Marco Alvarez
Editorial byline
Marco Alvarez is an editorial byline for City & Local, with a focus on Business Spotlights, Services, Local Economy. Biographical credentials and external profiles are published only after verification.
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Coverage Areas
Latest Articles

Miami-Dade Mayor Proposes Cutting Bus Service Amid Budget Shortfalls
Miami-Dade's Mayor Daniella Levine Cava proposes draining an $89 million reserve, originally designated for future rail projects, to sustain current bus services as part of her 2027 budget, according
Sep 20, 2026 · 5 min read

New Italian Restaurant and Co-working Space Opens Downtown
Starting October 15th, a previously vacant 8,000 sq ft storefront at 123 Main Street will host Il Duomo & The Hub, a 120-seat upscale Italian eatery and a 50-desk co-working hub.
Sep 18, 2026 · 4 min read

Wakulla County veterans protest plan to close services office
Veterans in Wakulla County are mobilizing against a plan that could shut down their local Veterans Services Office, jeopardizing direct access to critical support.
Sep 18, 2026 · 3 min read

How to Choose the Best Local Healthcare Providers in 2026
Over 50% of medical bankruptcies stem from unexpected medical bills, even for insured individuals, reveals a critical gap in how Americans choose their healthcare providers, according to the American
Sep 17, 2026 · 5 min read

Google Shifts Local Services Ads to Performance Max
By August 2026, local businesses relying on Google Local Services Ads will find their entire campaign management, bidding, and reporting history reset.
Sep 17, 2026 · 2 min read

Small businesses are primary drivers of private-sector jobs
In 2023 alone, 5.5 million new business applications were filed in the U.S., indicating a vibrant, ongoing entrepreneurial surge that underpins the nation's economic health. This consistent wave of ne
Sep 17, 2026 · 4 min read

What Is Local SEO and How to Implement It for 2026 Success?
In early 2026, over 200 million 'near me' searches were conducted monthly, signaling an immediate intent to purchase, according to Shopify .
Sep 16, 2026 · 4 min read

Governments Adopt ServiceNow for Modernizing Public Services
The Tennessee Department of Human Services recently consolidated over 20 public phone numbers into a single contact center, powered by ServiceNow, dramatically simplifying citizen access to state aid.
Sep 15, 2026 · 2 min read

CPA Australia aids Chinese firms expanding globally with expert services.
Over two-thirds of surveyed Chinese businesses plan to expand into new international markets or deepen existing presences in the next one to three years.
Sep 14, 2026 · 3 min read

Incubator vs. Accelerator: Which Drives Startup Growth Best?
Y Combinator, a leading accelerator, offers $500,000 in total funding to startups, but only one to three percent of applicants are typically accepted into such highly competitive programs, according t
Sep 14, 2026 · 4 min read

South Korea's Mental Health Support for Foreign Residents
Foreign residents in South Korea can receive up to 12 reimbursed mental health sessions annually, with specific programs covering the full cost of eight senior-grade (Type 1) counseling sessions for l
Sep 13, 2026 · 4 min read

Corbin Services Boost Local Economy, Future Impact Discussed
In the last quarter alone, Content by Corbin hired 50 new employees, many of whom previously commuted out of the area, signaling a dramatic shift in the local job market.
Sep 13, 2026 · 3 min read

Local Waste Management & Recycling: Challenges & Potential
In Broward County, only 38% of waste is currently recycled, according to the Broward County Solid Waste Authority .
Sep 13, 2026 · 3 min read

Nextdoor's 'Local Faves' revolutionizes local business reputation
Nextdoor, a platform often associated with neighborhood chatter, is directly challenging Yelp's review model by launching 'Local Faves,' a feature designed to combat bot-generated reviews with verifie
Sep 12, 2026 · 4 min read

Florida Amendment 3 threatens $280M cut to children's services
Florida's Children's Services Councils face a potential loss of nearly $280 million over the next two fiscal years if Amendment 3 passes, directly threatening programs for thousands of children.
Sep 11, 2026 · 3 min read

AI will transform local services, but cities face major hurdles.
In Stockton, California, AI proactively scanned for code violations, surfacing 4,000 in just five days during a pilot program, according to the Chicago Tribune .
Sep 11, 2026 · 3 min read

California Launches AskCA AI Assistant for State Services
California has launched 'Ask CA', an AI digital assistant designed to be a single entry point for state services, including finding jobs, starting businesses, and accessing disaster relief, according
Sep 10, 2026 · 3 min read

New coffee shops, retail open amid mixed economic trends
More than 30 new restaurants, coffee shops, and bakeries opened in Florida's Brevard County in 2026, expanding local dining and retail options.
Sep 10, 2026 · 3 min read

Local Businesses Find E-commerce Success on Digital Platforms
In Mexico, local businesses are so dominant in e-commerce that they accounted for 90% of all transactions on platforms like Tiendanube in 2026, according to Mexico Business News .
Sep 10, 2026 · 4 min read

NC Health Department Expands Mental Health Access With New 988 Signs
In North Carolina, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline handles an average of 11,443 contacts each month.
Sep 9, 2026 · 3 min read