Source: WHNT News 19

The Better Business Bureau of North Alabama (BBB) and the City of Huntsville's Police Department are alerting local businesses to Mobile, AL based Expositions & Festivals, Inc. (EFI) and the Alabama Women's Chamber of Commerce (ALWCC), which have been promoting a Women's Expo in Huntsville.  Expositions & Festivals, Inc. has an F rating from the BBB of Mobile due to 6 unresponded complaints, all of which were processed in the last 12 months.

When considering the purchase of trade show booths, the BBB advises businesses to:

• Check with the venue and confirm the time and location.
• Research the host organization by reading its online BBB Business Review.
• Get all details in writing. Carefully review the terms and conditions, as well as exhibitor options in case the event is canceled or rescheduled.
• Find out if the event has been held before, and if so, ask to speak to other businesses that attended.
• Consider paying for the event by credit card. If the services are not rendered as promised, it may be possible to dispute the charge through your credit card provider.
• Be wary of any websites promoting trade show events that do not list the name and address of the trade show organizer or promoter.
• Ask event organizers about add-on costs, such as fees for electricity and Internet hookup, tables and tablecloths and other charges that may not be included in the booth rental fees.       

The Business Council of Alabama (BCA)  praised the Alabama Legislature for one of the most productive legislative sessions in history and for making job creation a top priority.

Pro-jobs legislation, which has been on BCA's agenda for nearly two decades, has been approved, and many of the items have already been signed into law by Gov. Robert Bentley.

"The new majority in the Legislature proved early on in the session that they were no longer willing to accept the status quo of the last 40 years," said BCA President and CEO William J. Canary. "Speaker Mike Hubbard and Senate Pro Tem Del Marsh led the charge to level the playing field for Alabama's business community in the Legislature, and we commend them for tackling tough budget issues, emphasizing job creation, and reforming education."

"This Legislature has sent a clear message to businesses looking to expand that Alabama's international reputation as a place to do business is strengthened even more," said William W. Brooke, chairman of the BCA Board of Directors and managing partner of Venture Capital for the Harbert Management Corporation. "Creating jobs is vital to revitalizing our state's economy, and the legislature has met this challenge head on."

One of BCA's top-tier small business agenda items that made its way through the Legislature early this session was HB 61 sponsored by Rep. April Weaver, R-Brierfield, which provides small businesses a tax deduction in order to provide health insurance to their employees. This law allows qualifying employers and employees to deduct and additional 50 percent of the amount expended for health insurance premiums. Qualifying employers are those with less than 25 employees; qualifying employees are those whose annual wages do not exceed $50,000. The law now increases the 150 percent deduction, approved during the 2008 legislative session, to a deduction of 200 percent of qualifying premium payments. Gov. Robert Bentley signed this legislation into law on April 21.

BCA members proudly stood with Gov. Bentley on the steps of the State Capitol in late March as he announced his Full Employment Act. Sponsored by Rep. Blaine Galliher, R-Gadsden, and Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, HB 230 will provide businesses with 50 or fewer employees an income tax credit equal to $1,000 per new job paying more than $10 an hour. Once enacted, the tax credit will be available for the tax year during which the employee has completed 12 months of consecutive employment. The bill passed both houses unanimously and now awaits the governor's signature.

Small businesses interested in starting or expanding sales of their goods and services overseas have access to a new, free online tool that will gauge their readiness to export and help them develop an export business plan.

The Export Business Planner, developed by the U.S. Small Business Administration, offers a ready-made, customizable and easily accessible document that can be updated and referenced continuously as the business grows.

The Planner, located at at www.sba.gov/exportbusinessplanner, allows users to: 

• Determine their export readiness
• Learn about training and counseling opportunities
• Complete worksheets for global market research
• Obtain financing information and options
• Customize export marketing plans, and
• Access resources for exporters  

Read the entire SBA Release by clicking here:  SBA Release #11-40 

The SBA released the following summary of Lender Activity in the state of Alabama for the period of October 1, 2010 to May 31, 2011.   

Click here to download the summary report.