Assessing the Bank Loan Offer

Once you have a loan offer, how do you know whether it’s the right one for your firm?  Start assessing the loan package by asking the following questions:

1)     Is this the appropriate type of loan? 

Link

Source: R. Seiwert

A Jump Start for Stalled Small Business Lenders

In recent months President Obama has pressured banks to increase lending to small businesses in order to spur job growth. Now, a long-awaited program approved in the stimulus package last February is set to begin that could help make that happen by reassuring wary bankers with a new approach. Link

Source: J. Tozzi

How Minority-Owned Businesses Can Catch a Break

Expanding your business is always tough, and never more so than in the midst of a long-running economic slump. But women and minority entrepreneurs, who together own more than 10 million U.S. businesses, have access to more resources than they might realize. These range from business planning advice to certifications aimed at helping entrepreneurs win government and big-company contracts. Help is offered by myriad groups, from professional associations to local municipalities. Link

Source: A. Choi

More Seniors Are Choosing Self-Employment

If you want to find America’s entrepreneurs, should you be searching places frequented by senior citizens? The answer, from several data sources, appears to be yes.

Contrary to the popular perception that entrepreneurship is a young person’s game, seniors are more likely than young people to operate their own businesses. Link

Source: S. Shane

Essential Reading for Marketers

I began my career in advertising as a field marketing manager on the Pizza Hut (YUM) account, which basically meant I got to travel from restaurant to restaurant, work with the managers on their local marketing efforts, and eat all the free pizza and breadsticks I could (not a bad gig when you’re 22, newly married, and broke). Link

Source: S. McKee

Four Legal Pitfalls Loom in 2010

Small business owners often don’t think about legal issues until they get hit with a lawsuit or decide to sue someone. Unfortunately, once they arise, costly court actions can destroy companies, particularly startups and underinsured and undercapitalized businesses. But suits can also be prevented, with some foresight and planning. Smart Answers asked several attorneys who work with small companies what they considered the top legal pitfalls for 2010 and how they can avoided. Link

Source: K. Klein

A Jump Start for Stalled Small Business Lenders

A program to revive the secondary market for Small Business Administration 504 loans could unlock credit for companies trying to expand

In recent months President Obama has pressured banks to increase lending to small businesses in order to spur job growth. Now, a long-awaited program approved in the stimulus package last February is set to begin that could help make that happen by reassuring wary bankers with a new approach (J. Tozzi, BusinessWeek, January 8, 2010).

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EPA Requests Grant Applications to Fight Climate Change

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced it is making up to $5 million in grants available to U.S. and international organizations to fund innovative, international methane reduction and use projects that cut global climate pollution. The grants will be issued through the Methane to Markets Partnership, a public-private partnership that reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution by promoting the cost-effective, near-term recovery and use of methane, a GHG that is more than 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide. For more information click on the following link.

Source:D. Ryan and H. Ferland, of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Governor Beshear Announces Federal Funding for New Research Facility at the University of Kentucky

 

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 11, 2010) – Governor Steve Beshear today announced that the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) has been awarded an $11.8 million grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to expand laboratory facilities and intensify energy research efforts, including research into advanced battery technology for plug-in hybrid vehicles at the Kentucky-Argonne National Battery Manufacturing Research and Development Center. For more information click on the following link.

source: K. Richardson  and J. Midkiff, Office of the Governor

 

Tech Fridays: Real Issues in a Virtual Office – Is Your Company Ready?

Come to the seminar and learn about:

• Who owns what in a digital workplace?
• Is There Privacy in the Workplace?
• The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act: An Additional Weapon in the Employer’s Arsenal?
• EFCA and Workplace Communications;
• Company Websites: Nuts and Bolts.

SPEAKER

Jack C. Greiner

Jack practices in the areas of commercial litigation and First Amendment law. He has considerable practice experience in courts throughout the state, as well as federal courts. His work has included litigation of disputes over a variety of contracts, First Amendment issues, non-competition covenants and intellectual property disputes.

Jack has handled dozens of cases and helped establish a very favorable body of law requiring that records be available to the public. His practice has also included libel and insurance defense litigation, creditors’ rights, collection litigation.