Tag: 3BL

New Holland, a brand of CNH, capped off its 130th Anniversary celebrations with the inaugural New Holland Day in Thailand, the highlight of a series of events honoring the brand’s legacy. Held at the New Holland model farm at Nakhon Sawan College of Agriculture and Technology (NSCAT), the event brought together government officials, industry partners, and media for an immersive, hands-on experience with advanced machinery and smart farming.

New Holland’s roots in Thailand trace back to its trusted Ford New Holland heritage. Across Southeast Asia, generations of farmers have relied on the durability and performance of these iconic blue tractors. 

As part of its ongoing capacity building and technology transfer to the farming community in Nakhon Sawan, New Holland provided two new tractors – a TT3.50 and a TT2.50 along with one square baler and one mulcher, for training purposes and in-field demonstration. This aims to encourage adoption of mechanized farming practices which promote sustainability and efficiency by reducing in field burning of crop residue and improving agricultural waste management. 

“Mechanization does more than increase yield. It’s a strategic investment that can help promote cleaner air, improve soil health, reduce input costs and increase farmer incomes over the long-term,” said Mark Brinn, Managing Director for Southeast Asia and Japan at CNH.

Field demonstrations underscored how New Holland machinery is expertly engineered to deliver higher productivity with fewer inputs, enabling more efficient and environmentally responsible farming practices.

New Holland, a brand of CNH, capped off its 130th Anniversary celebrations with the inaugural New Holland Day in Thailand, the highlight of a series of events honoring the brand’s legacy. Held at the New Holland model farm at Nakhon Sawan College of Agriculture and Technology (NSCAT), the event brought together government officials, industry partners, and media for an immersive, hands-on experience with advanced machinery and smart farming.

New Holland’s roots in Thailand trace back to its trusted Ford New Holland heritage. Across Southeast Asia, generations of farmers have relied on the durability and performance of these iconic blue tractors. 

As part of its ongoing capacity building and technology transfer to the farming community in Nakhon Sawan, New Holland provided two new tractors – a TT3.50 and a TT2.50 along with one square baler and one mulcher, for training purposes and in-field demonstration. This aims to encourage adoption of mechanized farming practices which promote sustainability and efficiency by reducing in field burning of crop residue and improving agricultural waste management. 

“Mechanization does more than increase yield. It’s a strategic investment that can help promote cleaner air, improve soil health, reduce input costs and increase farmer incomes over the long-term,” said Mark Brinn, Managing Director for Southeast Asia and Japan at CNH.

Field demonstrations underscored how New Holland machinery is expertly engineered to deliver higher productivity with fewer inputs, enabling more efficient and environmentally responsible farming practices.

Las Vegas Sands

Sands’ investment in the sustainability of its properties begins long before the first Team Member enters a building or the first guest arrives. The foundation laid in the company’s buildings drives sustainability forward throughout their life cycles.

Sands integrates best practices for environmental stewardship into its development process, so that resorts and other company properties are built for sustainability throughout ongoing operations. As a result, Sands has received multiple certifications for its buildings from the U.S. Green Building Council through its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification ranking system.

Introduced in 2000, the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED ranking system was the first environmental certification in the building industry and is the most widely recognized green building rating system in the world today, with more than 195,000 projects spanning 186 countries.

Since its introduction, the LEED ranking system has become a benchmark for the design and construction of green buildings and addresses a range of factors such as energy and water use, indoor environmental quality, materials selection, and the building’s site and location within its surrounding community. LEED offers a framework for sustainable, resilient, healthy and equitable places.

Sands has a long history with this prestigious ranking system. In 2008, the company first received LEED Silver certification for New Construction for The Palazzo – the company’s former property and the first resort on the Las Vegas Strip to receive this recognition. The Palazzo was considered the largest green building in the world at the time.

Sands also earned LEED Gold certification for Existing Buildings at its formerly owned properties, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas two years later and then The Venetian Congress Center and Sands Expo in 2016.

Properties in Asia also have received LEED certification, with The Parisian Macao becoming LEED Silver certified for Building Design and Construction in 2019. Marina Bay Sands earned LEED Platinum certification for Building Operations and Maintenance for its Expo and Convention Centre in 2019 and LEED Platinum certification for Building Operations and Maintenance for the ArtScience Museum in 2024, elevating its previous LEED Gold certification.

In 2023, the company’s new corporate headquarters campus in Las Vegas earned LEED Gold certification for Building Design and Construction. With this designation, Sands extended LEED recognition for its resorts to its first standalone corporate headquarters.

The Sands ECO360 global sustainability team spearheads pursuit of LEED certifications in support of the program’s pillar for responsible building, design and development. However, numerous departments within the company must align their interests and work closely to accomplish the objectives required for LEED certifications. In designing new buildings or planning updates and modifications to existing properties, the Sands ECO360 team works closely with the company’s engineering and facilities teams to co-create plans that meet both business and environmental goals.

In addition, enhancing sustainability in building development and renovations involves incorporating smart design and technology to reduce environmental impact in ongoing operations. To guide this process, the Sands Engineering and Sustainable Development Standards (SESDS) combine engineering and sustainable development protocols into a single, comprehensive approach. Introduced in 2024, the SESDS represent collaboration among the engineering and asset management, development, facilities management and Sands ECO360 teams to unite business needs with sustainability.

The SESDS outline the minimum engineering and sustainability standards required for engineering design, selection, installation, construction and project delivery, as well as construction waste management and building materials selection. These standards apply to new construction and renovation projects globally and have been incorporated into the company’s engineering consultancy contracts.

Once resorts open or upgrades are complete, the Sands ECO360 team extends sustainable design and development by driving comprehensive processes and practices that create efficiency and reduce impact. The team continually evaluates opportunities to enhance operations, incorporate new technologies and implement best practices to improve sustainable performance.

“Pursuing LEED certification has been a priority since we opened The Palazzo and obtained our first certification, but the approach we’ve taken has continually evolved with new best practices and enhanced technology,” Katarina Tesarova, senior vice president and chief sustainability officer at Sands, said. “Our pursuit for sustainable design and property performance is never-ending.”

Las Vegas Sands

Sands’ investment in the sustainability of its properties begins long before the first Team Member enters a building or the first guest arrives. The foundation laid in the company’s buildings drives sustainability forward throughout their life cycles.

Sands integrates best practices for environmental stewardship into its development process, so that resorts and other company properties are built for sustainability throughout ongoing operations. As a result, Sands has received multiple certifications for its buildings from the U.S. Green Building Council through its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification ranking system.

Introduced in 2000, the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED ranking system was the first environmental certification in the building industry and is the most widely recognized green building rating system in the world today, with more than 195,000 projects spanning 186 countries.

Since its introduction, the LEED ranking system has become a benchmark for the design and construction of green buildings and addresses a range of factors such as energy and water use, indoor environmental quality, materials selection, and the building’s site and location within its surrounding community. LEED offers a framework for sustainable, resilient, healthy and equitable places.

Sands has a long history with this prestigious ranking system. In 2008, the company first received LEED Silver certification for New Construction for The Palazzo – the company’s former property and the first resort on the Las Vegas Strip to receive this recognition. The Palazzo was considered the largest green building in the world at the time.

Sands also earned LEED Gold certification for Existing Buildings at its formerly owned properties, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas two years later and then The Venetian Congress Center and Sands Expo in 2016.

Properties in Asia also have received LEED certification, with The Parisian Macao becoming LEED Silver certified for Building Design and Construction in 2019. Marina Bay Sands earned LEED Platinum certification for Building Operations and Maintenance for its Expo and Convention Centre in 2019 and LEED Platinum certification for Building Operations and Maintenance for the ArtScience Museum in 2024, elevating its previous LEED Gold certification.

In 2023, the company’s new corporate headquarters campus in Las Vegas earned LEED Gold certification for Building Design and Construction. With this designation, Sands extended LEED recognition for its resorts to its first standalone corporate headquarters.

The Sands ECO360 global sustainability team spearheads pursuit of LEED certifications in support of the program’s pillar for responsible building, design and development. However, numerous departments within the company must align their interests and work closely to accomplish the objectives required for LEED certifications. In designing new buildings or planning updates and modifications to existing properties, the Sands ECO360 team works closely with the company’s engineering and facilities teams to co-create plans that meet both business and environmental goals.

In addition, enhancing sustainability in building development and renovations involves incorporating smart design and technology to reduce environmental impact in ongoing operations. To guide this process, the Sands Engineering and Sustainable Development Standards (SESDS) combine engineering and sustainable development protocols into a single, comprehensive approach. Introduced in 2024, the SESDS represent collaboration among the engineering and asset management, development, facilities management and Sands ECO360 teams to unite business needs with sustainability.

The SESDS outline the minimum engineering and sustainability standards required for engineering design, selection, installation, construction and project delivery, as well as construction waste management and building materials selection. These standards apply to new construction and renovation projects globally and have been incorporated into the company’s engineering consultancy contracts.

Once resorts open or upgrades are complete, the Sands ECO360 team extends sustainable design and development by driving comprehensive processes and practices that create efficiency and reduce impact. The team continually evaluates opportunities to enhance operations, incorporate new technologies and implement best practices to improve sustainable performance.

“Pursuing LEED certification has been a priority since we opened The Palazzo and obtained our first certification, but the approach we’ve taken has continually evolved with new best practices and enhanced technology,” Katarina Tesarova, senior vice president and chief sustainability officer at Sands, said. “Our pursuit for sustainable design and property performance is never-ending.”

Ask around at a golf or sports turf conference, and you’ll hear the same thing: everybody knows Terry.

As sales manager for BESTSAND at Covia, Sales Manager Terry Gwinn has built a reputation as the person superintendents, architects, and distributors naturally gravitate toward. He’s the calm presence at a busy show, the one who remembers your course, your last renovation, and probably the name of your assistant superintendent, too.

From Superintendent to Golf Sand Sales Leader

Before joining Covia, Terry was a golf course superintendent at The Greenbrier in West Virginia. Terry attended the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation’s annual conference in December of 2000 to evaluate some options for a bunker renovation and enjoy a short visit to his home state. Instead, he received an offer that would change the course of his career.

“When I was up there, I was asked if I wanted a job,” Terry said. “I took some time to think about it, and I eventually had the realization that it was time to try something outside of what I was already doing.”

That decision eventually led to Terry being hired as a bunker sand salesperson in May of 2001. In this role, Terry was regularly on the road, driving across Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, West Virginia, and northern Indiana for roughly eight years. This rigorous schedule was a tiring time, but one that proved worthwhile for both Terry and Covia.

“All in all, it was a trying time for me because I was always on the road,” Terry shared. “But in reality, it was helpful because I got to meet a lot of people, get the name out there… It ended up being good training.”

A 600-Ton Turning Point

For all his humility, Terry’s fingerprints are on some of the most recognizable golf courses in the country. His hard work has led to projects with notable venues such as:

• Butler National (Chicago)
• Crooked Stick (Carmel, IN)
• Muirfield Village (Dublin, OH)
• Oak Hill Country Club (Pittsford, NY)
• Oakland Hills (Detroit, MI)
• Pebble Beach (Pebble Beach, CA)
• Valhalla Golf Club (Louisville, KY)

His current resume is rather impressive, but he had doubts early in his sales career. According to Terry, it took a big sale for him to realize he was on the right path.

“At first, I was wondering if this job was right for me,” Terry explains. “But once the first sale is under your belt, you just keep going.”

For Terry, that sale was a 600-ton order of bunker sand that gave him the confidence he needed to put his doubts behind him and leverage his greatest skill – building relationships.

Building Bonds from One Bunker to the Next

As a former superintendent, Terry knows the pressures of managing turf, tournaments, budgets, and boards. Between his past experience and attentive nature, Terry can connect with customers across the country.

“When I made the transition from superintendent to sales, I could relate to what these guys are going through on a certain level,” he says. “Sometimes you go out there, you don’t even talk about bunker sand. You talk about everything else under the sun and listen to them when they need it.”

That ability to listen, and genuinely care, has become an essential part of Covia’s reputation in the golf and sports turf space. It’s also why trade show aisles tend to bottleneck wherever Terry happens to be standing.

“I’ve never seen anyone work a tradeshow like Terry,” says Joel Eaton, director of sales – specialty products. “He’s genuine, knowledgeable, and takes pride in every interaction, and it shows.”

Growing a Market, No Matter the Challenge

While Terry and BESTSAND are notable figures in the industry now, it took a lot of work to get to this point. The golf market has seen its share of ups and downs over the course of Terry’s career, with the mid 2010s being particularly difficult. However, that stagnation ended abruptly following golf’s surge in popularity during the COVID pandemic.

“The tide changed 180 degrees,” Terry explained. “There’s a lot of activity in the golf business from both a renovation and a new construction standpoint. Every country club that I talk to has a waiting list now that they didn’t have prior.”

Thanks to Terry’s hard work, BESTSAND was in a position to thrive during this surge in demand. Covia also recognized Terry’s efforts and targeted golf and sports turf as a key opportunity and made several investments to help him grow the BESTSAND brand. Today, Covia is:  

• A coast-to-coast supplier, with the addition of new plants and distributors enabling reliable service from the Pacific Northwest to New England and down through Texas and Florida.
• A member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, an influential group that helps open doors with designers and decision-makers.
• A visible partner through sponsorships, webinars, video testimonials, and e-blasts that highlight marquee projects and thought leadership.

For all the business milestones, some of the most telling moments in Terry’s story come from his resilience and dedication despite health issues. Terry was diagnosed with cancer six years ago. Despite this, he stayed connected with the relationships and responsibilities he cares about so deeply. 

“He’s been through a lot these past few years, but he’s the hardest-working person I know,” Joel shared. “Terry is one of a kind and I’m proud to know him.”

What’s Next for Terry

As you may expect by now, Terry is not planning to slow down. His calendar is already filled with trade shows in 2026 where he’ll continue to deepen relationships, learn, and showcase what Covia can do.

“We’re working on new opportunities coming up for Covia, and I’m looking forward to being able to service even more markets than we have been in the past,” Terry said.

In the end, Terry doesn’t measure his career by the number of tons shipped or the number of high-profile courses on his resume (although there are many). He measures it in relationships he’s developed.

If you ask him, he’ll say he’s just doing his job. Everyone else knows he’s doing much more than that.

Originally published on GoDaddy LinkedIn

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2025 Wrap-Up from the GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab

Welcome to our Q4 update and annual wrap-up on small and microbusiness activity across the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia!

This has been an eventful year, and as we’re all ready to wind-down before 2026 begins, let’s jump right into our updates on the entrepreneurs with a digital presence and majority having fewer than 10 employees (over half solo entrepreneurs). There’s a lot to share about their latest outlook and growth plans, where they are online and internationally, how they’re using AI, and more.

Warmly,

Alexandra Rosen | Economist and Global Head, GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab

Data Hub – Which Industries and States grew the most in 2025?

The Microbusiness Data Hub has been refreshed through September 2025, capturing the latest shifts in entrepreneurship, geographically and by industry through our e-commerce data, excerpts below:

Top 5 Ecommerce Industries in 2025 
Ranked by growth in entrepreneurs

• Rank #1: Software & IT: +23%
• Rank #2: Auto: +19%
• Rank #3: Home Services: +18%
• Rank #4: Travel: +17%
• Rank #4: Religion: +16%

excerpt from U.S. edition of the GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab Annual Report

Top 10 States By Microbusiness Count

State	Active Microbusinesses Q3 ’25	1 Year Microbusiness Count Change	Microbusiness Density Q3 ’25
California	3,911,254	1%	9.9
Florida	2,472,670	4%	10.6
Texas	1,936,827	4%	6.2
New York	1,804,154	2%	9.1
Georgia	786,792	2%	7.0
Illinois	782,117	1%	6.2
Washington	723,217	3%	9.1
Pennsylvania	717,586	2%	5.5
New Jersey	684,977	2%	7.2
Arizona	638,607	1%	8.4

excerpt from U.S. edition of the GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab Annual Report

2025 Annual Report – From Resiliency to Resolve: The State of Small and Microbusinesses is live!

Small businesses have always been resilient. This year we are seeing something else too. Entrepreneurs are moving forward with intention and conviction. They are not just adapting, but they are committed, and staying present.

Over 70% of U.S. small business owners are confident they will achieve their definition of success in their lifetime. With AI reshaping how they grow, the outsized local economic impact is scaling faster than ever. Read our 2025 wrap-up report on their outlook, plans to hire, and where you can find them online and nationally.

Link: https://www.godaddy.com/research/explore-the-data/annual-report-2025/

Majority have neutral to positive expectations of Nov-Dec 2025 sales compared to 2024

• Lower: 26%
• No Change: 37%
• Higher: 29%

Small business outlook on revenue over the next 6 months is cautiously optimistic

• Negative: 24%
• Positive or No Change: 66%

excerpt from U.S. edition of the GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab Annual Report

Majority of entrepreneurs have changed how they define success since childhood

• 84% say their definition has changed from slightly to completely
• 47% completely agree
• 37% yes, slightly

Definitions of success by entrepreneurs

• 53%: Living comfortable lifestyle with financial security
• 43%: Freedom to pursue passions/goals
• 37%: Feeling happy with life
• 27%: Being able to pay off debt
• 26%: Being own boss
• 21%: Having something to leave children
• 21%: Impacting community
• 17%: Fulfilling career
• 13%: Owning my own home

72%: Seventy-two percent of entrepreneurs feel confident they’ll achieve success in their lifetime.

excerpt from U.S. edition of the GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab Annual Report

Introducing two new public GPTs on ChatGPT

One annual report is great, but how about all of them since 2020? This quarter we are introducing a new way to access and interact with our data: GoDaddy has published its first public GPT on ChatGPT. It gathers all of our published reports since 2020, including our special editions of research with UCLA Anderson Forecast and Frontier Economics, into a single, conversational tool.

You can explore regional differences, long-term impact and industry trends, survey results spanning 5 years, and the stories that sit beneath the data. Search “GoDaddy” under the Explore section of ChatGPT or use this link: research.godaddy/gpt

We’ve also released another GPT just for our US data, accessible here: http://research.godaddy/data. It leverages an API to parse the data, which you’ll need to approve once, and we invite you to explore it and even try to break it! Welcome your thoughts on it. (See images above)

Economic Impact Update from the United Kingdom

Since 2023, GoDaddy has partnered with Frontier Economics to capture the outsized impact made by UK microbusinesses on their local economies. In 2025, UK microbusinesses continued to boost local economies at higher rates than before.

Last year, a 10% rise in small digital businesses was linked to an average pay increase of about £320 for full time workers. This year, that figure has grown to £360.

The link with jobs has also strengthened. Each additional small digital business for every thousand people is now associated with about 5 extra jobs in that area.

The research also finds that digital business growth is good for productivity. A 10% increase in small digital businesses is linked to a .37% rise in GDP per capita. For a typical local authority of 200,000 people, this would translate to over £26 million in additional GDP.

Behind every data point is a person choosing to build something. Blossom and Grow Florist in Harlow is one example. Owner Rachel Brennan used digital tools to reach more customers, support her family and stay closely connected to her community.

Link: https://www.godaddy.com/research/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/The-impact-of-microbusin[…]ocal-economic-outcomes-in-the-UK-_-2025-update-13-11-2025.pdf

Recent Press 

United States

Stadium District Powers Small Business Momentum Denver is emerging as one of the most active small business ecosystems in the country, with areas around Empower Field showing steady economic gains supported by visitor foot traffic.

Link: https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/empower-field-is-empowering-small-businesses-research-ranks-denver-among-the-top-in-the-country-for-local-economic-growth

United Kingdom

Small Business Density Doubles in Tottenham New reporting shows that small business creation in Tottenham has doubled over four years as major events bring more people and investment into the area.

Link: https://www.smetoday.co.uk/news/tottenhams-small-business-scene-doubles-as-major-events-transform-the-area/

United Kingdom

Remote Island Business Thrives With Global Customers A Scottish island business is growing through domain strength, website visibility and social reach. It shows how digital tools help even the most remote entrepreneurs serve customers worldwide.

Link: https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/smallbusiness/article-15184877/Were-small-business-remote-Scottish-Island-thanks-TikTok-customers-Australia.html

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BETHESDA, Md., December 18, 2025 /3BL/ – Representatives from the U.S. Department of State, through tandem Global and its partners: the Núcleo de Biotecnología de Caurauma (NBC), Baastel, IncubatecUFRO, and La Redde Innovación eImpacto (La RED), launch the Empower Innovation Challenge (EIC) 2026, an online competition aimed at selecting innovative solutions in Central America that strengthen MSMEs to scale their businesses. 

The Empower Innovation Challenge (EIC), funded by the U.S. Department of State (DoS) and implemented by the Assistance Coordination Office of the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA/AC) is a unique innovation competition designed for non-profit organizations, focusing on strengthening micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to enhance their competitiveness and promote regional economic growth. 

Through this competition, the EIC will award 15 grants of USD 80,000 each in non-reimbursable funds per organization to strengthen innovative projects that empower micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, helping them expand their reach through training, access to networks, and partnership opportunities with local and international companies. Additionally, the 15 awardees will be granted membership in La RED de Innovación e Impacto. 

Applicant organizations must propose projects in one of these six Central American countries: Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, or Panama. Participating projects may be from private non-profit organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private universities, and non-profit higher education institutions, supporting innovative solutions that promote economic growth in the following priority sectors: agriculture, livestock, agribusiness, food and beverages, fishing, tourism, creative services, technologies, light and small manufacturing, textiles, and logistics. 

The application period for the challenge will be open until January 11, 2026. 

Organizations that are open to apply can access the application form and participation criteria here: https://www.eiclared.org/. 

For more information about the initiative: https://www.eiclared.org/ and https://laredinnovacionimpacto.com/ 

• For additional inquiries, please contact us: EIC@tandemglobal.org  

About the organizers of the EIC

Tandem Global

At Tandem Global (formerly the Wildlife Habitat Council and World Environment Center), we provide the know-how and the network to move business and the environment together, in harmony. We work across sectors and at all levels of organizations to facilitate long-term and lasting impact on all aspects of our natural world. From field operations to boardrooms and beyond, corporate leaders turn to Tandem Global for impact strategies and resilient solutions that can support a better future.

https://tandemglobal.org/

The La Red de Innovación e Impacto (La RED)

La RED is an initiative that brings together both for-profit and non-profit organizations to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with the aim of promoting economic growth and prosperity in the Latin American region. Founded in 2014, La RED emerged from a selection process of organizations that have accelerated the development of sustainable businesses and promoted economic growth in the region. Initially funded by the U.S. Department of State, the project was executed by Tandem Global in collaboration with its partners Le Groupe-conseil baastel ltée (Baastel) and RioSlum Studio until June 2021. Since July 2021, La RED has been led by its own organizations and coordinated by the Núcleo de Biotecnología Curauma (NBC) at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso in Chile. 

 https://laredinnovacionimpacto.com/ 

Núcleo Biotecnología de Curauma (NBC)

The Núcleo Biotecnología Curauma Center (NBC), part of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV), is an R+D+i center with over 15 years of experience in technological development, innovation and technology transfer. The NBC main goal is to support companies, especially MSMEs, in improving their productivity and competitiveness through technological based solutions.  

The center has pioneered projects like CompiteMAS®, which has allowed NBC to position itself as a key player in the region’s productive transformation, strengthening public-private networks and driving innovation in companies. 

NBC’s track record includes managing competitive R&D contracts, public tenders, international cooperation projects, and delivering certified training programs since its founding in 2010. NBC created a competitiveness indicator for SMEs, called CompiteMAS® indicator, which allows measuring competitiveness including economic, environmental and social areas. 

Throughout 14 years NBC has expanded its lines of work and specialization, addressing projects with innovation, and social impact, consolidating a portfolio of 500 projects executed with excellent results. Through all its activities and services, NBC seeks to make local SMEs more productive, and competitive. 

http://nbcpucv.cl

IncubatecUFRO

IncubatecUFRO is the incubator of the Universidad de La Frontera, the leading business incubator and accelerator in southern Chile, working with more than 250 companies and entrepreneurs annually. Its objective is to foster and strengthen entrepreneurial initiatives with differentiating and/or innovative factors through networking, access to networks, and access to specialized resources and services. Over the last five years, the program has focused on boosting national entrepreneurship and innovation field. Articulating collaboration with strategic support networks for entrepreneurs. Thus, IncubatecUFRO is currently supporting early-stage, expansion-, and scaling-up companies through specialized incubation services and the coordination of business boards with a focus on strengthening innovative value propositions. It also addresses gaps in areas such as business management, marketing and sales, raising private capital, and internationalization, thereby achieving a greater impact on the commercial growth and internationalization of its business portfolio. 

 https://incubatecufro.cl/

Le Groupe-conseil baastel ltée (Baastel) 

Baastel is recognized for its quality services in Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), Results-based Management (RBM), strategic planning, project and program management, and building individual and institutional capacity in these areas. Baastel’s outstanding reputation in the field is built on a record of international and national successes, and expertise that is backed by attention to detail, quality, transparency and neutrality. 

https://baastel.com

BETHESDA, Md., December 18, 2025 /3BL/ – Representatives from the U.S. Department of State, through tandem Global and its partners: the Núcleo de Biotecnología de Caurauma (NBC), Baastel, IncubatecUFRO, and La Redde Innovación eImpacto (La RED), launch the Empower Innovation Challenge (EIC) 2026, an online competition aimed at selecting innovative solutions in Central America that strengthen MSMEs to scale their businesses. 

The Empower Innovation Challenge (EIC), funded by the U.S. Department of State (DoS) and implemented by the Assistance Coordination Office of the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA/AC) is a unique innovation competition designed for non-profit organizations, focusing on strengthening micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to enhance their competitiveness and promote regional economic growth. 

Through this competition, the EIC will award 15 grants of USD 80,000 each in non-reimbursable funds per organization to strengthen innovative projects that empower micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, helping them expand their reach through training, access to networks, and partnership opportunities with local and international companies. Additionally, the 15 awardees will be granted membership in La RED de Innovación e Impacto. 

Applicant organizations must propose projects in one of these six Central American countries: Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, or Panama. Participating projects may be from private non-profit organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private universities, and non-profit higher education institutions, supporting innovative solutions that promote economic growth in the following priority sectors: agriculture, livestock, agribusiness, food and beverages, fishing, tourism, creative services, technologies, light and small manufacturing, textiles, and logistics. 

The application period for the challenge will be open until January 11, 2026. 

Organizations that are open to apply can access the application form and participation criteria here: https://www.eiclared.org/. 

For more information about the initiative: https://www.eiclared.org/ and https://laredinnovacionimpacto.com/ 

• For additional inquiries, please contact us: EIC@tandemglobal.org  

About the organizers of the EIC

Tandem Global

At Tandem Global (formerly the Wildlife Habitat Council and World Environment Center), we provide the know-how and the network to move business and the environment together, in harmony. We work across sectors and at all levels of organizations to facilitate long-term and lasting impact on all aspects of our natural world. From field operations to boardrooms and beyond, corporate leaders turn to Tandem Global for impact strategies and resilient solutions that can support a better future.

https://tandemglobal.org/

The La Red de Innovación e Impacto (La RED)

La RED is an initiative that brings together both for-profit and non-profit organizations to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with the aim of promoting economic growth and prosperity in the Latin American region. Founded in 2014, La RED emerged from a selection process of organizations that have accelerated the development of sustainable businesses and promoted economic growth in the region. Initially funded by the U.S. Department of State, the project was executed by Tandem Global in collaboration with its partners Le Groupe-conseil baastel ltée (Baastel) and RioSlum Studio until June 2021. Since July 2021, La RED has been led by its own organizations and coordinated by the Núcleo de Biotecnología Curauma (NBC) at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso in Chile. 

 https://laredinnovacionimpacto.com/ 

Núcleo Biotecnología de Curauma (NBC)

The Núcleo Biotecnología Curauma Center (NBC), part of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV), is an R+D+i center with over 15 years of experience in technological development, innovation and technology transfer. The NBC main goal is to support companies, especially MSMEs, in improving their productivity and competitiveness through technological based solutions.  

The center has pioneered projects like CompiteMAS®, which has allowed NBC to position itself as a key player in the region’s productive transformation, strengthening public-private networks and driving innovation in companies. 

NBC’s track record includes managing competitive R&D contracts, public tenders, international cooperation projects, and delivering certified training programs since its founding in 2010. NBC created a competitiveness indicator for SMEs, called CompiteMAS® indicator, which allows measuring competitiveness including economic, environmental and social areas. 

Throughout 14 years NBC has expanded its lines of work and specialization, addressing projects with innovation, and social impact, consolidating a portfolio of 500 projects executed with excellent results. Through all its activities and services, NBC seeks to make local SMEs more productive, and competitive. 

http://nbcpucv.cl

IncubatecUFRO

IncubatecUFRO is the incubator of the Universidad de La Frontera, the leading business incubator and accelerator in southern Chile, working with more than 250 companies and entrepreneurs annually. Its objective is to foster and strengthen entrepreneurial initiatives with differentiating and/or innovative factors through networking, access to networks, and access to specialized resources and services. Over the last five years, the program has focused on boosting national entrepreneurship and innovation field. Articulating collaboration with strategic support networks for entrepreneurs. Thus, IncubatecUFRO is currently supporting early-stage, expansion-, and scaling-up companies through specialized incubation services and the coordination of business boards with a focus on strengthening innovative value propositions. It also addresses gaps in areas such as business management, marketing and sales, raising private capital, and internationalization, thereby achieving a greater impact on the commercial growth and internationalization of its business portfolio. 

 https://incubatecufro.cl/

Le Groupe-conseil baastel ltée (Baastel) 

Baastel is recognized for its quality services in Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), Results-based Management (RBM), strategic planning, project and program management, and building individual and institutional capacity in these areas. Baastel’s outstanding reputation in the field is built on a record of international and national successes, and expertise that is backed by attention to detail, quality, transparency and neutrality. 

https://baastel.com

BETHESDA, Md., December 18, 2025 /3BL/ – Representatives from the U.S. Department of State, through tandem Global and its partners: the Núcleo de Biotecnología de Caurauma (NBC), Baastel, IncubatecUFRO, and La Redde Innovación eImpacto (La RED), launch the Empower Innovation Challenge (EIC) 2026, an online competition aimed at selecting innovative solutions in Central America that strengthen MSMEs to scale their businesses. 

The Empower Innovation Challenge (EIC), funded by the U.S. Department of State (DoS) and implemented by the Assistance Coordination Office of the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA/AC) is a unique innovation competition designed for non-profit organizations, focusing on strengthening micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to enhance their competitiveness and promote regional economic growth. 

Through this competition, the EIC will award 15 grants of USD 80,000 each in non-reimbursable funds per organization to strengthen innovative projects that empower micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, helping them expand their reach through training, access to networks, and partnership opportunities with local and international companies. Additionally, the 15 awardees will be granted membership in La RED de Innovación e Impacto. 

Applicant organizations must propose projects in one of these six Central American countries: Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, or Panama. Participating projects may be from private non-profit organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private universities, and non-profit higher education institutions, supporting innovative solutions that promote economic growth in the following priority sectors: agriculture, livestock, agribusiness, food and beverages, fishing, tourism, creative services, technologies, light and small manufacturing, textiles, and logistics. 

The application period for the challenge will be open until January 11, 2026. 

Organizations that are open to apply can access the application form and participation criteria here: https://www.eiclared.org/. 

For more information about the initiative: https://www.eiclared.org/ and https://laredinnovacionimpacto.com/ 

• For additional inquiries, please contact us: EIC@tandemglobal.org  

About the organizers of the EIC

Tandem Global

At Tandem Global (formerly the Wildlife Habitat Council and World Environment Center), we provide the know-how and the network to move business and the environment together, in harmony. We work across sectors and at all levels of organizations to facilitate long-term and lasting impact on all aspects of our natural world. From field operations to boardrooms and beyond, corporate leaders turn to Tandem Global for impact strategies and resilient solutions that can support a better future.

https://tandemglobal.org/

The La Red de Innovación e Impacto (La RED)

La RED is an initiative that brings together both for-profit and non-profit organizations to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with the aim of promoting economic growth and prosperity in the Latin American region. Founded in 2014, La RED emerged from a selection process of organizations that have accelerated the development of sustainable businesses and promoted economic growth in the region. Initially funded by the U.S. Department of State, the project was executed by Tandem Global in collaboration with its partners Le Groupe-conseil baastel ltée (Baastel) and RioSlum Studio until June 2021. Since July 2021, La RED has been led by its own organizations and coordinated by the Núcleo de Biotecnología Curauma (NBC) at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso in Chile. 

 https://laredinnovacionimpacto.com/ 

Núcleo Biotecnología de Curauma (NBC)

The Núcleo Biotecnología Curauma Center (NBC), part of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (PUCV), is an R+D+i center with over 15 years of experience in technological development, innovation and technology transfer. The NBC main goal is to support companies, especially MSMEs, in improving their productivity and competitiveness through technological based solutions.  

The center has pioneered projects like CompiteMAS®, which has allowed NBC to position itself as a key player in the region’s productive transformation, strengthening public-private networks and driving innovation in companies. 

NBC’s track record includes managing competitive R&D contracts, public tenders, international cooperation projects, and delivering certified training programs since its founding in 2010. NBC created a competitiveness indicator for SMEs, called CompiteMAS® indicator, which allows measuring competitiveness including economic, environmental and social areas. 

Throughout 14 years NBC has expanded its lines of work and specialization, addressing projects with innovation, and social impact, consolidating a portfolio of 500 projects executed with excellent results. Through all its activities and services, NBC seeks to make local SMEs more productive, and competitive. 

http://nbcpucv.cl

IncubatecUFRO

IncubatecUFRO is the incubator of the Universidad de La Frontera, the leading business incubator and accelerator in southern Chile, working with more than 250 companies and entrepreneurs annually. Its objective is to foster and strengthen entrepreneurial initiatives with differentiating and/or innovative factors through networking, access to networks, and access to specialized resources and services. Over the last five years, the program has focused on boosting national entrepreneurship and innovation field. Articulating collaboration with strategic support networks for entrepreneurs. Thus, IncubatecUFRO is currently supporting early-stage, expansion-, and scaling-up companies through specialized incubation services and the coordination of business boards with a focus on strengthening innovative value propositions. It also addresses gaps in areas such as business management, marketing and sales, raising private capital, and internationalization, thereby achieving a greater impact on the commercial growth and internationalization of its business portfolio. 

 https://incubatecufro.cl/

Le Groupe-conseil baastel ltée (Baastel) 

Baastel is recognized for its quality services in Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), Results-based Management (RBM), strategic planning, project and program management, and building individual and institutional capacity in these areas. Baastel’s outstanding reputation in the field is built on a record of international and national successes, and expertise that is backed by attention to detail, quality, transparency and neutrality. 

https://baastel.com

Across the value chain, one theme keeps coming up in conversations with brands, manufacturers, policymakers, and verifiers alike: data quality matters more than ever.

Whether a facility is tracking energy use, a brand is reporting Scope 3 emissions, or a regulator is evaluating compliance, decisions depend on credible, comparable data.

This is exactly why Cascale and Worldly have made data quality a top priority for the Higg Facility Environmental Module (Higg FEM), available exclusively on Worldly. Over the past several cadences, we’ve taken significant steps to strengthen the accuracy, consistency, and reliability of Higg FEM data — and in 2026, we’re going even further.

Why Data Quality Matters Now

The Higg FEM has become the industry’s foundation for environmental measurement at the facility level. Its role is broader than a single assessment: it feeds Scope 3 reporting, informs regulatory disclosures, and guides operational improvements inside factories. That means the quality of the underlying data isn’t just a technical question; it’s a credibility question.

The Higg FEM also continues to evolve. New data points, deeper quantitative detail, and alignment with reporting standards raise the bar for everyone — which is the right direction, but it also means we must continuously tune the system to support users and prevent errors.

What We’ve Improved — Why It Matters1. Better inputs: clearer content and stronger models

A major part of data quality is making sure staff at manufacturing facilities understand exactly what’s being asked and how to respond accurately. Based on feedback from Higg FEM users (yes, the manufacturers) and verifiers, we’ve:

• Rewritten and clarified questions that previously created confusion.
• Added new guidance and training materials in areas like chemical inventory management.
• Updated emissions models to align more closely with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol.
• Introduced new validation rules to prevent impossible answers, such as inconsistent water usage or incorrect chemical data.
• “Get to Know the Higg FEM” webinar series and live Q&A sessions offering section-by-section deep dives to help manufacturers get answers and feel confident before submitting their assessments.

By preventing errors before they enter the system, we reduce the need for corrections later — and improve the clarity of data for manufacturers, brands, and regulators.

2. Smarter technology to catch issues early

We’re working closely with Worldly, making the most of its innovative platform as a central solution to elevate data accuracy.

• Automated outlier detection now flags anomalous data during self-assessment. In Higg FEM 2024, the system identified more than 12,000 potential outliers, with facilities correcting 41 percent of them.
• Facilities can now see their previous cadence values, helping them recognize when their inputs look unusual.
• The AI-powered Worldly Assistant provides immediate access to guidance and documentation, supporting users at the moment of data entry.
• Improvements to page load times, question structures, and table-based inputs reduce friction and accidental errors.

Members are already making the most of these dynamic updates; learn more on the Cascale Connect Higg FEM Learning Hub (members only). And, our own HowtoHigg website has also been enhanced to ensure easier access to information on how to use the tools and understand the methodology behind them.

3. A stronger, more consistent verification ecosystem

Verification is a core pillar of data quality. It’s also one of the most intensive areas of work within Higg FEM — and one where we’ve made major strides.

• Cascale has 570 trained verifiers across 73 Verifier Bodies as of November 14, supported by detailed protocols, QA checks, and annual performance reviews.
• In 2024 and 2025, our QA program significantly reduced avoidable verification errors through new consistency checks and verifier guidance.
• We increased the number of desktop reviews, counter verifications, and duplicate verifications, giving us clearer insight into verifier performance.
• New Verifier Body profiles and an expanded Quality Assurance Dashboard offer more transparency than ever before.
• Our automated VPM QA Rules cut the number of verified Higg FEMs containing clear errors by more than half.

Taken together, these improvements provide stronger confidence in verified Higg FEM data — which is essential for brands using these metrics in their reporting and decision-making.

4. Preparing for the next generation of Higg FEM data quality

Looking ahead, 2026 will be an important year. We’re piloting a new approach to more frequent and timely verification of key quantitative data — such as energy use, water consumption, and shipped volumes, in cases where such frequent or timely verification is warranted (in line with our recently published Principles on the Frequency of Environmental Data Reporting). Instead of reviewing these inputs once a year, we’ll be testing quarterly verification using remote methods.

The goal is simple:

• Catch issues earlier
• Reduce year-end corrections
• Provide more timely, fully verified data
• Support manufacturers’ own internal performance management

We are also deepening technical alignment with ZDHC on verification expectations — a step toward reducing duplication and strengthening cross-industry consistency.

A Continuous Improvement Mindset

Data quality is not a destination; it’s an ongoing discipline. Every cadence teaches us something new. Every round of user feedback highlights opportunities to clarify questions or strengthen checks. And every trend in the data helps us understand where the industry is improving — and where more support is needed.

The Higg FEM is the most widely used environmental assessment for consumer goods manufacturing. That reach gives us both the responsibility and the opportunity to continuously raise the bar, and to listen to the feedback our users are giving us.

By improving content, strengthening verification, and using technology more intelligently, we’re helping facilities, brands, and policymakers work with data they can trust — and ultimately enabling more credible environmental progress across the value chain.