Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz’s Office held an Economic Stimulus/Grant Workshop at the Center for Economic Development Friday June 26^th.  Below is a list of the federal agencies that offered presentations to inform attendees as to how their agencies will be spending ARRA Funds – ARRA is the American Recovery and Revitalization Act.   The main theme for the presentation is that the federal monies that are slated to be Grant Dollars will be passed from the Federal Government to the states.  The states will identify the local agencies that will distribute the funds.  Most of the funds will be sent from the states to local governments and nonprofits agencies, not directly to businesses. But don’t write off the grant money just yet!  These local governments and nonprofits will be spending these monies on projects that they will no doubt contract out to local businesses.  I encourage you, as you have heard before, to “follow the money”.  I am working with a couple of my more aggressive clients to determine how we can learn which local and nonprofit agencies will be getting the grant money, and exactly where and how the money is going to be spent.  This information is very powerful.  Someone is going to be needed to execute the projects where the grant money will be spent.  With rare exception, all the presentations had a consistent theme.  It is obvious that the most of the grant money is going to be funneled to the state – I know I have already stated that above, but it is important to restate it here.  Another restatement is that the money is going from the states to local governments and nonprofits.  The presenters made it clear that the monies are going to agencies and governments that “partner” with other government s and agencies.  “Collaboration” is the keyword!  So is “Jobs”! And another keyword is”Green”! Successful applicants for the ARRA grant funds are going to demonstrate the ability for the money to not only enhance economic growth, but also show teamwork, job creation and a focus on the environment.

 

The Del Mar College SBDC is hosting a team from the State of Texas who will offer information on the next step on the ARRA path on July 29^th.  The event will be held at the Del Mar College Center for Economic Development.  Mark your calendar and plan on attending.  The companies that are successful in participating in the projects funded by ARRA dollars are the companies that have executed diligence is tracking the process of how ARRA monies trickle down to the local levels.

 I have also included contact info from the departments that presented on June 26th…

U.S. Department of Education – Dr. Patty Crisp, Public Affairs at patricia.crisp@email.gov and her phone is 214-661-9502. 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Don Perkins, acting Regional Director at don.perkins@hhs.gov and his phone is 214-767-3301.  To see grant information visit www.hhs.gov/recovery

U.S. Department of Labor – Mr. Justice Perazo at parazo.justice@dol.gov and his phone is 972-850-4642

U.S. Department of Energy – Brian Quirke brian.quirke@ch.doe.gov and his phone is 630-252-2423  DOE is looking for any ideas from small businesses on energy saving ideas

U.S. Department of Commerce – Robert Peche at rpeche@eda.doc.gov

U.S. Department of Agriculture – Jake in Alice Texas at 361-668-8361

U.S. Department of Transportation – Greg Punske at Gregory.punske@fhwa.gov and his number is 512-536-5960.

 

Please note that none of the people I have listed above have grant money to give you.  They may be able to assist you as to who might be responsible for some of the projects that have been passed to the state or local levels.  Consider them as ARRA information providers!

President Barack Obama’s $787 billion economic stimulus is intended to revive the economy, largely by putting people back to work.  A hefty chunk of that money, $ 40 billion, is aimed directly at creating what the administration calls “green jobs.”

 

 

10 hot green job industries to watch in 2009 

1. Advanced biofuels
2. Building retrofitting
3. Geothermal energy
4. Green Chemistry
5. Green manufacturing
6. Smart grid
7. Solar energy
8. Sustainable agriculture
9. Sustainable green retailing
10. Wind energy

 Unemployed seek training form green-collar jobs !

Students and schools are betting that President Barrack Obama’s campaign to promote alternative energy and curb global warming will create millions of well-paying green jobs that do not require a four-year degree.

 Energy Star

Increasing energy efficiency is a win-win for American businesses- Lower energy costs lead to more profits, and greater efficiency helps to protect the environment.  For small businesses, the cost savings and efficiency gains can be especially dramatic.  Simple changes and strategies can cut energy costs by more than 25 percent, and the Small Business Administration, working with others in and out of government, is here to help small businesses achieve these savings.  The Federal Government helps small businesses increase their energy efficiency through the ENERGY STAR for Small Business Programs, an effort tailored to meet the special needs of small business owners.  ENERGY STAR, a joint program of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, is completely voluntary and provides free technical support and expertise.  Getting  started is easy.  Visit the ENERGY STAR Small Business Web site to learn more about the program and about how every small business can benefit.  Financing options are available.

 

Click here to learn more.

Although you should never give tax advice to your employees, you can refer employees to sources of information. 

Updated IRS publication 919, How Do I Adjust My Tax Withholding? for 2009 lists just about every deduction and credit and has worksheets that help employees decide if they are having too little or too much tax withheld.  UYou can direct employees to the booklet, downloaded copies or have one on hand to lend when employees ask questions.

                                                                   

         Highlighted 2009 changes include:

• The definition of a qualifying child;
• Modified rules for a noncustodial parent to claim an exemption for a child;
• IRA and pension plans;
• Making work pay tax credit, standard deduction increases, AMT exemption amount, nonbusiness energy property credit alternative fuel vehicle refueling property credit, and health coverage tax credit;
• Military personnel differential wage payements subject to withholding;
• Excludable unemployment compensation;
• Personal casualty theft losss;  and
• Other adjustments for specific groups.

 

Download at www.irs.gov, typing 919 in the search box

Corpus Christi, TX- Corpus Christi Army Depot’s Business Development Office (BDO) held its first depot-to-business workshop at Del Mar College’s Business Center, March 23, to discuss opportunities for local businesses to ontract with the area’s largest employer.  The CCAD team met with representatives from more than 30 local machine shops to present a roadmap to do business with CCAD and the Dept. of Defense.

  CCAD’s BDO partnered with the Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Commission, Del Mar College’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center and Small Business Development Center to bring about the workshop.  The three-hour workshop laid the groundwork for the local machinists to initiate business with the government and included details about contracting issues, certifications and registration.   The machinists were the first group targeted to help the aviation complex decrease a backlog of tool and die manufacturing.

 CCAD Contracting Officer, Rod Wolthoff, laid out the process of registering on the Central Contracting Registration (CCR), Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website and the steps necessary for a business to contract with CCAD.   ”There are necessary procedures that every contractor must complete to be considered for work at the Depot,” said Wolthoff. “This is one occasion where we are reaching out to the local community to satisfy a Depot need.”   

 The Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), housed at Del Mar College’s Business Center on Kostoryz Road, aids local businesses by working through an array of requirements or paperwork.  Geared toward small business (defined as a business with less than 500 employees), Sean Smith, PTAC Program Director, mentioned they’ll work with any small business wanting to work with the government.  “We’re here to guide you through the process,” said Smith. “One step at a time but we’ll point out all the opportunities available.”

 There are different small business categories, including small business set-aside, Section 8(a), small disadvantaged business, Historically-underutilized business zone, Women-owned, Veteran-owned, and Service Disabled Veteran owned that might give a business an edge in dealing with the government, Smith said.  More monthly workshops are being planned in order to build relationships with local vendors so as to include them as approved contractors and present bid opportunities. For more information on upcoming events call Sean Smith at the Del Mar College PTAC at 698-2221 or email at spsmith@delmar.edu

Why is good customer service so important? In short, it’s good for your business’ bottom line.

“Increased loyalty can bring cost savings in several areas: reduced marketing costs, lower costs in contract negotiations and order processing, reduced customer churn expenses, increased cross-selling, and more positive word-of-mouth, reducing acquisition costs,” according to the article Emotional Intelligence Takes Customer Loyalty to a Higher Level by Michael Greenbaum.

Following are ideas that will help you show your customers how much you really do care.

Communicate
Keep your customers informed. Regularly update them on the specifics of their relationship with your company, recent changes or news about your business, and what’s going on in the general marketplace of your industry. “One of the most important things to communicate to a customer is how they can use your product or service more effectively,” says Joanna Brandi, author of Winning at Customer Retention, 101 Ways to Keep ‘em Happy, Keep ‘em Loyal, and Keep ‘em Coming Back.   Brandi recommends communicating via phone calls, emails, newsletters, direct mail, and postcards – all are valuable (and proven to be successful) ways to contact your clients.

Convenience
If you want people to keep coming back to you, you have to make it easy for them. Brandi summarizes the current consumer mentality as “It’s 24/7, you’ve got to give it to me where I want it, you’ve go to give it to me when I want it, you’ve got to give it to me how I want it.”  Simple changes you can make include, not keeping customers on hold, reducing the number of buttons people must press when using an automated phone answering system to reach a service representative, and changing your voicemail to let people know where you are and when they’ll hear from you.

Do it on their timeframe
Ask customers when they need an item or service, answer phones swiftly, deliver packages promptly, and be sure your Internet pages are up-to-date and load rapidly.

 

Do it their way
We are in an era of mass customization. “Everybody wants it their own way. Everybody wants to be able to feel like what you’re doing for them is special, even if it’s not. It needs to look special for that customer,” says Brandi. How can you possibly keep up with all of your customers’ needs and desires? Brandi suggests using a Customer Relationship Management system. These databases track essential information like contact information, purchasing history, and buying habits.

 

Consistent experiences
Yes, you want to surprise and delight your customers, but you also want them to know they can count on a certain level of service from you every time. To accomplish this goal, you need to understand customer expectations and then develop quality standards. Be assured, if you provide exceptional customer service, people will talk.

 

Ask customers
Consider establishing a customer advisory board to learn more about your customers’ wants and needs. Asking simple questions like what’s new in their businesses, what’s new in their lives, and what would they like to see from your company in the future can help you gain valuable insight.

Recovery skills
Customers will remember their last experience, according to Brandi, and they may or may not give your company a second chance, especially if you make a mistake. “We have a small zone of tolerance for screwing up,” says Brand, “but unfortunately, because of the pressure everybody’s under, the customer’s zone of tolerance is shrinking.”   Sit down and think about everything that could go wrong during a transaction with your company. Decide how you would solve each of these situations and then get this information out to your employees. Empower your employees, so customers won’t be passed from one person to the next to the next – a reality most find very frustrating.

 

 Really care
One of the top reasons customers will stop doing business with you is because they think you don’t care about their business, says Brandi. She recommends treating customers with compassion and trying not to make them feel foolish.   Offering quality products and services is just the start to making customers happy, Greenbaum says “customers look for positive, emotionally sensitive, and memorable experiences. Delivering this gives you a competitive edge over those who merely offer high-quality service.”

 

In reaching a deal on the economic stimulus package, congressional negotiators chopped some funds that appeared headed for federal agencies. Funding to replace gas-guzzling federal vehicles with more energy-efficient alternative fuel and plug-in models, for instance, dropped from $600 million in the House version to the Senate-approved level of $300 million, despite President Obama’s public support for the spending.  But the final version of the $787 billion package, signed into law by Obama in Denver on Tuesday, still allots billions of dollars for upgrades to federal facilities and other projects that directly affect government operations. The following is a sample of the spending that made the final cut.

Agriculture Department

$650 million for Forest Service projects, including road, bridge, trail and facilities maintenance

$500 million for Forest Service wildfire management, of which $250 million would be devoted to federal land

$50 million to modernize Farm Service Agency computer systems

$24 million for repairs and security enhancements at USDA headquarters

Army Corps of Engineers

$4.6 billion for environmental restoration, flood protection, hydropower and navigation infrastructure improvements

Defense Department

$4.2 billion for energy efficiency projects and to repair and modernize Defense facilities

$1.3 billion for construction of medical facilities for service members and their families

$890 million to improve base housing for troops

$300 million for research on using renewable energy for weapons systems and on military bases

$240 million for child development centers

$150 million for a temporary increase in claims processing staff

Energy Department

$2 billion for research and improvements to the department’s laboratories and facilities

Environmental Protection Agency

$600 million to clean up hazardous waste at Superfund sites

$200 million for enforcement and cleanup of petroleum leaks from underground storage tanks

General Services Administration

$4.5 billion for repairs and renovations to make federal buildings more energy efficient

$300 million to make the fleet of government vehicles more fuel efficient

$720 million for construction of GSA and Customs and Border Protection land ports of entry to the United States, to improve border security (also listed under the Homeland Security Department)

Health and Human Services Department

$500 million for the Indian Health Service to modernize hospitals and health clinics and to upgrade technology

$19 billion to computerize health records in an effort to reduce medical errors and cut costs

Homeland Security Department

$1 billion for the Transportation Security Administration to install explosives detection and checkpoint screening systems in airports

$720 million for construction of General Services Administration and Customs and Border Protection land ports of entry to the United States, to improve border security (also listed under GSA)

$240 million for the Coast Guard to make infrastructure improvements and remove obstacles to navigation

Interior Department

$750 million for National Park Service projects

$500 million for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to address maintenance backlogs

$320 million for Bureau of Land Management initiatives

$280 million for national wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries

$140 million to repair and modernize U.S. Geological Survey science facilities and equipment

NASA

$400 million for hiring more scientists to study climate change

$400 million for exploration

$150 million for research, development and demonstrations to improve aviation safety and modernize the air traffic control system

$50 million to repair NASA centers damaged by hurricanes and floods in 2008

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

$600 million for construction and repair of facilities, ships and equipment

$230 million for ready-to-go research, restoration, navigation and conservation activities

Social Security Administration

$500 million to replace the 30-year-old National Computer Center

$500 million for processing a growing pile of disability and retirement claims

State Department

$290 million for information technology improvements

Veterans Affairs Department

$1 billion for veterans medical facilities, to address a $5 billion backlog in repairs and launch energy efficiency projects

$50 million to make monument and memorial repairs at veterans cemeteries.

By Amelia Gruber agruber@govexec.com February 17, 2009(C) 2007 BY NATIONAL JOURNAL GROUP, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Weathering the recession will necessitate business owners adjust their marketing tactics to reach consumers who have become more penny-pinching in their purchasing decisions. Because referrals are the most cost-efficient marketing method to increase a company’s bottom line, a business owner’s network could be the critical factor that separates winners from losers in this fragile economy.

Members of Business Network Int’l. (BNI) already know this. BNI is a business referral organization that meets weekly for the express purpose of sharing business referrals or leads with one another. Unlike traditional networking organizations like chambers of commerce or Rotary Clubs, BNI members come together strictly to share referrals and network with one another. Belonging to BNI is like having dozens of sales people working for you because all the other members carry several copies of your business cards around with them. When they meet someone new who could use your products or services they hand your card out and recommend your services. It’s as simple as that!

Word-of-mouth advertising is the best advertising there is and BNI provides a structured and supportive system of giving and receiving business. Last year, members of BNI passed thousands of referrals which generated millions of dollars worth of business for each other! For more information on BNI and its South Texas chapters, visit their Web site at www.bnistx.com. For information on Corpus Christi chapters, contact Don Overbagh, Director – Corpus Christi Area, at (361) 290-7110 or cbmps@stx.rr.com.

By Jo Anne Killeen

It might be tempting to handle your tax reporting in-house, but it’s important to remember that you will sacrifice time that could be spent on running your business. Learn how to choose the best fit for your business’s tax reporting needs.

Once you hire employees, you enter an entirely different realm of tax reporting. There are many things to keep track of and laws to know about. Fortunately, there are also scores of options at your disposal. Here are some pointers that will help you to determine if your business would benefit from outside help, and if so, which type would best suit your needs.  At some point in the life cycle of every business, a crucial decision must be made. Do you administer payroll in-house by hiring a bookkeeper or purchasing a good software program? Or do you outsource to an accounting firm or payroll administrator? The answer depends on the size of your company, how fast it will grow and how much time you want to spend on administrative issues. One thing is for sure: You, as the business owner, are ultimately responsible for the deposit and payment of federal tax liabilities and penalties. So, it is important to do it right.  Whether you have one employee or 20, employment tax rules are complicated. Payroll services and other tools help streamline the process as you begin to track and withhold the appropriate amounts for federal income and other earnings-related taxes. Accounting firms, payroll services and software packages relieve employers of labor-intensive administrative duties. There are also professional employer organizations that handle payroll as well as human resource duties.

In-house or Outsource?
In determining whether you should administer payroll in-house or outsource the duty, the most important factors to consider are the value of your time and the cost effectiveness. If your time is better spent finding and servicing your customers, then follow your passion and let those who specialize in payroll administration take that burden from you. Sometimes, even firms with certified public accountants on staff outsource their payroll.  It may seem cost-effective to administer payroll in-house, but it can be costly if you falter in terms of penalties, interest and time. Forty percent of small businesses that do their own payroll are fined an average of $845 per year for inaccurate returns, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

Where to Get Help?
The IRS Web site contains a wealth of information about payroll issues, laws, calendars, calculations and even a tutorial on the basics of payroll deductions.  The American Payroll Association is also a good resource for employers. This is a not-for-profit organization that provides information, education, downloadable resources and a myriad services to assist employers in learning the nuts and bolts of payroll. The American Payroll Association’s Web site contains a number of buyer’s guides for payroll outsourcing options, self-service solutions, payroll consultants, time and attendance systems, buyer and e-payroll providers.  Another source for obtaining information about other local employers’ practices is the Society for Human Resource Management.  Off-the-shelf payroll software programs are available to small and midsized businesses. The most popular are QuickBooks Premier^®, Microsoft Office Small Business Accounting^® and Peachtree^®. These are all user friendly with online support.

Costs to outsource payroll depend on the complexity of your payroll system, but generally should be around $2 to $3 per employee per paycheck for basic services such as calculating deductions and cutting checks. Issues such as direct deposit, deductions for health benefits, retirement or deferred compensation, multi-state operations and net deductions, add complexity-and costs-to your payroll systems.  Be sure to bring your accountant into the decision-making process because he or she will be able to offer an educated perspective.

http://www.mastercard.com/us/business/

Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Tuesday listed procurement reform as one of the most pressing issues the Defense Department faces under the Obama administration.  Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee that acquisition was “chief among the institutional challenges” at the Pentagon. A risk-averse culture, an unwieldy and litigious acquisition process, excessive and morphing requirements, and budget instability are the primary issues that must be addressed, he said.   Additionally, a grossly understaffed acquisition workforce is trying to nail down purchasing priorities that are constantly in flux.   “Acquisition priorities have changed from Defense secretary to Defense secretary, administration to administration [and] Congress to Congress, making any sort of long-term procurement strategy on which we can accurately base costs next to impossible,” Gates told lawmakers.   During the past eight years, the Defense Department has operated with key acquisition positions unfilled. Current vacancy rates range from 13 percent in the Army to 43 percent in the Air Force. Gates said this is due in part to a dramatic reduction in procurement staffing after the Cold War.

The Defense secretary tiptoed around a potential disagreement with his boss over restrictions on movement between industry and government jobs. Gates said strict revolving door policies might have contributed to acquisition vacancies, especially at the highest levels.   “We’ve created a situation where it’s harder and harder for people who have served in industry — who understand the acquisition business, who understand systems management — to come into public service, particularly when they’re not coming in as career people but perhaps at more senior levels to serve for a few years then go out,” Gates said. “The last thing I would do is criticize the ethics executive order that the new president has just signed; this is a cumulative problem that has taken place over many, many years.”   Transparency will be crucial for balancing the ethics order and the need to recruit the most qualified staff, Gates told the committee.

“The president recognized … that to be able to get some of these people he’d need to exercise a waiver and he provided for that, I think wisely, in the executive order,” Gates said. “But I think all of us — the Congress, the executive branch — together need to look at this and see if we’re cutting off our nose to spite our face.”   Gates noted that component agencies and services have committed to boosting acquisition staffing, with the Defense Contract Management Agency planning to hire 2,300 additional people in the next 18 months and the Army on tap to add 1,000 civilians and 400 military acquisition officials.   The Defense chief committed to building a strong foundation for major acquisition programs. By increasing competition, freezing requirements on programs upon award and writing contracts that provide incentives for “proper behavior,” the department can make progress toward procurements that offer the best value for the military and the taxpayer, Gates said.   Sens. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., and Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., said Defense spending could, and should, be a key part of any economic stimulus package. While Gates said the “spigot of defense funding opened by Sept. 11 is closing,” Chambliss argued that Defense acquisition programs were among the most productive spending projects.   “If you take any one of these programs, and I’ll just cite the F-22 program as an example, if you shut down that line you’re talking about the loss of 95,000 jobs on top of the other woes we’re looking at in this economy now,” Chambliss said. “If we truly want to stimulate the economy there’s no better way to do it than defense spending.”

In response to a request from the White House, Gates submitted a list of programs that had the potential to create jobs and could get off the ground within months. Suggestions included infrastructure improvements to military hospitals, clinics, barracks and child care centers, where work could begin immediately or where projects already are under way and can be accelerated.   Committee members also asked Gates how the department will handle contractors as the military presence shifts from Iraq to Afghanistan. He conceded that the use of contractors “grew willy-nilly” in Iraq after 2003 and was not accompanied by the necessary oversight capacity. He assured lawmakers that leaders are applying contracting lessons from Iraq to the developing approach to Afghanistan. The department nonetheless must do some soul-searching on the role of contractors in combat environments, Gates said.

Gates names acquisition reform among Pentagon’s top priorities By : ElizabethNewell enewell@govexec.com January 27, 2009