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TwitterThe U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to consider the Waxman-Markey energy/climate legislation – or the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 – on Friday, June 26. Among the legislation’s many measures that would raise energy costs are a massive emissions cap-and-trade regulatory scheme, and renewable mandates on electricity generation.The oil and gas industry correctly warns Congress about the ill effects of Waxman-Markey. In a June 23 letter to Congress, Jack Gerard, president and CEO for the American Petroleum Institute, makes three important points:• “As independent analysis suggests, this legislation will drive up consumer prices for gasoline and other fuels.
Archive for June, 2009
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A “Red Carpet Solution” for Immigration Reform
June 25th, 2009 
admin President Obama announced that he also wants to tackle immigration reform this year –certainly a hot button issue. It’s hard to imagine how he will get the thorny issue of immigration done given all the other items he’s put on the legislative front burner. None-the-less, immigration reform is an important issue, especially for small firms that require guest workers from other countries in order to meet specialized and seasonal business needs.
SBA 504 Loan Now Allows Refinancing
June 25th, 2009 admin Raymund Flandez of the Wall Street Journal continues to keep us informed on program changes in SBA financing. The SBA 504 program has recently been changed to allow for refinancing. SBA 504 is a popular fixed asset financing program that is guaranteed and requires a smaller cash injecture from the borrower than normal. Contact the UNF SBDC for program details.Here is a free self paced training program called Finance Primer:Guide to SBA Loan Guaranty ProgramsSBA Tweaks Rules of 504 ProgramIn its latest effort to help cash-strapped entrepreneurs, the Small Business Administration on Wednesday permanently changed a key loan program so that businesses can refinance if they plan to expand or buy equipment.
ARC Loans: Not Everyone Will Get One..
June 24th, 2009 admin Mark Deo writes in this Reuters piece (with a nod to Entrepreneur.com) about the hesitancy of banks to play in the SBA’s ARC loan arena. We have a number of ARC loans going in for approval and if our clients do indeed receive funding to pay down debt, it may well be the difference between sustainability and failure.Will Anyone Be Saved by the SBA’s New ARC?On June 15, banks began taking applications for the America’s Recovery Capital loan program.
As seen on Colemanpublishing.com
June 24th, 2009 admin Thanks to Coleman Publishing for featuring our blog on their nationally known website! ARC LENDERSWachoviaWells Fargo & Co.J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.PNC Financial Services Group Inc.Regions BankSuntrustBB&T Courtesy: University of North Florida SBDCKnown Participating Banks in the SBA ARC Loan ProgramUniversity of North Florida (SBDC) released a list of 8 lenders making SBA ARC loans. Some big lenders including Bank of America Corp., KeyCorp’s Key Bank unit and Toronto-Dominion Bank, or TD Bank Financial Group, are still on the fence about participating, citing concerns about heavy paperwork and strict rules on applicant eligibility.
Small Business Resource For Lead Generation
June 24th, 2009 admin DNAVertical is an affordable lead generation program for small business. You provide them a with calling list based on your target customer criteria, you provide them with the elevator pitch and they provide you with approximately 50 outbound sales calls per day. As they call, their goal is to set appointments and provide warm leads for follow up by your team. When an appointment is made or a warm lead is generated they will send you the contact information, and a recording of the actual original call so you can prepare for the follow up.
Maine Improves
June 24th, 2009 admin Maine is a very nice place to summer. It also just got a bit more reasonable for entrepreneurs, small businesses and their employees year round.As the Wall Street Journal editorial page just noted:This month the Democratic legislature and Governor John Baldacci broke with Obamanomics and enacted a sweeping tax reform that is almost, but not quite, a flat tax. The new law junks the state’s graduated income tax structure with a top rate of 8.5% and replaces it with a simple 6.5% flat rate tax on almost everyone.
Falling Stimulus
June 23rd, 2009 admin It’s frustrating as an economist when polls and politics show support for misguided economic ideas and policies. That is, like the notion that the government extracting huge amounts of resources from the private sector – whether through taxing or borrowing – and spending those dollars according to political preferences will be good for the economy.But earlier this year, the polls showed strong support for such silly ideas.
