| BIBCA Newsletter |
February 2009 |
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New BIBCA Literature |
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New BIBCA fact sheet!
There are 4 fact sheets in a set, each set is $ .75. They are available to BIBCA members. If you are interested in buying these fact sheets, contact
Megan Oelkers, Member Services at the BIBCA office.
Toll Free: 866-330-2427
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VISIT OUR PARTNERS |
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2009
TRAINING LOCATIONS |
| February- South Dakota
March- Kansas
March- Texas
March- Hawaii
April- Illinois
May- Indiana
May- Maryland
June- Colorado
Contact Gail O'Brien for more information, or if you would be interested in hosting a training in your area.
866-330-2427
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| FEDERAL TAX CREDITS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY |
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On October 3, 2008, President Bush signed into law the "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008." This bill extended tax credits for energy efficient home imrovements (windows, doors, roofs, insulation, HVAC, and non-solar water heaters). Tax credits for these residential products, which ad expired at the end of 2007, will now be available for improvements made during 2009. However, improvements made during 2008 are not eligible for a tax credit.
Tax Credits for Consumers:
Home Improvements
Home improvement tax credits are now available for home improvements "placed in service" from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009. Any qualified home improvements made in 2008 are not eligible for the tax credit.
Home improvement tax credits are available for insulation, replacement windows, water heaters, certain high efficiency heating and cooling equipment, and biomass stoves. The maximum amount that a taxpayer may claim from all of these tax credits combines is $500 over the lifetime of the tax credit (2006, 2007 & 2009).
Product Category- Insulation
Tax Credit Specification- Meets 2000 IECC & Amendments
Tax Credit- 10% of cost, up to $500
Notes-
- For insulation to qualify, its primary purpose must be to insulate. (example: vapor retarders are covered, siding does not qualify).
- Must be expected to last 5 years OR have a 2 year warranty
- Installation costs are not included.
- Manufacturer's Certification Statement required.
- For tax purposes, save your receipt and the Manufacturer's Certification Statement.
- Must be "placed into service" between January 1-December 31, 2009.
- Use IRS Fax Form 5695 (version 2009). This form should be available in late 2009 or early 2010.
www.energystar.gov |
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LOOKING FOR A JOB? |
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Job seekers with no ties to any particular location often seek jobs in big cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles or San Francisco. But are these the places where they're most likely to find a job?
Not according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Job seekers are better off looking in such cities as Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Rapid City, South Dakota. All of these cities registered some of the lowest unemployment rates in September 2008.
Low unemployment rates seem harder to come by in today's economy. Unemployment rates were higher in 349 of the 369 U.S. metropolitan areas surveyed, which means 92 percent of cities have seen an increase in their unemployment rates. Only 25 ares reported lower rates, while six areas had no change. The national unemployment rate in September, 6 percent, was up 1.5 percent from 4.5 in September 2007.
Ten cities recorded jobless rates of at least 10% and nine areas registered rates below 3 percent. Eighty-four metropolitan areas posted unemployment rates of at least 7 percent, up from only 17 areas the year before. Only 46 cities had jobless rates below 4 percent, down from 133 areas at the same time last year. In total, amoung the 310 metropolitan areas for which areas reported over-the-year employment gains, 164 reported losses, and 6 had no change.
Despite these startling figures, several cities have low unemployment rates. Here are the 10 cities with the lowest unemployment rates, according to the September numbers released by the BLS.
Bismark, ND, Casper, WY, Logan, UT, Sioux Falls, SD, Morgantown, WV, Ames, IA, Fargo, ND, Iowa City, IA, Rapid City, SD, and Lincoln, NE.
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| JOBPRO TECHNOLOGY |
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JobPro Technology has a simple, inexpensive, easy to use system for BIBCA members that install insulation or any other product. The JobPro system can be easily modified to fit your specific business process, the process that separates your company from your competition. JobPro is designed to track and manage all of your current jobs, while providing your company a centralized repository of all customers and jobs for years to come. Listed below are a few of the features and benefits that JobPro can provide:
- Access your company information 24/7, wherever you have a computer with internet access.
- Centralized electronic records managements.
- Centralized pricing control- consistent pricing for bids and quotes to your customers.
- Create and automate your customer proposals for consistency.
- Track bids and quotes, revised bids and quotes, work orders, change orders, purchase orders, in one location. Instant access to current and accurate information.
- Common job scheduling module.
- Track leads and prospects by sales person or estimator.
- Reduce back office overhead costs.
- Security permissions which provide access to information by employee position.
- Disaster recovery of business information in case of employee termination, fire, theft, flood, or natural disaster.
JobPro has been working with the BIBCA Board of Directors on the JobPro solution for our members and specific incentives for our membership. Job Pro Technology will be offering these incentives to all BIBCA members that are interested in the JobPro system.
JobPro Technology, Inc.
9723 Northcross Center Court
Huntersville, NC 28078
For sales contact Robin Reavis
Phone: 704.584.4015
Fax: 704.896.9889
rreavis@jobprotech.com
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REMEMBER |
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USE OUR TRADESHOW BOOTHS!
We have three booths that book-up fast so call the BIBCA office at 866-330-2427 and reserve one for your next trade show!
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| SOUND CONTROL |
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Order brochures from BIBCA and we'll send you a FREE sound control CD.
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"BIBCA Certified Members are the best trained, highly professional, most successful insulation contractors working together with industry partners to make BIBS a household word." | |
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