Oct. 24
Starting A Business? Government Can Help
Start with a plan. A business plan is a strategic vision for your business and is often required for obtaining loans. There are a number of government resources online to help you get started on your plan.
• Small Business Planner
• Business.gov videos: Business Planning Tutorial
• Gauge your local competition with Census data
After you’ve researched and developed a plan, you may want to attend training or a counseling session. Several government-sponsored groups provide this service for free or a nominal fee.
• In-person services near you
And of course, you need money to start your business. Federal, state, and local governments each operate loan and financial assistance programs for aspiring entrepreneurs.
• Learn more about financing a business
• Search for business loans and grants
Businesses need to follow all relevant laws, file necessary permits, and pay taxes. For more information about these and other steps to opening your business, check out 10 Steps to Starting a Business.
Wherever you are in the process, whether starting or expanding, the Business.gov Community is a great place to ask questions and share your experiences.
Oct. 16
Drug-Free Work Week
Don’t forget, Drug-Free Work Week begins Monday, October 19. It is time spread the word that working drug-free works! According to recent research, it’s a message that many workers need to hear: 3.1 percent of illegal drug users and 7.1 percent of heavy alcohol users say they have actually used drugs and consumed alcohol during the workday. The Department has created materials that can assist organizations in promoting Drug-Free Work Week, or implement a Drug-Free Work Week campaign in an individual workplace.
http://www.dol.gov/asp/programs/
drugs/workingpartners/dfww-introduction.asp
Hispanic Heritage Month
As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to an end, the Department reflects upon all of the exciting events that DOL employees were able to experience — a panel discussion and preview of the upcoming film “The Harvest”, Salsa and Merengue dance lessons, and a book discussion on “Beautiful Flowers of the Maquiladora,” just to name a few.
Earlier this week Secretary Solis moderated a discussion on “Latinos in the 21st Century Workforce.” Panelists included Janet Murguía of the National Council of La Raza, Dr. Pablo Farías of the Ford Foundation, and Dr. Raúl Hinojosa-Ojeda of UCLA. The session explored the changing demographics of the nation’s workforce, globalization and its impact on Latino workers, and strategies to prepare Latino workers for the jobs of tomorrow.
Oct.15
Commentary: Dealing With Loss on Sesame Street
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, please call the national hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE. Visit the FAQ at USA.gov for more information.
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Commentary: Dealing With Loss on Sesame Street
A new video is in production for Sesame’s Talk, Listen, Connect initiative, a multimedia project that helps to guide military families through multiple challenges.
/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=56235
What threats do coastal communities face?
The threats to coastal communities include extreme natural events such as hurricanes, coastal storms, tsunamis, and landslides, as well as longer-term risks of coastal erosion and sea level rise.
facts/coastalthreat.html
Expanding the Home Buyer Tax Credit
Two of my friends bought their first house this year and are moving in this weekend. They get married this spring, but they wanted to take advantage of the $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit, which meant they had to buy the house before Dec. 1, 2009.
However, now there is a debate in Congress on whether the tax credit should be expanded or continued next year.
Some of the potential expansions include increasing the amount of the credit from $8,000 to $15,000, making the credit available for all of 2010 and opening the tax credit to all home buyers who meet the income requirements (currently $75,000 for those filing taxes separately and $150,000 for those filing jointly.)
Those who support the idea expanding the tax credit believe the credit will help cut down on the amount of foreclosures and prevent the housing market from falling farther.
Those who are in favor of letting the credit expire at the end of this year worry that expanding the credit would inflate house prices temporarily causing a severe drop off when the credit eventually does expire. They also worry that eventually the credit will have to be paid for through higher taxes.
So where do you stand on this issue? Are you in favor of expanding the credit or letting it expire after this year?
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