Government News 

1/28/10

Halvorson: “High-Speed Rail Puts Us on the Fast Track for Jobs”
WASHINGTON, DC – After advocating throughout the past year for high-speed rail funding that would bring increased economic development and new jobs to her district, Rep. Debbie Halvorson (IL-11) announced today that $1,234,250,000 of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding will be dedicated to the Chicago to St. Louis corridor for high-speed rail in Illinois.

1/11/10

Reminder:  Public Meeting on 8(a) Rules
The public meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Prospective participants must pre-register for the session on or before Friday, January 15, 2010. 

12/14/09

Public Meeting on 8(a) Rules
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announces it is holding a public meeting in Chicago, Illinois on the proposed changes to the 8(a) Business Development (BD) Program Regulations and Small Business Size Regulations.  Testimony and   comments presented at the public comment meetings will become part of the administrative record as comments addressing the proposed changes.

10/26/09

President Obama Proposes Raising SBA Loan Limits
Last week President Barack Obama proposed to raise the maximum loan size for SBA-backed loans to small business in order to free up more credit for small companies.

9/25/09

Legislators Meet with Manufacturers to Discuss Future
Illinois Manufacturers' Association Holds Roundtable at Caterpiller

9/21/09

Illinois Recycling Grants Program
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is pleased to announce that the Illinois Recycling Grants Program has opened its FY2010 grant cycle for both traditional (i.e., fiber, metal, glass, plastic) and electronics (e.g., computers) recycling. 

9/8/09

"Should Entrepreneurs Minimize Credit Card Debt?"
NewYorkTimes.com this week carried an interesting article looking at the relationship between credit card debt and business failure.  The article is by one of their regular contributors, Scott A. Shane, a professor of entrepreneurial studies at Case Western University. To access the article, click here.

9/8/09 ADP National Employment Report
According to the latest ADP National Employment Report®, private sector employment decreased by 298,000 in August. "Large businesses, defined as those with 500 or more workers, saw employment decline by 60,000, while medium-size businesses with between 50 and 499 workers declined 116,000. Employment among small-size businesses, defined as those with fewer than 50 workers, declined 122,000," said Joel Prakken, Chairman of Macroeconomic Advisers, LLC. August's employment decline was the smallest since September of 2008. For the ninth consecutive month, employees of businesses with fewer than 500 employees represented 80% or more of the monthly employment decline. Forty-one percent of job cuts came from firms with fewer than fifty employees. For a copy of the ADP press release announcing its August Report, click here.
8/31/09 "Should Entrepreneurs Sell in Today's Economy?"
HarvardBusiness.org carried a well crafted article on the above topic this week. In light of the current economic climate, this issue may be on the minds of many SBDC clients. Take a look at this article, you may find it of value. To access the article, click here.
7/15/09 Senate Passes Innovatin Bill for Small Business
The U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation to reauthorize the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.
7/14/09

Appropriations Committee Increases Budget for Small Business Programs
The United States Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday passed the Financial Services Appropriations Bill, which includes $697 million in funding for the Small Business Administration (SBA) and its core finance and counseling programs for small businesses. It is a more than $150 million increase from last year.

7/13/09

Governor Quinn Signs $31 Billion “Illinois Jobs Now!”
CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today signed into law bills that create the $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! plan, which will revive the state’s ailing economy by creating and retaining over 439,000 jobs over the next six years. At a bill signing ceremony, Governor Quinn stressed this is the first statewide capital construction effort to become law in over a decade.

7/9/09

SBA Disaster Assistance Available to Private Non-Profit Organizations in Illinois
The U.S. Small Business Administration announces that certain private non-profit organizations (PNPs) that do not provide critical services of a governmental nature may be eligible to apply for low-interest rate disaster loans. 

6/23/09 Health Care Hearing Begin June 23
The House will begin hearings on their new 850-page draft bill on health care. Employers, small businesses, and all workers will be effected.
6/15/09

DOL Releases More Funds to Help Workers
The Department of Labor has released $450 million to help workers who lost their jobs due to foreign trade and outsourcing.

5/26/09

Small Business Owners Get New Help from SBA
Small business owners can apply for a new no-interest loan to help them with principle and interest payments and other expenses.

5/14/09

Labor Department Unveils New Budget
Labor Secretary requesting $104.5 billion.

3/13/09 Senate Passes Major Spending for Small Business
U.S. Senate announces the passage of omnibus act for small businesses.
3/11/09 Job Losses for Joliet Area
Job losses for Naperville-Joliet-Chicago areas show a slower job loss than national average.
2/13/09 Designers Seek Federal Design Policy
Designers met in Washington, D.C. last November to discuss ways to implement a federal design policy.
2/11/09

Battle for Card-Check Begins
Unions launch aggressive campaign for new legislation.

12/5/2008 OSHA's Top Ten
Regardless of economic conditions, safety is always important and OSHA has continued to be busy looking for violations.
11/4/2008 New Rule from DHS Gives Employers 93 Days to Fire or Hire "No-Match" Workers
About 4 percent of the roughly 250 million wage reports issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) do not match information in the Social Security database. Since June 2006, the DHS issued a set of guidelines designed to be a road map for employers responding to a no-match letter.
10/23/2008 Federal Government Lending Directly to Corporations
On October 7, U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke announced that for the first time since the Great Depression, the Federal Reserve will bypass troubled banks and lend directly to corporations.
9/23/2008 Recruiters Caught Between Two Laws
ICE, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, has been implementing an aggressive policy of finding and arresting illegal immigrants employed by U.S. companies across the nation.
8/25/2008 Veterans to Get $27 Million for Job Training
Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced 94 grants, totaling nearly $27 million, to provide approximately 17,000 veterans with job training to help them succeed in civilian careers.
8/14/2008 U.S. Department of Labor Helping Midwest Recover from Floods and Tornadoes
To date, the Department of Labor (DOL) has awarded nearly $24 million to help fund approximately 1,000 temporary jobs in Midwest states affected by recent flooding and tornadoes.
8/11/2008 Department of Labor Wants to Work with Small Businesses
If you are a small company and would like to develop a business relationship with the Department of Labor (DOL), there is a department just for you.
7/16/2008 Department of Labor Promotes Drug-Free Work Week
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is promoting their annual Drug-Free Work Week to highlight the benefits of a drug-free work environment to employers, workers, and the community.
6/24/2008 Still Waiting For Your Stimulus Check
Many of us have yet to receive those stimulus checks. If you are one of them, be patient, it is coming, but also be careful.
6/17/2008 Department of Labor to Help Michigan autoworkers
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a $6.6 million grant, with an initial release of $2,475,000, to the state of Michigan to help workers affected by statewide closures and layoffs in the automotive industry.
6/2/2008 Child Labor
Statement from the U.S. Department of Labor on enactment of Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008.
5/22/2008 Bi-Partisan Coalition Proposes a $31 Billion Capital Works Initiative
The roads in Will County are not wide enough and the schools are not big enough to accommodate a growing population.
5/7/2008 Veterans Get Express Help from SBA
About a year ago, the Small Business Administration announced a new outreach program specifically for veterans. It is called the Patriot Express Loan and, as the name implies, it is designed to provide fast loan approvals for veterans.
4/11/2008 Labor Department Awards Almost $3 Million to Advance President’s Prisoner Re-entry Initiative
The U.S. Department of Labor has announced grants totaling almost $3 million to advance the President's Prisoner Re-entry Initiative.
4/11/2008 Labor Secretary Chao comments on veterans’ unemployment report
U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau for Labor Statistics (BLS) released their biennial report "The Employment Situation of Veterans: 2007."
4/2/2008 OSHA Accepting Applications for New Grant Funds
U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is accepting applications for new grant funds totaling $6.7 million.
3/13/2008 House Passes New Bill For Mental Health Parity
On March 5, 2008, the House of Representatives passed the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007 (HR 1424) by a vote of 268-148.
3/6/2008 Summit on American Competitiveness in Chicago
On May 22, the U.S. Department of Commerce will be hosting the 2008 National Summit on American Competitiveness in Chicago.
3/6/2008 U.S. Exports Break Record
U.S. Commerce Secretary, Carlos M. Gutierrez spoke at a meeting of the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference (NACo) in Washington, D.C. where he promoted exporting as a major source of economic growth.
3/6/2008 U.S. Department of Labor Submits New Budget
The DOL is requesting $10.5 billion in discretionary budget authority and 16,848 full-time equivalent employees.
2/18/2008 Clarity on FMLA
Beginning this month, the Department of Labor will clarify new rulings on the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
2/18/2008 DOL Updates Ruling on Temporary Farm Workers
The Department of Labor (DOL) is modernizing the current ruling on H-2A workers.
2/5/2008 Minnesota Takes the Lead on E-Verify
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty (R) issued an executive order on January 28, 2008 requiring businesses to comply with E-verify.
2/5/2008 Expect More State Legislation on HR Issues
According to the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), 2008 will be a busy year in state legislatures across the country.
1/11/2008 $2.1 Million Grant Pays for Recovery and Job Training
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a $2,141,700 grant to help the state of Washington recover from recent storms. The funding will be used initially to help create temporary jobs to aid in the cleanup and recovery efforts.
1/11/2008 OSHA Capable of Imposing Heftier Fines
Based on a recent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC) decision against General Motors (GM), OSHA is now able to impose fines well into the six-figures.
1/11/2008 Department of Labor Seminar
If you are a federal supply or service contractor or subcontractor, you may be interested in an upcoming seminar offered by the Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract and Compliance Programs (OFCCP) on January 23, 2008 in Chicago.
12/13/2007 Industry Employment Outlook
According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare, social assistance, and the business sector are not just expected to grow, they are expected to grow twice the average for all industries.
12/13/2007 Manufacturing Productivity Continues to Grow
Manufacturing productivity grew faster in the third quarter than in the previous quarter, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
12/13/2007 More News About Chinese Imports
The U.S. Commerce department found evidence that Chinese producers importing rectangular pipe to the United States benefitted from Chinese government subsidies ranging from .27 percent to 77.85 percent.