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Category Archives: ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture
Lonnie Bunch Director
This is big: The First-EVER White House Student Film Festival
| The First-EVER White House Student Film Festival:Something big is happening today, and you don’t have to be a kid to be excited about it:
We’re launching our first-ever White House Student Film Festival — and we’re inviting K-12 students from around the country to create and submit one- to three-minute short web videos. Finalists could have their videos screened at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, and posted on the White House website. It might just be cooler than having your homework up on the fridge. The topic: Highlighting the importance of technology in the classroom — and imagining how technology will change the educational experience for kids in the future. Interested, or know someone who would be?
Here are more important details you should know:
Read the complete rules (and submit your video!) here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/filmfestival We can’t wait to see what you make. Stay Connected |
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Small Business – Happy Entrepreneurship Month
Celebrating America‘s Entrepreneurs
It’s National Entrepreneurship Month!
SBA is excited to work with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to support and celebrate National Entrepreneurship Month. At SBA and OSTP, we’re focused on the intersection of private enterprise finance, capital investment, technology-driven innovation, and high-growth small businesses.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs
SBA introduced a video in recognition of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), to encourage and inspire entrepreneurs to collaborate, innovate, and explore international business opportunities. Every November, GEW brings together innovators and job creators who launch startups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare.
Nominate a Business for the 2014 National Small Business Week Awards
Are you a small business owner with an amazing success story to tell? If so, submit your nomination today for the 2014 National Small Business Week Awards. Nominations are currently being accepted online at http://nationalsmallbusinessweek.sba.gov/.
Link Detroit: A Small Business Matchmaking Summit
To provide the tools and resources small businesses need to become effective suppliers, the SBA is collaborating with other agencies and companies on the American Supplier Initiative, which includes a series of supply chain events across the country – continuing in Detroit.
- WHAT: Link Detroit: A Small Business Matchmaking Summit
- WHERE: Wayne State University – Community Arts Auditorium
- WHEN: Tuesday, December 10 | 12:00-6:00 PM ET
Affordable Care Act 101 Webinars – December Dates
With new health insurance marketplaces open, the SBA and Small Business Majority are excited to announce the next set of dates for our free Affordable Care Act 101 weekly webinars so small business owners can learn the basics of the Affordable Care Act and how they can enroll in health insurance marketplaces.
- Thursday, December 5 at 2:00 PM ET: Click to Register
- Thursday, December 12 at 2:00 PM ET: Click to Register
- Thursday, December 19 at 2:00 PM ET: Click to Register
TIP! BusinessUSA’s health care tool can help you better understand what you need to know about the Affordable Care Act and your health insurance options.
Webinar Series—How Small Businesses Can Gain Competitive Advantage through HUBZone Certification
Are you a small business owner located in or relocating to an economically distressed urban or rural community? Is your company seeking a competitive advantage in the federal contracting arena? Then the HUBZone certification may be for you. Learn more with this webinar series.
- Part I: December 3rd at 2:00-2:45 PM ET: Click to register
- Part II: December 17th at 2:00-2:45 PM ET: Click to register
5 Tax Rules for Year-End Bonuses
If 2013 has been a profitable year for your business, you may want to share your good fortune with your staff – perhaps with year-end bonuses. Before you cut a check, understand what these bonuses mean to your business and your employees as well as some alternatives to cash bonuses.
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The Washington State Dept. & The NAACP… the Other Washington
NAACP: State needs to fire biggest viaduct contractor
by SUSANNAH FRAME / KING 5 News
Posted on November 7, 2013 at 10:27pm
The NAACP is calling on the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to take drastic action and terminate a $1.4 billion contract with its biggest contractor on the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Project.
The civil rights organization is making the demand after a U.S. Department of Transportation investigation found the contractor, Seattle Tunnel Partners (STP), has violated federal regulations by intentionally cutting small, struggling businesses out of work on the project.
“The Washington State Department of Transportation as well as the leadership of this state needs to terminate the contract with STP because their history has been egregious, it’s been documented … At what point is enough enough?” said Gerald Hankerson, president of NAACP’s Alaska Washington Oregon State Area Conference. “We can no longer trust them.”
The KING 5 Investigators were the first to expose that STP was failing miserably on the tunnel project in terms of meeting federal requirements to hire disadvantaged businesses.
Because the project is partly funded with federal dollars, the STP contract came with a string attached: 8 percent of the work, $91 million worth, was to go to small, struggling businesses in the area. But public records obtained by KING show only $7 million, less that 1 percent of the contract value, has been paid to small contractors so far.
On Thursday Washington Secretary of Transportation Lynn Peterson said a special investigator is helping WSDOT decide what to do with STP.
“We will take whatever steps are necessary based on his recommendations (including termination of the contract). All options are on the table, but we’re reviewing our options, looking at the contract and seeing what applies,” said Peterson.
The U.S. DOT report out last week found STP created “artificial barriers” and “hardships” on small businesses and gave the work to much bigger companies instead. The federal agency also found WSDOT was “hands-off” when they knew what was happening and “failed to intervene.”
“This is a solid piece of evidence that this is happening in Washington state and the concern is this is what’s happening across the country,” said Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, Sr. Director of NAACP Economic Department.
The U.S. DOT says if WSDOT doesn’t fix the problems with STP, the state could lose federal funds for highway projects.
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Fracking: who protects us?
ACTION ALERT Keep us safe. Stop this bill.
When it comes to hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) for oil and natural gas, who is making sure our water free of contamination? Who reduces the chance of spills, leaks, or other public health risks? And who holds those responsible for damage to our land and harm to our health?
With the rapid expansion in fracking comes an increased risk to our land, safety, and well-being, which must be addressed. Communities must know the answers to these questions in order to keep their health and security protected.
That is why you need to tell your representative to vote NO on H.R. 2728, the “Protecting States’ Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act”.
This deceivingly-named bill puts the security of communities throughout the country at jeopardy. If passed, the federal government would be prohibited from regulating fracking operations on federal land if a state has already issued regulations or even simply “guidance” on operations—regardless of the adequacy, effectiveness, and level of enforcement of the state regulations.
H.R. 2728 will likely be up for a vote this week: Now is our chance to stop this dangerous bill from becoming law. Let’s make sure all levels of government work together to adequately consider and mitigate fracking-related risks to our health and safety.
Sincerely, 
Danielle Fox Outreach Coordinator Center for Science and Democracy
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