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	<title>NSBDC</title>
	<atom:link href="http://blog.nsbdc.org/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://blog.nsbdc.org</link>
	<description>A Weblog by the Nevada Small Business Development Center</description>
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		<title>How to create a sales-driven tagline</title>
		<link>http://blog.nsbdc.org/2012/02/02/how-to-create-a-sales-driven-tagline/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.nsbdc.org/2012/02/02/how-to-create-a-sales-driven-tagline/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Brenda Do, www.BLCopywriting.com</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advertising]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Communications]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customer Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[creating a slogan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[creating a tagline]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[do I need a slogan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[do I need a tagline]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[effective slogans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to write a slogan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to write a tagline]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[slogans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[taglines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tips for creating slogans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tips for creating taglines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[updating your slogan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[updating your tagline]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.nsbdc.org/?p=781</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#160; &#160; Do you have a tagline or a slogan? What’s the difference you ask? Here’s my non-marketing-speak definition: Slogans are rather generic and can apply to different industries. And taglines show a unique and specific benefit of the product and can&#8217;t apply easily to other products or industries. A slogan example is Nike’s “Just [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://blog.nsbdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/e13_orange.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-782 alignleft" src="http://blog.nsbdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/e13_orange-300x210.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="210" /></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Do you have a tagline or a slogan?</p>
<p>What’s the difference you ask? Here’s my non-marketing-speak definition:</p>
<p>Slogans are rather generic and can apply to different industries. And taglines show a unique and specific benefit of the product and can&#8217;t apply easily to other products or industries.</p>
<p>A slogan example is Nike’s “Just do it.”</p>
<p>It&#8217;s a slogan because it&#8217;s rather flexible and generic. Imagine:<br />
•    5-Minute Loans: Just do it.<br />
•    Friendly Family Counseling: Just do it.<br />
•    Ferrari Club: Just do it.</p>
<p>A slogan this generic makes it rather fluffy and less effective, doesn’t it?</p>
<p>A good tagline shows a specific product benefit such as M&amp;M&#8217;s, “Melts in your mouth, not in your hands.”</p>
<p>See the difference?</p>
<p>Unfortunately, most corporate “taglines” are little more than fluff and clichés. Such as McDonald’s “I’m lovin’ it™.”</p>
<p>We can substitute quite a bit here:</p>
<p>•    Veggie World: I’m lovin’ it.<br />
•    Zippy Cars: I’m lovin it.<br />
•    Friendly Family Counseling: I’m lovin’ it.</p>
<p>Or Ford’s old one,“Built Ford tough™.” We can insert any car in here: Built Dodge tough. Built Toyota tough…</p>
<p><strong>Stand out from the crowd</strong><br />
See how those “taglines” don’t make the company look unique? An effective tagline should reflect – or better, incorporate – your unique selling proposition (USP).</p>
<p>Think of your USP as the pithy little statement that quickly tells your prospects why they should buy from you.</p>
<p>You get extra bonus points if you evoke emotion too. That gets the mind and body fired up to support you.</p>
<p>Hallmark greeting cards has a good tagline that incorporates their USP and tugs at your emotions: &#8220;When you care enough to send the very best.&#8221;</p>
<p>That tagline claims product quality and challenges your psyche. It’s saying if you really care, if you want to express yourself in the most thoughtful way possible, you send a Hallmark card.</p>
<p>What if Hallmark said “I’m lovin’ it”?</p>
<p>It probably doesn’t tug on your emotions enough to convince you to spend more on a Hallmark card verses other card, does it?</p>
<p>Another good one is, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” It promises the adventure you may crave and the magical absolution you may need.</p>
<p><strong>Slogan types to avoid</strong><br />
What doesn’t work well are the slogans that focus on the company. Ford’s latest one is simply, “Drive one.”</p>
<p>Hmm…they gave me a command. Do you like being told what to do? I sure don’t. I bet the marketing group who figured that one out thought they were being cool.</p>
<p>Problem here is this slogan turns all of the attention on the company, not the customer.</p>
<p>Such as how Toshiba’s slogan is, “Leading innovation.” It brags about them and doesn’t tell how they benefit me, the person shelling out the dough for their innovation.</p>
<p>For an effective tagline or slogan, do not:<br />
•    Insult the reader<br />
•    Brag about yourself<br />
•    Sound like everyone else<br />
•    Turn the focus on yourself instead of the customer</p>
<p>To create a sales-driven tagline or slogan, be sure it does at least one of these:<br />
1.    Show a benefit<br />
2.    Incorporate your USP<br />
3.    Focus on what the prospect wants<br />
4.    Evoke emotion</p>
<p>If you’re blending in with your competition, analyze your unique selling proposition again for today’s market. Then check it against your tagline or slogan.</p>
<p>A great tagline or slogan is just one way to stand out from your competition. When sending out any sales and marketing material, be sure they contain <a title="Are you linking authority to sales?" href="http://www.blcopywriting.com/are-you-linking-authority-to-sales/">authority elements</a> too.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Your Business To-Do List for 2012</title>
		<link>http://blog.nsbdc.org/2012/01/20/your-business-to-do-list-for-2012/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.nsbdc.org/2012/01/20/your-business-to-do-list-for-2012/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:53:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jennott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advertising]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business Conditions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Employees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[competition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[employees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mystery shop]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pricing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[website]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.nsbdc.org/?p=774</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By: Jennifer Ott, MBA Student, University of Nevada, Reno Depending on the industry, the beginning of a new year can be incredibly busy or the slowest time of the year. Wherever the start of a new year finds your business, January marks a good time to begin thinking of baseline business strategies. Here are six [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<address>By: Jennifer Ott, MBA Student, University of Nevada, Reno</address>
<p>Depending on the industry, the beginning of a new year can be incredibly busy or the slowest time of the year. Wherever the start of a new year finds your business, January marks a good time to begin thinking of baseline business strategies. Here are six things that should be reviewed in order to keep your business running smoothly and moving ahead of the competition.</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Update your website.</strong><br />
Begin by updating photos. Many businesses use the same photos and graphics for the About Us section or Products/Services section. With new images, viewers realize your website is active. Additionally, add to any blogs or newsletters and revise menus, staffing, or other items. These revisions immediately give your website an inexpensive facelift.</li>
<li><strong>Review pricing.</strong><br />
Costs on shipping, fuel surcharges, supplies, utilities and other day-to-day items can slowly creep up during the year. Review all costs to make sure that pricing is maintained to produce a comfortable profit margin.</li>
<li><strong>Mystery shop your own business.</strong><br />
Have a friend do an internet search for your business, call in to ask a question or schedule an appointment, and visit your location. Ask your friend to give a detailed account of your business so that you can determine how to improve customer service. This is important to get an honest view point that a customer might not be able to give you.</li>
<li><strong>Evaluate employee compensation.</strong><br />
Every business person knows that great employees are hard to find. Keep employees loyal by evaluating compensation in your industry and being competitive in wages and benefits. It is widely written that employee turnover is one of the most expensive costs of business. Avoid these costs by keeping the talent in-house.</li>
<li><strong>Re-visit your competition.</strong><br />
When starting your company, visiting competition was a main activity. Although there doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day, keeping track of the competition is a key ingredient to success. Knowing what bargains key players in the industry are offering, and what events they are participating in, are important to keeping pace. Anticipating growth opportunities that your competitors are pursuing are important to keeping ahead of the game.</li>
<li><strong>Get one new thing.</strong><br />
Strive to add one new item to your business this year. This new item could be a big new client, an addition to your product line or service offering, or a new location or outlet for your services or goods. Adding one new thing to your business stimulates growth by creating fresh interest in your business and increases your client list.</li>
</ol>
<p>Whether you are updating your web presence or evaluating yourself or your competition, this information is useful in growing a business. Each of these to-do items increases knowledge of the industry and gives a head-start to the new year.</p>
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		<title>An SBA letter about Small Business Saturday</title>
		<link>http://blog.nsbdc.org/2011/11/21/an-sba-letter-about-small-business-saturday/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.nsbdc.org/2011/11/21/an-sba-letter-about-small-business-saturday/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:31:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[SBA]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.nsbdc.org/?p=767</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Dear Valued Mernber of our SBA Resource partner Network: Small businesses are the engine of job creation in America. With over 50 percent of Americans working or owning a small business, it is important that we seize every opportunity to support these businesses across the country. That is why I am writing to you about [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Dear Valued Mernber of our SBA Resource partner Network:</p>
<p>Small businesses  are the engine of job creation in America. With over 50 percent of Americans working or owning a small business,  it is important that we seize every opportunity to support these businesses  across the country. That is why I am writing to you about a new initiative started last year called Small Business Saturday. Most Americans know Black Friday and cyber Monday as big days for holiday shopping. Small Business Saturday  is a day dedicated  to supporting small businesses  during the holiday season. It is as easy as walking into the local shop on your Main Street. These local businesses  are the job creators  in your community and every community in the country. Supporting these independent business owners is mission critical.</p>
<p>When I walk around my own neighborhood  in Washington,  it&#8217;s just great to see mernbers of my community helping each other. People supporting each other is what we&#8217;re all about in this country, and no one does that better than the small business owner who buys from the local farmer, sells to the local patron and hires the local employee. These people are taking care of each other every day in America and supporting them is a privilege.</p>
<p>I am writing to ask for your help. First, please consider doing business with a small business on Small Business Saturday, which this year is on Saturday, November 26. Second, encourage others to do the same, whether they are your family, friends or members of your own community. Third, help us spread the word across your networks. The websites <a href="http://www.sba.gov/saturday" target="_blank">www.sba.gov/saturday</a> and<a href="http:// www.Smal lBusinessSaturday.com" target="_blank"> www.Smal lBusinessSaturday.com</a> provide a wealth of information including vendors and other ways to get involved. Tell the businesses  you work with to register on the website and to promote their participation. Work with them to prepare for a busy holiday season so they cag maximizethe opporfunity in front of them.</p>
<p>As the holiday season begins I want to take a moment to thank you for all the work you do to support America&#8217;s small business community. I know the example we all set helps to drive our nation forward throueh these economic times.</p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>Michael Chodos<br />
Associate Administrator<br />
Office of Entrepreneurial Development</p>
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		<title>Learn About Non-Insurance Healthcare for Your Business!</title>
		<link>http://blog.nsbdc.org/2011/10/25/learn-about-non-insurance-healthcare-for-your-business/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.nsbdc.org/2011/10/25/learn-about-non-insurance-healthcare-for-your-business/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 25 Oct 2011 22:18:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Insurance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.nsbdc.org/?p=764</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Nevada Microenterprise Initiative would like to invite you to an upcoming special event we will hold on December 1, 2011 at 5:30pm with Access to Healthcare (AHN), a non-profit discounted healthcare program for uninsured and underinsured Nevadans. AHN offers affordable healthcare services to members and their families. To qualify for the AHN Discounted Healthcare Program: You must be currently uninsured [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Nevada Microenterprise Initiative would like to invite you to an upcoming special event we will hold on <strong><strong><em>December 1, 2011 at 5:30pm</em></strong></strong> with <em><strong><em>Access to Healthcare (AHN</em></strong></em><strong><strong>)</strong></strong>, a non-profit discounted healthcare program for uninsured and underinsured Nevadans. AHN offers affordable healthcare services to members and their families.</p>
<p>To qualify for the AHN Discounted Healthcare Program:</p>
<ul>
<li>You must be currently uninsured</li>
<li>You must be able to show proof of all income, such as a pay stub, income tax form or note from your employer, or child support and other money received from any source</li>
<li>You must live in Nevada and show proof of residency in Nevada through something like a utility bill or rental agreement</li>
<li>You must show a picture ID</li>
<li>Your gross household income must be between the incomes listed on AHN&#8217;s <a href="http://4microbiz.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=24380781623f077256bb3279d&amp;id=69e3a676aa&amp;e=18b610a4b1" target="_blank">income eligibility chart, </a>for the number of people you wish to enroll in your membership program (for example, the number of people living in you home as your dependents).</li>
<li>For more information, please visit<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://4microbiz.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=24380781623f077256bb3279d&amp;id=2955445bc6&amp;e=18b610a4b1" target="_blank">http://www.accesstohealthcare.org/home.asp</a> </span>.</li>
</ul>
<p>Nevada Microenterprise Initiative is very excited to welcome you to this event so you can learn more about AHN and see if you may qualify for their services.</p>
<p><strong><strong>RSVP by November 25, 2011</strong></strong><br />
<a href="mailto:ccamenisch@4microbiz.org" target="_blank">ccamenisch@4microbiz.org</a></p>
<p>to view original message from the Nevada Microenterprise Initiative <a href="http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=24380781623f077256bb3279d&amp;id=bdce4ff41a&amp;e=18b610a4b1">click here</a></p>
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		<title>Surprising Statistics from Cisco’s 2011 Connected World Technology Report</title>
		<link>http://blog.nsbdc.org/2011/10/11/surprising-statistics-from-cisco%e2%80%99s-2011-connected-world-technology-report/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.nsbdc.org/2011/10/11/surprising-statistics-from-cisco%e2%80%99s-2011-connected-world-technology-report/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 11 Oct 2011 22:48:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jennott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.nsbdc.org/?p=755</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Connected World Technology Report surveyed approximately 1,400 college students and 1,400 young adult employees in 14 countries to determine how important technology and Internet has become in their lives. The results show that Internet and technology, such as computers and smartphones, are at the core of daily life for these age groups. Some of [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-759" title="cisco" src="http://blog.nsbdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/cisco-300x224.jpg" alt="cisco" width="180" height="134" />The Connected World Technology Report surveyed approximately 1,400 college students and 1,400 young adult employees in 14 countries to determine how important technology and Internet has become in their lives. The results show that Internet and technology, such as computers and smartphones, are at the core of daily life for these age groups.</p>
<p>Some of the most telling numbers are that nearly half of students and young employees consider the internet to be close in importance to water, food, air and shelter in their lives. Additionally, more than two-thirds of students would prefer to have access to the internet than a car. This report by Cisco shows a shift in what young consumers consider necessities of daily life and where their attitudes are with regards to technology.</p>
<p>For the full report, visit<a href=" http://www.cisco.com/en/US/solutions/ns341/ns525/ns537/ns705/ns1120/CCWTR-Chapter1-Report.pdf"> http://www.cisco.com/en/US/solutions/ns341/ns525/ns537/ns705/ns1120/CCWTR-Chapter1-Report.pdf</a></p>
<p>Contributor: Jennifer Ott</p>
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		<title>State Small Business Credit Initiative – Real Progress for Nevada’s Economy</title>
		<link>http://blog.nsbdc.org/2011/09/27/state-small-business-credit-initiative-%e2%80%93-real-progress-for-nevada%e2%80%99s-economy/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.nsbdc.org/2011/09/27/state-small-business-credit-initiative-%e2%80%93-real-progress-for-nevada%e2%80%99s-economy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:53:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Start-Up]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economic Development]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.nsbdc.org/?p=748</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Although news reports continue to lament on the condition of the economy, there are a few actions taken by the government that could make a real difference in the state of Nevada. Beginning this fall, the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) and the Catalyst Fund (SB75) are programs that make money available to small [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Although news reports continue to lament on the condition of the economy, there are a few actions taken by the government that could make a real difference in the state of Nevada. Beginning this fall, the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) and the Catalyst Fund (SB75) are programs that make money available to small businesses throughout the state. Nevada received an allocation of 13.8 million dollars under the SSBCI to encourage business start-up and expansion through these programs. Each plan works differently; however the effects are the same. More money available to businesses in Nevada equals more jobs and a growing economy.</p>
<p>The SSBCI is a program designed to encourage and achieve funding for small businesses. Through a variety of outlets, funding for small business start-ups and expansions will be easier to receive. The outlets are the Collateral Support Program, the Nevada Microenterprise Initiative, and Nevada Venture Capital.</p>
<p>The Collateral Support Program is designed to enable borrowers to acquire financing through banks that might not be available due to a lack of collateral on the borrower’s part. This lack of collateral could be due to reduced value of business or personal property or reduced value of other assets that might have otherwise been used as collateral in a better economy. Once the program starts in a few months, qualified business owners and potential business owners will be able to receive lending from a financial institution without having to provide the full collateral for the loan.</p>
<p>To be eligible to benefit from this program the borrower must be placed in a qualified industry such as mining, manufacturing, research and development, wholesale and trade, film and digital media productions, office operations or a business existing in technology. Other parameters of the program include maximum collateral deposits of $500,000, with exceptions for businesses that might provide significant job creation or economic impact, and collateral support for up to 35 per cent of the loan amount. The Collateral Support Program allows lenders to approve loans to qualified borrowers with diminished loan collateral which helps grow Nevada’s business infrastructure.</p>
<p>The Nevada Microenterprise Initiative (NMI) is an organization that aids small businesses through a lending program and classes. The SSBCI sets aside funds to support NMI’s lending program. Most of NMI’s clients are small enterprises with five or fewer employees and require less than $35,000 for start-up. With the money from SSBCI, NMI can help small businesses get off the ground and contribute to the overall success of Nevada’s economy.</p>
<p>As set up by the SSBCI, the Venture Capital Fund program sets aside money to contribute to an overall fund as established by the new cabinet-level agency &#8211; The Office of Economic Development. These funds will be used to provide money to private sector businesses to encourage start-ups, growth, or new business locations in Nevada. The new Office is in the process of being established, but applications for funding are expected to be accepted soon.</p>
<p>The State Small Business Credit Initiative and the establishment of the Catalyst Fund show movement in a positive direction for Nevada. Each of these programs will support the creation and growth of small businesses thereby making Nevada’s economy stronger by creating job opportunities and forming a sustainable economic business structure.</p>
<p>Keep an eye on the NSBDC website (<a href="http://www.nsbdc.org">www.nsbdc.org</a>), the Nevada Commission on Economic Development website (<a href="http://www.diversifynevada.com">www.diversifynevada.com</a>) or the NMI website (<a href="http://www.4microbiz.org">www.4microbiz.org</a>) for future details on these and other business support programs.</p>
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		<title>Virginia City/Storey County Growth and Mining</title>
		<link>http://blog.nsbdc.org/2011/09/21/virginia-citystorey-county-growth-and-mining/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.nsbdc.org/2011/09/21/virginia-citystorey-county-growth-and-mining/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 21 Sep 2011 23:09:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[by River Jangda Virginia City, located in Storey County, was established in 1861 and soon became the richest mining town in the world. Today, tourism is the leading industry in Virginia City, and the city is pretty much the same as it was in its heyday. Mine tours, saloons, and museums make the city a [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="color:gray">by River Jangda</span><br />
Virginia City, located in Storey County, was established in 1861 and soon became the richest mining town in the world. Today, tourism is the leading industry in Virginia City, and the city is pretty much the same as it was in its heyday. Mine tours, saloons, and museums make the city a historical treasure of Nevada.</p>
<p>With a population of 1,027 (2008), Virginia City accounts for almost a fourth of the total Storey County population of 4,384. The city has grown by 12%, or 123 people from 2003-2008. According to CLRChoice, Storey County population has grown 30.63% since 2000, and it is forecasted to grow by an additional 1.55% by 2014. There aren’t any projected population growth numbers available for VC because it’s such a small community.</p>
<p>Over 1 million visitors flock to VC each year, according to the VC Administrative Office, and about 90% of the tourism is in the summer months. Most of the 1,027 local residents live there year round, although some do leave for the winter months. VC operates year round, and if the weather is nice some of the attractions, such as trolleys and mine tours, will stay open in the winter. One of the museums stays open year round as well.</p>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Virginia City, located in Storey County, was established in 1861 and soon became</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">the richest mining town in the world. Today, tourism is the leading industry in</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Virginia City, and the city is pretty much the same as it was in its heyday. Mine tours,</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">saloons, and museums make the city a historical treasure of Nevada.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">With a population of 1,027 (2008), Virginia City accounts for almost a fourth of the</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">total Storey County population of 4,384. The city has grown by 12%, or 123 people</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">from 2003-2008. According to CLRChoice, Storey County population has grown</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">30.63% since 2000, and it is forecasted to grow by an additional 1.55% by 2014.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">There aren’t any projected population growth numbers available for VC because it’s</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">such a small community.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Over 1 million visitors flock to VC each year, according to the VC Administrative</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">Office, and about 90% of the tourism is in the summer months. Most of the 1,027</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">local residents live there year round, although some do leave for the winter months.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">VC operates year round, and if the weather is nice some of the attractions, such as</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">trolleys and mine tours, will stay open in the winter. One of the museums stays open</div>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">year round as well.</div>
<p><strong>Labor Market:</strong><br />
<a href="http://blog.nsbdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Screen-shot-2011-09-21-at-3.42.05-PM.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-739" title="Screen shot 2011-09-21 at 3.42.05 PM" src="http://blog.nsbdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Screen-shot-2011-09-21-at-3.42.05-PM.jpg" alt="Screen shot 2011-09-21 at 3.42.05 PM" width="624" height="230" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Storey County Employment by Industry:<br />
<a href="http://blog.nsbdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Screen-shot-2011-09-21-at-3.41.15-PM.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-741" title="Screen shot 2011-09-21 at 3.41.15 PM" src="http://blog.nsbdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Screen-shot-2011-09-21-at-3.41.15-PM.jpg" alt="Screen shot 2011-09-21 at 3.41.15 PM" width="530" height="247" /></a></strong></p>
<p><strong>Mining </strong></p>
<p>According to the Storey County Director, Dean Haymore, Comstock Mining Company is definitely going to open the mine back up, maybe as early as the end of this year. Comstock Mining has already gotten their special use permit and they are now waiting on additional state and other permits, which they expect to get soon. There is, however, a lot of controversy surrounding the mine, and the company has gotten a lot of opposition from the local community, see article below.</p>
<p>They have already hired 50 people and they could hire as many as 250 more by the end of the year. This mining project is not short term; this is a huge 30-50 year project that is expected to spur growth in the Storey County area. As far as employment, the hope is that all employees will come from Storey County, as the unemployment rate is high in the area.</p>
<p><strong>KOLO 8 TV article:</strong></p>
<p><span style="color:gray">Posted: 10:53 AM Aug 13, 2011</span><br />
Eras Clash on Nevada&#8217;s Comstock, Virginia City Could be Home to Mining Again</p>
<p>More than 150 years after the discovery of one of the world&#8217;s richest silver veins touched off a mining frenzy that drew thousands of people west and made Virginia City a wealthy boomtown, a mining company wants to resume digging for riches in the dusty hills southeast of Reno.</p>
<p>VIRGINIA CITY, Nev. (AP) &#8211; More than 150 years after the discovery of one of the world&#8217;s richest silver veins touched off a mining frenzy that drew thousands of people west and made Virginia City a wealthy boomtown, a mining company wants to resume digging for riches in the dusty hills southeast of Reno.</p>
<p>But unlike the scrappy miners who used picks and shovels to chisel away at the massive, underground pocket of silver and gold known as the Comstock Lode, the company&#8217;s plans are for open pit mining. They aren&#8217;t being met with open arms.</p>
<p>Residents in the historic Comstock region embrace the catacombs of century-old mines with pride and purpose. But these days, it&#8217;s not wealth from gold and silver but the mining of tourists lured by the rich history of the Old West that keep the town humming.</p>
<p>Tours are conducted in an old underground mine beneath a saloon, and The Way It Was Museum displays artifacts from the past. Camel and outhouse races and a Rocky Mountain oyster festival keep tourists coming to take a &#8220;Step Back in Time&#8221; &#8211; the region&#8217;s marketing slogan.</p>
<p>Residents fear that Virginia City image is threatened by the Comstock Mining Co.&#8217;s proposal to use earth-moving machinery to dig up truckloads of earth and process the loads to extract flecks of the minerals that have reached record prices.</p>
<p>With the stock market fluctuating wildly, the price of gold soared lastl week, setting new records &#8211; $1,800 an ounce on Wednesday, for example.</p>
<p>Using high-tech modern mapping techniques and historic records, the company says it has identified roughly $2.8 billion in gold, if prices hold around $1,750 per ounce. That&#8217;s roughly double the price the company estimated was needed to make the venture profitable.</p>
<p>Doug McQuide, Comstock public relations director, said the company hopes to begin production sometime this year.</p>
<p>Comstock thinks modern mining can coexist with history and complement the tourist trade, he said.</p>
<p>The company purchased the historic Gold Hill Hotel, and has invested in shoring up old mill sites to preserve the region&#8217;s history. &#8220;We want to be overwhelmingly supported&#8221; by the community, McQuide said.</p>
<p>But it has been a tough sell.</p>
<p>For many folks in Virginia City, Gold Hill and Silver City, the idea of open pit mining in this state and national historic district is repugnant.</p>
<p>&#8220;Mining does work for Nevada,&#8221; said Daan Eggenberger, proprietor of the restored Tahoe House Hotel, an antique-laden lodge on Virginia City&#8217;s main drag. &#8220;It just doesn&#8217;t work in a historic district.&#8221;</p>
<p>The National Trust for Historic Preservation named Virginia City to its 2009 list of a dozen &#8220;Distinctive Destinations&#8221; across the country. The historic mining boomtown still boasts mines, mansions, saloons and museums that provide a glimpse into frontier life.</p>
<p>Founded with the discovery of the Comstock Lode in 1859, Virginia City made so many millionaires that the town was called the &#8220;richest place on earth.&#8221;</p>
<p>The wealth it generated helped finance the Union cause during the Civil War and to build San Francisco and the Bay area.</p>
<p>Mining has come and gone in the Gold Canyon region since the lode played out. Tailing piles that have stood for decades at old mill sites dot the mountainsides.</p>
<p>In Gold Hill and Silver City, tiny towns a few miles down a twisting highway from Virginia City, residents say their serenity was disturbed last fall when Comstock Mining renewed exploration drilling at an existing site and disclosed it had begun exploration on parts of mining claims it has acquired covering 6,100 acres. Of that, about 1,000 acres is on private property; the rest is public land.</p>
<p>Residents formed the Comstock Residents Association to fight the company&#8217;s plan.</p>
<p>Storey County Sheriff Gerald Antinoro understands the dispute. From a bluff outside his front door, he overlooks a canyon to the hills on the other side where heavy equipment has carved a dirt road up the steep slope. For a time, a test drill was erected a stone&#8217;s throw from his front door.</p>
<p>He hears the engines, the warning backup beeps, sees the dust. He&#8217;s not against mining.  &#8220;I&#8217;m not an opponent and I&#8217;m not a proponent,&#8221; Antinoro said. But he&#8217;s unsatisfied with the company response when he asks how the landscape will be restored once the gold and silver play out.</p>
<p>&#8220;They&#8217;ve told me several different things and I&#8217;ve yet to hear a plan,&#8221; Antinoro said. &#8220;Hopefully they&#8217;ll come up with something pretty soon.&#8221;</p>
<p>Comstock Mining has applied to Storey County for a special use permit to expand its exploration drilling. A five-hour hearing on that application drew an overflowing, heavily anti-mining crowd on July 7. The hearing continues Aug. 18.</p>
<p>Corrado De Gasperis, Comstock president and chief executive officer, tried to assure residents and planning commissioners the company wants to be good neighbors.</p>
<p>&#8220;We care very much about the rich mining and natural history of the Comstock,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We want to be judged by our actions.&#8221;</p>
<p>Robin Cobbey, 62, who lives with her husband David Toll in Gold Hill, presented the planning commission with a petition signed by more than 300 opponents.</p>
<p>&#8220;One thing is clear is that the residents of the area don&#8217;t want this,&#8221; Cobbey said. &#8220;You can&#8217;t mitigate an open pit mine that&#8217;s 800 feet deep and a quarter-mile wide. It&#8217;s there forever.&#8221;</p>
<p>Signs have sprung up around town reading, &#8220;No Open Pit.&#8221; McQuide said the company&#8217;s plan is to begin with a &#8220;starter mine,&#8221; a pit of about 30 acres and roughly 250 feet deep, but he said there&#8217;s no plan to excavate the entire region.</p>
<p>Underground mining techniques would be used to mine areas near Virginia City and Gold Hill, he said.</p>
<p>Of the total acreage, &#8220;probably less than 10 percent is envisioned as even targeted for pit mining,&#8221; McQuide said.</p>
<p>Said hotel proprietor Eggenberger, 65, &#8220;Our community has a vibrant tourist economy. They&#8217;re looking to destroy that. Spare me the grief of you telling me you&#8217;re going to revitalize the Comstock.&#8221;</p>
<p>Residents also question how mining can be allowed in a region that includes Superfund sites designated in 1990. They want extensive environmental studies.</p>
<p>The state has issued a permit for mercury emissions controls. Another general air quality permit is pending. But officials said the state lacks authority to require a full environmental study, something that would be required to mine on federal lands. So far, all of Comstock&#8217;s activities, except for some exploration, are on private lands.</p>
<p>Behre Dolbear, a worldwide mining technical consulting group, said the Comstock project could conceivably double the precious metals it has estimated.</p>
<p>But that doesn&#8217;t sway opponents.</p>
<p>&#8220;Virginia City is a changed place now, it&#8217;s a tourism destination,&#8221; said Chris Chrystal, recently retired from the Nevada Commission on Tourism. &#8220;It would not be a good idea to hurt one economic contributor for the gain of another.&#8221;</p>
<p>Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved.</p>
<p><strong>Links: </strong></p>
<p>Storey County Business Overview<br />
<a href="http://www.regionaldatacenter.com/RDC/Storeycounty/busoverview.aspx" target="_blank">http://www.regionaldatacenter.com/RDC/Storeycounty/busoverview.aspx </a></p>
<p>Storey County Pop. Statistics<br />
<a href="http://www.clrsearch.com/Virginia_City_Demographics/NV/Population-Growth- and-Population-Statistics" target="_blank">http://www.clrsearch.com/Virginia_City_Demographics/NV/Population-Growth- and-Population-Statistics </a></p>
<p>KOLO TV: “Eras Clash on Nevada&#8217;s Comstock, Virginia City Could be Home to Mining Again”<br />
<a href="http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/ Eras_clash_on_Nevadas_Comstock_127657228.html?storySection=story" target="_blank">http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/ Eras_clash_on_Nevadas_Comstock_127657228.html?storySection=story </a></p>
<p>Virginia City News<br />
<a href="http://virginiacitynews.com/" target="_blank">http://virginiacitynews.com/</a></p>
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		<title>Small Businesses Have New Non-Profit Sources For SBA-financed Loans</title>
		<link>http://blog.nsbdc.org/2011/08/05/small-businesses-have-new-non-profit-sources-for-sba-financed-loans/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.nsbdc.org/2011/08/05/small-businesses-have-new-non-profit-sources-for-sba-financed-loans/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:56:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ben Tedore</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Financing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SBA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lending]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[loans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Small Business Jobs Act]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.nsbdc.org/?p=734</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[20 First Community lending organizations selected to start making loans up to $200,000 under new Intermediary Lending Pilot Program Release Date: August 4, 2011 Contact: David J. Hall  (202) 205-6697 Or Dennis Byrne (202) 205-6567 Release Number: 11-46 Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news WASHINGTON, D.C. – Startups, newly established and growing small businesses now have a new source of [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>20 First Community lending organizations selected to start making loans up to $200,000 under new Intermediary Lending Pilot Program</p>
<p><strong>Release Date:</strong> August 4, 2011<br />
<strong>Contact:</strong> David J. Hall  <span style="color: #0000cc;">(202) 205-6697</span> Or Dennis Byrne <span style="color: #0000cc;">(202) 205-6567</span><br />
<strong>Release Number:</strong> 11-46<br />
<strong>Internet Address:</strong> <a style="color: #0000cc;" href="http://www.sba.gov/news" target="_blank">http://www.sba.gov/news</a></p>
<p><a style="color: #0000cc;" href="http://www.sba.gov/news" target="_blank"></a>WASHINGTON, D.C. – Startups, newly established and growing small businesses now have a new source of financing backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration as 20 community organizations have been funded by SBA to start making loans up to $200,000 to qualifying small businesses.</p>
<p>Authorized under the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, the new Intermediary Lending Pilot Program will provide direct loans up to $1 million to 20 community organizations or intermediaries in fiscal year 2011, which in turn will use those funds to help finance small businesses, mostly in underserved markets.</p>
<p>Designed to expand access to capital to small businesses and drive economic growth and job creation, the program will fund 20 additional community lenders in FY 2012.  The program has an additional year of authority in FY 2013 subject to appropriation by Congress.</p>
<p>“The Intermediary Lending Program is an important new tool to support businesses in underserved markets,” said SBA Deputy Administrator Marie Johns.  “Partnering with community lenders will increase points of access to capital for startups and businesses that have been disproportionately affected by the recession.”</p>
<p>One goal of the pilot program over the next two-to-three years is to assess the intermediary model as an effective tool for increasing lower-dollar lending to small businesses and startups, particularly those in traditionally underserved communities.</p>
<p>The first 20 community lending organizations funded by SBA to participate in ILP are:</p>
<p>Organization (Listed in Alphabetical Order)    City, State<br />
Ben Franklin Technology Partners          Philadelphia, PA<br />
Biddeford-Saco Area EDC                           Saco, ME<br />
Business Finance Group, Inc                    Fairfax, VA<br />
Central Minnesota DC                                Andover, MN<br />
Clay-Platte Development Corp.                Kansas City, MO<br />
Colorado Lending Source, Ltd.                 Denver, CO<br />
Cooperative Fund of New England          Amherst, MA<br />
Fresno County EDC                                    Fresno, CA<br />
Grand Central Texas DC                            Austin, TX<br />
Grow South Dakota                                    Sisseton, SD<br />
Mahoning Valley EDC                               Youngstown, OH<br />
NC Minority Support Center                    Durham, NC<br />
Ohio Comm. Dev. Finance Fund            Columbus, OH<br />
Pacific Community Ventures                    San Francisco, CA<br />
PIDC Regional DC                                      Philadelphia, PA<br />
Rural Nevada DC                                          Ely, NV<br />
Seattle Economic Dev. Fund                    Seattle, WA<br />
ShoreBank Enterprise Group                    Ilawco, WA<br />
TELACU Community Capital                    Los Angeles, CA<br />
UP Business Capital                                    Marquette, MI</p>
<p>For more information about the ILP program, visit the program website at <a style="color: #0000cc;" href="http://www.sba.gov/content/intermediary-lending-pilot" target="_blank">http://www.sba.gov/content/intermediary-lending-pilot</a>. To locate your local SBA office, visit <a style="color: #0000cc;" href="http://www.sba.gov/about-offices-list/2" target="_blank">www.sba.gov/about-offices-list/2</a>.</p>
<p>For more information about all of the SBA’s programs for small businesses, visit the SBA’s Web site at<a style="color: #0000cc;" href="http://www.sba.gov/" target="_blank">http://www.sba.gov</a>.</p>
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		<title>Tax Tips from Tim Nelson, CPA.</title>
		<link>http://blog.nsbdc.org/2011/06/13/tax-tips-from-tim-nelson-cpa/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.nsbdc.org/2011/06/13/tax-tips-from-tim-nelson-cpa/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:51:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Chuck McCumber</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Taxes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.nsbdc.org/?p=729</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tax Tips from Tim Nelson, CPA. I sat with Tim Nelson today (of Evans Nelson and Company CPAs) and discussed many of the recent changes of both federal and state taxes that directly affect individuals and business owners. We covered a number of topics, and thus this article will likely jump around &#8211; much like [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>Tax Tips from Tim Nelson, CPA.</h2>
<p>I sat with Tim Nelson today (of Evans Nelson and Company CPAs) and discussed<br />
many of the recent changes of both federal and state taxes that directly affect<br />
individuals and business owners. We covered a number of topics, and thus this<br />
article will likely jump around &#8211; much like our conversation.</p>
<h2>Consumer Energy Tax Credits (<a href="http://www.energy.gov/taxbreaks.htm">http://www.energy.gov/taxbreaks.htm</a>)</h2>
<p>The Consumer Energy Tax Credits (many of which were up to 30% of the purchase<br />
cost of energy efficient products and renewable energy systems) expired at the end<br />
of 2010 and while new credits were passed, they were at lower levels (10 %).</p>
<h2>Overhaul of the Tax Code</h2>
<p>The Taxpayer Advocate Service (an independent organization within the IRS)<br />
is calling for a major overhaul of the tax code, a task which is being debated by<br />
legislators. The last time this happened was in 1986 (and resulted in the current tax<br />
system we are using). That overhaul took approximately 2 years to complete, and<br />
any current tax code overhaul would likely take at least that long.<br />
(<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/06/business/economy/06tax.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/06/business/economy/06tax.html</a>)</p>
<p>There have been recent talks about levying a tax on services at the state level. The<br />
state revenue increase would be enough to lower the tax on goods. However, many<br />
of the professional service lobbies oppose such a tax on services and thus Tim<br />
considers it unlikely that such a proposal will get out of committee.</p>
<h2>Equipment and Start Up Expenses:</h2>
<p>Section 179 of the Tax Code allows you to elect to expense certain business<br />
equipment all within the first year. However a business’ ability to do so is contingent<br />
upon their profitability – you can’t expense if you’re not profitable.</p>
<p>However, the Economic Stimulus act of 2008 added a 50 percent depreciation<br />
allowance for qualifying purchases which is not contingent upon profitability. In<br />
fact there is a 100 percent allowance for certain types of furniture, equipment,<br />
leasehold improvements.</p>
<p>The total amount of start-up costs that can be expensed has been increased. These<br />
costs included the cost of professional services, including attorneys, accountants,<br />
Secretary of State costs, business licenses, and tangible items like business supplies,<br />
stationary, and business cards.</p>
<h2>Estate Taxes and Gift Tax exclusion</h2>
<p>Estate taxes have gone through some major fluctuations over the last three tax<br />
years. In 2009, there was an exemption of 3.5M after which a 45% tax was levied on<br />
the rest of the estate.</p>
<p>In 2010 the estate tax had been allowed to sunset and congress, dealing with<br />
healthcare, did not reinstate the tax. Thus there was the option of either the in-line<br />
$5M exemption with a 35% estate tax rate, or a $0 exemption with a 0% tax rate.</p>
<p>For 2011, the exemption is back to $5M with a 35% tax rate.</p>
<p>Tim highlighted the fact that the recession has creates some great gift tax planning<br />
opportunities. With values being depressed, and with the gift tax exclusion<br />
increasing, many people now have the opportunity to transfer assets either directly<br />
to downstream heirs or indirectly into irrevocable trusts.</p>
<p>Further, one can gift property (especially real estate) at a much lower value and<br />
have it appreciate on the recipient’s end.</p>
<h2>Small Business Health Care Tax Credit (<a href="http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=220839,00.html">http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=220839,00.html</a>)</h2>
<p>The federal government is encouraging small businesses to provide health<br />
insurance for their employees. Small business employers who are paying their<br />
employees an average of $50k or less per year can get a credit (up to 35% of the<br />
premiums paid) for providing health insurance for their employees.</p>
<h2>HIRE Act (<a href="http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=220745,00.html">http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=220745,00.html</a>)</h2>
<p>Additionally, businesses are being encouraged to hire – if a business hires for a<br />
new job (or an under very certain conditions hires for an existing position) they<br />
can receive a credit for the payroll taxes for the employee for a period of time, and<br />
if they are still employed a year later they receive another $1k for each additional<br />
person on the payroll.</p>
<h2>No More Golf Carts</h2>
<p>Tim laughingly lamented the end of the Golf Cart Credit which was a tax credit based<br />
on the purchase of electric cars. However, the criteria for the eligible vehicle were<br />
such that golf cart companies soon realized those who purchase their golf carts</p>
<p>could legitimately claim tax credits. Some of the credits, when calculated, would<br />
equal the cost of the golf cart.</p>
<p>Not surprisingly, that tax incentive was not continued in 2011.</p>
<h2>Home Office Deductions (<a href="http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=204169,00.html">http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=204169,00.html</a>)</h2>
<p>One place where many individuals make mistakes is in the use of home offices. For<br />
employees, the use of home as a place of work must be for the convenience of the<br />
employer (there must be a statement in writing to that effect). Additionally, for<br />
employees and business owners alike, the space itself must be used exclusively for<br />
work. Tim has battled with IRS agents before over the exclusion of specific areas<br />
of a home office because of the existence of personal items within those areas (like<br />
family photos, etc). Thus it’s important that one fully understands the rules of home<br />
office deductions before attempting to deduct expenses for the business use of one’s<br />
home.</p>
<h2>General expense deductions</h2>
<p>In general, Tim sees the most mistakes when it comes to documenting the expenses<br />
within a business, especially for car mileage and business trips. Expenses must be<br />
ordinary, necessary, and reasonable.</p>
<h2>Business in a down economy</h2>
<p>While Tim and I agreed that it’s hard out there for businesses, he sees the silver<br />
lining. “It’s also one of the best times,” said Tim, “because when the economy is<br />
down it stirs people to be more creative, entrepreneurial.” Tim has seen a huge<br />
uptick in the number of new businesses approaching him for accounting assistance.</p>
<p>Evans Nelson and Company CPAs is located at 50 Continental Drive, Reno, NV<br />
89509. Tim Nelson can be reached at 775-825-6008 and found at his website<br />
<a href="http://www.bestcpareno.com"> www.bestcpareno.com</a>.</p>
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		<title>Small Business Health Options Discussions</title>
		<link>http://blog.nsbdc.org/2011/04/22/small-business-health-options-discussions/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.nsbdc.org/2011/04/22/small-business-health-options-discussions/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 23 Apr 2011 00:02:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ben Tedore</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Employees]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.nsbdc.org/?p=726</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Nevada Division of Health Care Financing and Policy (DHCFP) is inviting the public to a public meeting held by the state of Nevada to begin to plan for the establishment of a Health Insurance Exchange. For more information see the letter from the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. April 26, 2011 &#8211; [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Nevada Division of Health Care Financing and Policy (DHCFP) is inviting the public to a public meeting held by the state of Nevada to begin to plan for the establishment of a Health Insurance Exchange. For more information see the <a href="http://blog.nsbdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DHCFP.pdf">letter</a> from the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services.</p>
<ul>
<li>April 26, 2011 &#8211; 10am to 12 noon,  Grand Sierra Resort, Reno</li>
<li>April 27, 2011 &#8211; 1pm to 3pm, Cashman Convention Center, Las Vegas</li>
</ul>
<p>NO RSVP REQUIRED</p>
<p>Gloria Macdonald, CPA (775) 687-8407 &#8211; gloria.macdonald@dhcfp.nv.gov</p>
<p>Jennifer Benedict, MSSW (775) 687-8408 jennifer.benedict@dhcfp.nv.gov</p>
<p><a href="http://blog.nsbdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DHCFP.pdf">VIEW ANNOUNCEMENT LETTER</a> for more details</p>
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