Monday – April 7, 2008

ARE YOU AN EXCEPTIONAL EMPLOYER? – Three small, medium and large businesses in Flagler and Volusia Counties will be recognized as Exceptional Employers at the Center for Business Excellence’s Business Express Summit May 28. To learn more about how your company can participate in a standardized system that can help move it toward a standard for attracting, growing and retaining high-quality, productive employees, plan on attending this event. Learn about the Exceptional Employers online at http://exceptionalemployers.com/faq.php.

FEATURE YOUR COMPANY – Featured U.S. Exporters (or FUSE) is a directory of U.S. products featured on U.S. Commercial Services Web sites around the world. It gives companies opportunities to target specific markets in the local language of business. Currently, listings are offered to qualified U.S. exporters seeking trade leads or representation in more than 50 markets around the world. For more information, go to http://buyusa.gov/home/fuse.html.

RESOURCE FOR FEDERAL CONTRACTING – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has launched a new, free online course called "Business Opportunities: A Guide to Winning Federal Government Contracts." The instructional, self-paced guide is easy to follow and available on SBA's Web site at www.sba.gov/training. From the training site, click on the menu of courses, and then select the first course listed under “government contracting.” The course is designed to show small businesses how to tap into the $400-billion federal market and sell to the government.

SAVING GREEN – Going green can save more than the environment. For small-business owners operating on a tight budget, it can also save their bottom lines. For example, investing in energy-saving office equipment pays off twice: once with utility bills and again with taxes. Through 2008, owners and tenants of buildings can receive a deduction of up to $1.80 per square foot for reducing, by at least half, the energy used to heat, cool, ventilate and light a workplace. Second, under the Federal Comprehensive Energy Bill, quality hybrids can yield tax credits ranging from $1,700 to $3,150. And, the Business Solar Tax Credit makes it more affordable. When you purchase fuel cell power plants, solar energy property or fiber-optic property, you qualify for a 30-percent tax credit.

DR. NURSE? – As the shortage of primary-care physicians mounts, the nursing profession is offering a possible solution: “doctor nurse.” More than 200 nursing schools have established or plan to launch doctorate of nursing practice programs to equip graduates with skills the schools say are equivalent to primary-care physicians. The two-year programs, including a one-year residency, create a "hybrid practitioner" with more skills, knowledge and training than a nurse practitioner with a master's degree. By 2015, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing aims to make the doctoral degree the standard for all new advanced practice nurses, including nurse practitioners.

PUBLIC SAFETY DAY – The Volusia County Sheriff's Office is co-sponsoring "Public Safety Family Day” with the Daytona Beach ThunderBirds at the Ocean Center from noon - 3 p.m. Sunday, April 20. Adults and children will have the opportunity to check-out a variety of police, fire and other public safety vehicles, followed by a 3 p.m. kickoff of an indoor football game between the Daytona Beach ThunderBirds and the Ft. Meyers Firecats. During halftime, the VCSO SWAT Team and K-9 Unit will demonstrate their skills. Public Safety Day raises support for the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches. For more information, call (386) 254-4660.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS – Florida Trend reports women have been starting businesses at two to three times the rate of men. They often are seeking a more flexible lifestyle, or they feel stymied in their corporate careers. Despite an economic slowdown, there's greater availability of funding for women's businesses. Corporations are wooing women-owned firms, and there’s plenty of start-up advice through the internet and community small-business experts such as SCORE (386/255-6889), and the Small Business Development Center at DBC (386/506-4723).

NEWS ITEMS WANTED! – Please send your business news items to Dave Byron, Volusia County Community Information Director, 123 W. Indiana Ave., DeLand, 32720-4612, by fax at (386) 822-5072 or by e-mail at dbyron@co.volusia.fl.us.