BN Daily E-Journal

This recession affects everyone, especially small businesses. If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to check your extra expenses and cut back on frivolous spending. Make sure you are getting the best prices on monthly charges such as phone, internet, and long distance. What you don’t want to cut down or slack on is payroll taxes, workers comp insurance, or liability/auto insurances. Times may be hard, but not paying the government will get you into trouble, and they are having a hard time as well so they have beefed up their efforts on collections. Being under insured can keep you from getting a job and could potentially lead to a disastrous situation.

Many small businesses operate without a budget, however it is never to late to get one going. If you are lost with budgeting, the best place to start is with your monthly expenses. Secondly, you want to create and stick with a budget for each new project that you start. It is not as hard as it sounds, and will save you a headache in the long run and now is the perfect time to learn and implement something new.

We have a unique opportunity to slow down, look at our expenses and make valid and smart decisions. The past 10 years were filled with rush, courage, power and money. The next few years are a cycle of thought, saving, reflection, and careful planning. It is also a good time to fix what is broken with your company and look to the future with new found skills and planning.

Lastly, it is a good time to learn about new ideas that can manifest global change one project at a time. How can your skills be matched with renewable energy? By opening the door to change, learning new ideas, saving, planning and budgeting, we are moving forward together into a better and brighter future.

The California Building Standards Commission voted to adopt a new set of “green” codes to be effective January 2011. The new codes will help reduce global warming and acheive 33 percent renewable energy by 2020. This will be the new way for public works projects, and has already started to take form.

“CALGREEN will require that every new building constructed in California reduce water consumption by 20 percent, divert 50 percent of construction waste from landfills and install low pollutant-emitting materials. It also requires separate water meters for nonresidential buildings’ indoor and outdoor water use, with a requirement for moisture-sensing irrigation systems for larger landscape projects and mandatory inspections of energy systems (e.g., heat furnace, air conditioner and mechanical equipment) for nonresidential buildings over 10,000 square feet to ensure that all are working at their maximum capacity and according to their design efficiencies. The California Air Resources Board estimates that the mandatory provisions will reduce greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 equivalent) by 3 million metric tons equivalent in 2020.” (information provided by State of California)

For more information about Calgreen, visit CALGREEN

The City of Los Angeles is holding a free seminar on the following topics. You are invited to join us.

*Government Contracts – What’s the Real Deal and Where are the Stimulus Opportu nities?
*Certifications Have Benefits … but How Does It Really Work to Benefit Your Company?

Limited Space Available!!

When : March 19th – 1:00 pm – 3:45 pm

Where : Los Angeles City Hall
200 N. Spring St. 10th Fl.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

RSVP to: lamboc@lacity.org or (213) 978-0671

Caltrans has announced two local small businesses have been awarded contracts worth $2.3 million to perform storm-related repairs on Highway 1 in Monterey County and Highway 166 in Santa Barbara County.

Rockwood General Contractors of Nipomo received a $305,000 emergency contract to replace a culvert on Highway 166.

Windsor Construction of Cambria received $2 million to repair Highway 1 north of Ragged Point.

Both of these areas were damaged by recent storms.

In addition, small business owners will benefit from Assembly Bill 31 which went into effect Jan. 1, 2010, allowing state agencies to raise these award contracts from $147,000 to $250,000 for Small Business (SB) or Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DVBE).

(Reprinted from The Californian Newspaper in Monterey : RACHEL ZENTZ • February 4, 2010)

Special seminar designed for Materials Suppliers to collect on Mechanics Liens and Stop Notices is being held by the Law Offices of Abdulaziz, Grossbart & Rudman. If you would like to register for this special event which is FREE of charge, please contact Debbi at 818-760-2000 or contact
Milene C. Apanian for an invitation.

WHEN: March 11th, 2010
TIME: 9am – Noon
WHERE: The Beverly Garland Holiday Inn in North Hollywood.

Sorry to all, about yesterday’s error with our digital newspaper. I am still learning how to make these posts and am discovering that some things definately do not work in this format as they do with traditional print.

By-the-way if you have any suggestions on what kind of articles or videos (yes I can post videos!) you would like to see, please let me know by email or phone.

In addition, I would like to stress to all of our readers that our Trade Association is VERY small, we are not a huge corporation and if you call me on the toll free number I will actually answer your questions or concerns. We literally spend our day making sure you have as many project leads as we can find and we actively search out local small business and DBE/DVBE’s to help make your bidding local and fruitful!

- Michelle

Rare M1 Zoned offices and warehouse space ranging from $1000 per month to $3500 per month conveniently located in downtown Santa Barbara just blocks from the Beach at an unbeatable area cost of $1 a square foot range, also a Work/Live space penthouse with panoramic views at $1700 per month! Contact (805) 962-1200 for more information.

“Pursuant to Federal regulations, to participate in our program, qualifying firms must first be certified as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) by the Caltrans Civil Rights Program. (916) 324-1700 or toll free at (866) 810-6346.

Only small business concerns as defined by the United States Small Business Administration which are owned and controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, can be certified as a DBE.

Owned and controlled means:

At least 51 percent of the small business concern is owned by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals; and
Whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more of the socially and economically disadvantaged individuals who own it.
Only existing for-profit “Small Business Concerns,” as defined by the Small Business Act and Small Business Administration (SBA) regulations may be certified. DBE applicants are first subject to the applicable small business size standards of the SBA. Second, the average annual gross receipts for the firm (including its affiliates) over the previous three fiscal years must not exceed
U.S. DOT’s cap of $19.57 million.
The Personal Net Worth (PNW) of each socially and economically disadvantaged owner must not exceed $750,000, excluding the individual’s ownership interest in the applicant firm and the equity in his/her primary residence.
In order to avoid unnecessary delays, please complete all portions of the Application and the attached Personal Net Worth Statement/Affidavit. Indicate non-applicable items by using “N/A”. Copies of documents requested in the questionnaire are required and must be submitted. Additional documentation may be requested if it is considered necessary to make a certification determination. Incomplete applications, or any without the required documents, will not be evaluated until such documents are submitted.

REMEMBER: It is no longer necessary to apply at more than one agency. If your firm meets the criteria for certification, it will be entered into the Database of DBEs for all U.S. DOT grantees in California. Only firms currently certified as eligible DBEs may participate in the DBE programs of U.S. DOT grantees of California.” – Article taken from Caltrans website.