1.   Has the industry finally shed its negative image for helping businesses only when they are in trouble?

2.   Local authorities run a variety of schemes to help new businesses, these include grants, loans and the provision of premises.

3.   The Palo Alto startup is quietly developing an online service that will help businesses and consumers choose and manage health plans.

4.   City officials bent over backwards to help downtown businesses.

5.   ...using the experience of big companies to help small businesses.

6.   The public will be able to visit the centre, talk to companies currently operating there and see how the centre can help new businesses.

7.   Although the minimum-wage increase was largely the work of Democrats in Congress, the legislation also contained many provisions demanded by Republicans to help small businesses.

8.   And besides, he added, the program often helped businesses that needed no help or employed few minorities or women.

9.   And for the first time, city and county officials are openly talking about scrapping programs that help businesses owned by women or minorities.

10.   As for the fertilizer bags, Kifasi argued it was common practice to thank those who had helped a business with a gift.