Brigham City:  Meets each Wed,  at 1 p.m. Bridgerland Applied Technology College, 325 West 1100 South Rm 400, Brigham City.

Don’t forget to let others know about this group.  It’s a great way to network, help individuals/teams frame their ideas, create teams of people to then create businesses in the community and to hold each other accountable for what we’re doing…to keep each other going.

Mitch Zundel leads this brand new group and the number of entrepreneurs
attending is growing each week.  The focus has been to get to know everyone and their needs well. We have a good strong nucleus of entrepreneurs to help each other launch and grow businesses.

ELP SOCIAL MEDIA LOCATIONS:
 
1) OUR WEBSITE is at www.entrepreneurlaunchpad.org. Please register, create your profile and begin to network with those who can help you and those you can offer to help.  If you want to help on the website or have ideas on how we can better meet your needs, contact Michael Argust at argustcm@yahoo.com. 
 
2) TWITTER – we want you to be our friend and tweet with us @elputah.
  
3) FACEBOOK FAN PAGE (Entrepreneur Launch Pad).
 
4) LINKEDIN GROUP – ENTREPRENEUR LAUNCH PAD.  Join us! 
Let’s get social, try them all out and spread the word!

Mitch Zundel
435-494-1717

Required labor posters may be found at

The Business Resource Center, serving Box Elder, Cache, and Rich Counties will now offer SCORE counseling in Perry, Utah beginning this Wednesday, March 31st. Hours by appointment. Appointments may be made for the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays between 1-4 p.m. Call (435) 213-8713 to schedule yours.

Location: BRAG Offices; 2535 South Hwy 89, Perry, UT.

Mountain Ridge Helicopters would like to announce the purchase of our new Commercial Helicopter operation named New Air Helicopters. The purchase came with two new aircraft to add to our MD500E helicopter, They are a Bell 206 B3 “Jet Ranger” and a Bell 206 L3 “Long Ranger.”

New Air Helicopters holds a part 135 Charter certificate, Part 137 agriculture certificate and Part 133 long line certificate.

With these certificates New Air Helicopters will be able to provide charter transportation services, to and from airports, to your favorite ski resorts, favorite camping spots or your remote work spot. We are also able to do prom or other romantic transportations, imagine for your high school prom having a group of your friends arriving at the dance in style!

Also New Air Helicopters will be able to do Precision Aerial lifting, Aerial Seeding, Avalanche control, Heli skiing, Film & TV, Fire control, Radio site repair and evaluation, Tours, Wildlife & livestock survey…the possibilities are endless.

We are happy to have New Air Helicopters in the Cache Valley and we are looking at the great business opportunities it will bring.

Check out the website at

Brett Reeder

Commercial Pilot/Marketing Manager
Mountain Ridge Helicopters
435.752.3828(b)
801.301.1004(c)

Feel the thrill of flying in a helicopter!

New Air Helicopters
435.753.7308

http://www.score.org/Strategic_Plan.html

Visit the Chamber’s home page and select Health Insurance Portal to find quotes from 42 insurance companies. Chamber members receive a special discount. Call Tiffani or Carolyn at 435-752-2161 for more information.

CEO Space, a business networking club, meets every Thursday at the Cache Business Resource Center, room 1812. All local CEO Space Club meetings are no charge to attend. They are provided by CEO Space as a public service.

CEO Space is a 20 year old company that networks CEO’s, business owners and professionals in a cooperative not competitive environment. Come meet around the conference table and share what it is that you do, what project you’re working on and what you need next.

For a yearly fee of $200 ($50 quarter) small businesses have access to resources at the CBRC such as Copy Center, Conference Rooms, Computers, Business Library Resources. Contact the center for more info. 435-213-8713 or croberts@cachebrc.com.

http://www.epicor.com/Industries/Manufacturing/Pages/Manufacturing.aspx

Epicor’s integrated enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution for manufacturers can help you gain competitive advantage and remove barriers in your business.

Thousands of small, mid-size, and large companies in more than 140 countries worldwide trust Epicor to help them streamline operations and increase profitability. Manufacturers must respond to a new set of challenges each day in a rapidly changing global economy. Epicor’s next-generation business applications are designed for flexibility, collaboration, and ease-of-use.

With recognized expertise in providing software solutions for manufacturers, we welcome the opportunity to help you determine if Epicor is the right fit for your company. Your return-on-investment will be realized through the ability to:

• Manage customer relationships more productively and profitably
• Boost collaboration with Web 2.0 functionality and streamline supply chain management
• Take control of planning, sales, production, quality, materials management, and lean initiatives
• Use a built-in global business management engine for real-time financial data and anytime business insight
• Easily manage scheduling, track jobs, and integrate accounting functions
• Manage requirements for multiple sites and languages
• Grow and change your business with a system that will support you long term

Global Market Resources: 
Library, industry specific info, customized research
http://www.export.gov

Top Export Market http://dataweb.usitc.gov
Local Websites http://buyusa.gov

May 8, 2009 by Kerry Fitzgerald
Posted in: COBRA, Communication, Employment law, Records documentation, Special Report, Terminations
The Internal Revenue Service just let you off the hook for what could’ve been a big administrative hassle this year-end.

IRS recently announced it won’t require any information reporting (i.e., Forms W-2 or 1099) for COBRA premium assistance payments employers make on behalf of terminated employees.

There’s a tradeoff, of course. It’s likely that because you don’t have to officially inform employees of the subsidy amount, recipients will have to call you when they prepare their personal federal tax returns.

Some will have to pay back a portion of the subsidy, e.g., those with adjusted gross income of $125,000 or more; $250,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly. Assistance eligibility phases out completely for people with modified gross incomes of $145,000 or more; $290,000 for joint filers. They’ll return the subsidy amount by increasing their tax liability on the Form 1040.

To prevent your phone from ringing off the hook, consider compiling subsidy info throughout the year, as your company makes the premium payments, and issue a simple statement at year-end along with your W-2s or 1099s.

What you’ll need
The info you’ll need should be easy enough to find. As part of the COBRA subsidy program, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act requires employers to maintain the following documentation:

• Dates and amounts of the assistance eligible individuals’ 35% share of the premium.
• A copy of the invoice or other supporting statement from the insurance carrier (when you have an insured plan) and proof of timely payment of the full premium to the insurance carrier required under COBRA.
• Proof of the (1) premium amount and (2) coverage provided to the assistance eligible individuals. (Self-insured plans only.)
• Attestation of involuntary termination, including the date of the involuntary termination (which must be between 9/1/08 and 12/31/09), for each covered employee whose involuntary termination is the basis for eligibility for the subsidy.
• Proof of each assistance eligible individual’s eligibility for COBRA coverage at any time during the period between 9/1/08 and 12/31/09, and election of COBRA coverage.
• Social Security Numbers of all covered employees,  the amount of the subsidy reimbursed with respect to each covered employee,  and whether the subsidy was for one individual or two or more individuals.
• Other documents necessary to verify the correct amount of reimbursement. Note that although your company must maintain this documentation, you’re not required to submit it with your Form 941.

Print your own required postings

 http://www.laborcommission.utah.gov/AdministrativeServices/RequiredPosters.html

     Utah Labor posters.mht

The CBRC has computers, a library and classrooms for business instruction. You may bring your laptop to the center. Free counseling, evaluation assessments, and low-cost workshops.

Low-cost business incubation space is available for use during business expansion — office space and manufacturing space.  $8 / sq ft per year.

Hours: Monday – Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Evening hours for SCORE counseling:  Wednesdays from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. with appointment.  435-213-8713  1400 North & 1000 West, Logan, UT (located in the BATC West Campus, Room 1901).

U.S. Commercial Service U.S. Department of Commerce | International Trade Administration

4 Ways CS Can Help Grow Your International Sales
Export Counseling
Market Research
Trade Events for Meeting Buyers
Introductions to Qualified Buyers

We can help to:
Determine the best markets & develop an effective export strategy
Evaluate international competitors
Identify and comply with legal and regulatory issues
Locate export financing
Settle disputes 
Win contract bids /Advocacy
Learn about cultural issues and business protocol

Your Link to All U.S. Government Trade Programs
Export Licenses & Controls (EAR, ITAR, OFAC)
Transactional and Term Financing (SBA, ExIm)
Risk Insurance  (OPIC, ExIm)
Visa Issues
Trade Complaints (TCC)
Legal Assistance (ELAN)
IPR Issues (USPTO)

Other Resources
Market Research Library  http://export.gov
Industry Specific Info  http://export.gov- Industry Pages
Customized Market Research
Top Export Market http://dataweb.us.tc.gov
Local Website http://www.buyusa.gov

To Contact:
U.S. Department of Commerce
9690 South 300 West, Suite 201
Sandy, UT 84070
Tel: (801) 255-1871
Fax: (801) 255-3147
David.Fiscus@mail.doc.gov
Jeff.Hamilton@mail.doc.gov
www.buyusa.gov/utah

1-800-USA-TRADE
www.export.gov

The IRS launched a Web site for small business owners and the self-employed at www.irs.gov/smallbiz. A section called “Starting, Operating or Closing a Business” covers IRS rules on hiring family members, record-keeping, employer ID numbers and selecting a business structure. The “Industries/Professions” section provides information about tax regulations. “Operating a Business” has resources on hiring, employment taxes and wage reporting requirements. The “Business Expenses” section defines the types of costs you can and cannot deduct from your taxes. Visit www.irs.gov/smallbiz.

Learn more about making your business succeed. www.score.org

Business Resources

According a notice from the Department of homeland Security, the new Form I-9 will take effect no earlier than April 3, 2009.   Until then, employers should continue to use the prior version of the Form I-9 with the annotation “Form I-9 (Rev. 06/05/07) N” on the bottom right-hand corner and the expiration date of June 30, 2009.   This form can be downloaded from the DHS website at http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-9.pdf.  Employees may continue to present any document listed on this Form I-9’s List of Acceptable Documents. 

A temporary suspension has been placed on the E-verification system until February 20th. The original compliance date of January 15th was extended after a lawsuit was filed by the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, along with other entities.

For more information, see http://www.hrmorning.com/e-verify-for-contractors-delayed-until-feb-20/.

Employers: go to www.socialsecurity.gov/employer and select Business Services Online.

It’s safe and secure; no paper forms to purchase; no software needed; get an extra 30 days to file (until the last day of March); get an immediate receipt of filing, and more.

The Cache Chamber of Commerce and the Salt Lake Chamber partnered with the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice to bring to Utah employers an educational workshop addressing critical immigration procedures for businesses.  The topic of the workshop was the E-Verify System and employer discrimination.Businesses will be using this system to verify employee eligibility with new-hires. They will need to comply with SB-81 which will take affect on July 1, 2009.  Presently, the State of Utah  requires any business doing business with them to be using this system.   If you were unable to attend this training,  packets from the Department of Justice are available at the Cache Business Resource Center, Rm 1901. 1400 North & 1000 West (Bridgerland Applied Technology College – West Campus)

You can go online and check out the ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) mutual agreement between Government and Employers at www.ice.gov.

The Cache Business Resource Center (CBRC) has computers, a library and classrooms for business instruction. You may bring your laptop to the center. Free counseling, evaluation assessments, and low-cost workshops.

If you’re tired of working from your kitchen table or you need to get your business up and running without high overhead costs, renting cubicle space may be the answer. Cubicles are available at $50 per month. Call 435-213-8713 for more information.

Other low-cost business incubation space is available for use during business expansion — office space and manufacturing space.  $8 / sq ft per year.

New evening hours for free SCORE counseling:  Wednesdays from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.