Whether you are working from home or at the office, after the last few months you may feel like your office needs a little organizing. De-cluttering and refreshing your workspace improves motivation and efficiency. Take a minute to check out your office for “curb appeal.” Does it say, “A professional accomplishes things here”? If not, follow these steps to solve the problem. Organize Your Office in 5 Minutes See which pens work and which are taking up drawer space. Also, ditch bent paper clips, loose staples, etc. Return borrowed items with a polite “Thank you.” Pitch outdated menus and offers. They’re unnecessary and probably available online. Get rid of that withering plant and the deflated birthday balloon. Are items you use most often within easy reach? Store items by whether they are used daily, weekly…
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The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is launching the first round of Business Interruption Grants (BIG) by providing $60 million to businesses experiencing losses or business interruption as a result of COVID-19 related closures. The BIG Program is available for up to 3,500 businesses that experienced a limited ability to operate due to COVID-19 related closures. DCEO will begin distributing funds to qualifying businesses in early July. The total program funding will amount to at least $540 million in grants for small businesses, $270 million of which has been set aside for childcare providers and is funded by the CARES Act. In the first wave of grants, priority will be given to small businesses that have been heavily restricted or completely shut down during the pandemic. Additional priority will be given to businesses located in…
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Dear Chamber Members: Our businesses need you. Our community has seen the crippling effects of COVID-19 on small businesses nationwide. Businesses have closed. Employees have been furloughed or laid off. Events have been canceled. Nonprofits, such as the Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce, have been hit especially hard. The Chamber can work remotely, but it cannot disappear. Our businesses need the Chamber for information, resources, and connections to survive. The Chamber staff has continued to provide valuable services to our members in the virtual realm during the pandemic crisis with consistent, timely and pertinent governmental action updates, professional seminars, financial support opportunities, as well as quickly adapting the Chamber’s normal connections and networking opportunities to the shutdown environment. And yet, the Chamber has also been forced to cancel various events over the past four months….
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Families First Coronavirus Response Act Helps Americans Overcome COVID-19 Workplace Challenges The U.S. Department of Labor today announced new action regarding how American workers and employers will benefit from the protections and relief offered by the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act, both part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) posted a temporary rule issuing regulations pursuant to this new law, effective today, April 1, 2020. FFCRA helps the United States combat the workplace effects of COVID-19 by reimbursing American private employers that have fewer than 500 employees with tax credits for the cost of providing employees with paid leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. The law enables employers to keep their workers on their payrolls, while at the same…
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SBA Office of International Trade, March 31, 2020 – The Office of Inspector General recognizes that we are facing unprecedented times and is alerting the public about potential fraud schemes related to economic stimulus programs offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration in response to the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19). The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the largest financial assistance bill to date, includes provisions to help small businesses. Fraudsters have already begun targeting small business owners during these economically difficult times. Be on the lookout for grant fraud, loan fraud, and phishing. Scam and Fraud Scheme Advisory List The SBA does not initiate contact on either 7(a) or Disaster loans. If you are proactively contacted by someone claiming to be from the SBA, suspect fraud. The SBA does not provide grants to small businesses. The SBA provides guarantees…
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