessary skills to grow their businesses, whether through learning modules or an interactive chatbot, as launched earlier this year in Mexico. Our visit to Jaipur highlighted how quickly rural entrepreneurs adopt digital tools and the need for tailored content and better delivery channels for relevant learning experiences. Frontier Markets’ increasing use of digital and AI-enabled tools for data collection, training, and engagement inspired us to think deeply about how Ovante can evolve: becoming more localized, easier to navigate, and accessible, even for first-time smartphone users.

In the next phase of Ovante for India, Accion Advisory is building a user-centric interface, informed by the most recent challenges Indian MSMEs face in accessing credit, designed to deliver personalized content as per an entrepreneur’s needs. When rural microentrepreneurs strengthen their financial, digital, and business capabilities, these business owners can become leaders and changemakers within their communities, gaining financial independence and creating opportunities for future success.

Click here to learn about FedEx Cares, our global community engagement program.

Savitri’s busy cosmetics and grocery store in Nasopur village, located in Rajasthan, India, hasn’t always been as large and well-stocked as it is today. A few years ago, she ran her business from a small room, offering limited items with little opportunity to expand. After losing her husband, Savitri became the sole breadwinner for her family but struggled to grow her business while managing her household. Today, however, Savitri runs a thriving store, fully stocked with a variety of products, and attracts 50 to 70 customers daily.

When asked how she got here, Savitri highlights that her lack of financial, business, and digital capabilities, and her limited knowledge of how to access credit, savings, and insurance products, held her back from seizing business opportunities in the past. With the support of our partner Frontier Markets and training from Ovante, a digital financial capability program supported by FedEx, she gained the resources and skills needed to sustainably grow her business.

Savitri isn’t alone in her struggle to expand her business. Many of India’s microenterprises are constrained by a lack of financial and business development knowledge. Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) contribute around 30 percent of India’s GDP, with rural microenterprises providing valuable employment opportunities and financial stability for business owners. However, many enterprises find it difficult to expand. Ovante’s digital tools help these microentrepreneurs gain the confidence and skills they need to grow their businesses with training programs and access to tools for savings, credit, and insurance.

Building rural microentrepreneurs’ opportunities through education and innovation

To bring learning opportunities to India’s rural last mile, Accion Advisory has partnered with Frontier Markets. Frontier Markets provides products, services, and entrepreneurship opportunities to rural India through a network of women entrepreneurs, field agents, and a robust tech stack. Frontier Markets introduced Ovante, Accion’s digital financial capability program designed to strengthen the financial, business, and digital capabilities of microentrepreneurs, to 11 districts in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Through Ovante, Frontier Markets has reached over 6,400 rural women entrepreneurs, with more than 3,500 rural women actively participating in Ovante’s programs.

The Ovante training modules are delivered via Frontier Markets’ Meri Saheli app, which also offers solutions for e-commerce, customer data, lead generation, marketing, and order fulfillment to entrepreneurs in rural areas.

To implement Ovante within their network of rural women entrepreneurs, Frontier Markets uses field agents to motivate microentrepreneurs and facilitate training sessions. With education through Ovante, in-person support from field agents, and the digital tools Frontier Markets provides, microentrepreneurs can increase their rural communities’ access to products and services, achieving financial stability for their households and strengthening their communities. To date, the partnership has resulted in over 3,500 active users, with 75 percent of users completing the entire Ovante program, including three core programs: “Make More Money,” “Get Access to Credit,” and “Buy and Sell Online.”

The Ovante modules have had tangible benefits for users. For example, before receiving support from Frontier Markets, Savitri had an average daily footfall of 10 to 20 customers. Frontier Markets enabled her to set up a bigger store with more products. To manage this store, Savitri needed to understand how to manage her sales and purchases, accurately market and price her products, and utilize the profits to invest in her business. With the introduction of Ovante, Savitri learned more about credit, sales tracking, online purchases, and savings, resulting in a thriving business. Her confidence in using digital tools has also increased. For instance, she now uses UPI to accept payments and pay her suppliers. She is an active WhatsApp user, using the platform to communicate with her customers. Savitri is also carefully tracking her sales and profits, giving her insight into her shop’s performance so she can make informed decisions about her business.

More than 3,500 Ovante users like Savitri now have access to the guidance and knowledge to grow their businesses. Of women surveyed, 91 percent reported feeling more confident managing their day-to-day business activities after taking the modules, and two-thirds said the training improved how they manage their money. Notably, 76 percent of respondents from Uttar Pradesh and 51 percent from Rajasthan reported earning additional income directly linked to the skills and behaviors they learned on Ovante. The relevance of the content was particularly strong in Rajasthan, where 95 percent of users said they were able to apply the learnings from the coursework into their business operations.

These insights show that while digital literacy and business confidence remain major barriers for rural entrepreneurs, practical, mobile-friendly education, combined with trusted last-mile support from partners like Frontier Markets, can drive meaningful improvements in income, decision-making, and financial resilience.

Opportunities and the growth of Ovante

Ovante has helped more than 150,000 customers across the globe gain the confidence and necessary skills to grow their businesses, whether through learning modules or an interactive chatbot, as launched earlier this year in Mexico. Our visit to Jaipur highlighted how quickly rural entrepreneurs adopt digital tools and the need for tailored content and better delivery channels for relevant learning experiences. Frontier Markets’ increasing use of digital and AI-enabled tools for data collection, training, and engagement inspired us to think deeply about how Ovante can evolve: becoming more localized, easier to navigate, and accessible, even for first-time smartphone users.

In the next phase of Ovante for India, Accion Advisory is building a user-centric interface, informed by the most recent challenges Indian MSMEs face in accessing credit, designed to deliver personalized content as per an entrepreneur’s needs. When rural microentrepreneurs strengthen their financial, digital, and business capabilities, these business owners can become leaders and changemakers within their communities, gaining financial independence and creating opportunities for future success.

Click here to learn about FedEx Cares, our global community engagement program.

SAVANNAH, Ga., February 1, 2026 /3BL/ – The Early Childhood Learning Center is a public-private partnership involving Chatham County, the City of Savannah, and East Savannah United (ESU).

ESU announced Wednesday that it has received a $20,000 grant from Georgia-Pacific Savannah to help support construction of the new Early Childhood Learning Center.

The 20,000-square-foot facility, funded through SPLOST, will include a health clinic and a public library and is expected to serve 144 children in the east Savannah community.

“While public funding has made this project possible, additional private support is essential to fully open the center,” said Executive Director of ESU Derek Mallow. “This gift helps close that gap and brings us closer to delivering a high-quality, community-anchored resource that will benefit children and families for generations.”

Information on East Savannah United: https://www.eastsavannahunited.org/