Wenatchee awarded nearly $1 million in state funding for McKittrick Street extension project
Wash. Commerce Dept. press release issued 11/ 16/ 17http://www.commerce.wa.gov/news-releases/wenatchee-awarded-nearly-1-million-in-state-funding-for-mckittrick-street-extension-project/
Community Economic Revitalization Board grant and loan will support $2.4 million private partner investment, create estimated 90 jobs.
OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) today approved $973,185 in public infrastructure development funding targeting business growth and job creation in the Wenatchee, Chelan County.
A $859,409 loan and a $113,776 grant to the city of Wenatchee is for the McKittrick Street Extension Project, State funding is awarded for the purchase of a right-of-way and partial demolition of a damaged warehouse. The remainder of the warehouse will be used by the project private partner, Diamond Foundry, LLC. The company will invest $2,400,000, creating 96 jobs, as a result of this project. CERB funds are matched by $243,296 in local resources.
“CERB projects represent an important partnership between the state and local communities resulting in enhanced economic vitality. This project represents the much-needed diversification of industry in the rural areas of our state. The board is pleased to collaborate with the City of Wenatchee to create permanent private sector jobs for Washington families,” said CERB Chair Randy Hayden.
“State investments in public infrastructure strengthen rural communities by helping them attract and keep job-creating employers,” said Brian Bonlender, director of the Washington State Department of Commerce. “Many local governments are struggling to improve and maintain facilities that enable economic growth. Tools such as CERB’s committed private partner program are vital to making the necessary funding possible.”
The release of CERB funds to this project is contingent upon the applicant completing specific pre-contract requirements, such as finalizing other funding sources and obtaining necessary permits.
Preview CERB’s 2015 -17 Biennium in Review and check out CERB’s interactive project map for the 2015-17 approved projects.
Since 1982, CERB has committed nearly $176 million to local jurisdictions across the state, an investment generating more than 35,000 jobs, and private capital investments of a $5.6 billion ($34 to $1) return on CERB investment.
As Washington’s strategic economic development resource, CERB is focused on creating private sector jobs in partnership with local governments by financing infrastructure improvements. These improvements encourage new business development and expansion. In addition to funding construction projects, CERB provides limited funding for studies that evaluate high-priority economic development projects. Learn more about CERB at www.commerce.wa.gov/cerb.
Washington Service Corps, Reading Corps need service seekers for six-month terms
ESD Press release issued 11/ 16/ 17https://esd.wa.gov/newsroom/washington-service-corps-reading-corps-need-service-seekers-for-six-month-terms
OLYMPIA – The Washington Service Corps and the Washington Reading Corps need people who can commit six months to making a difference.
The Washington Service Corps offers a chance to help children, adults and veterans prepare for careers and increase their computer, financial and basic skills. Find a list of open six-month positions.
Members of the Reading Corps tutor struggling students, and plan school and family literacy events. See a list of open six-month positions.
The Washington Service Corps and Reading Corps are part of the federal AmeriCorps program. Members must be at least 17 years old. They receive a modest living allowance, health insurance, help with childcare costs, an educational scholarship and more.
Perhaps most importantly, members satisfy that service-seeker itch while gaining experience, wisdom and perspective to bring to further education, their next adventure or a career. After their service, members will find career specialists at WorkSource employment centers statewide trained specifically to help service seekers connect with jobs.
Interested service seekers should apply now for positions starting in December, January and February.
Find out more at the Washington Service Corps website or call 888-713-6080.
https://washingtonservicecorps.org/
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US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BLOG
Entrepreneurs Hold Keys to the Future
By, THOMAS J. DONOHUE, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commercehttps://www.uschamber.com/above-the-fold/entrepreneurs-hold-keys-the-future
November is National Entrepreneurship Month, a time for our country to honor those who drive innovation and encourage a new generation of enterprising Americans to take action on their ideas. At the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, we foster entrepreneurship by promoting policies that not only protect business creation but prioritize it.
Entrepreneurship is the life force of the American economy. Every business started as an idea and required a great deal of courage and commitment to get off the ground. Many entrepreneurs fail multiple times before they find a plan that works. In fact, I often say that if you don’t fail occasionally, you probably aren’t thinking big enough.
Once a business is growing and attracting customers, it creates tremendous value for the entrepreneurs and their entire communities. New businesses account for the vast majority of net new jobs in the U.S. In the last three decades, firms less than a year old have created 1.5 million jobs annually. Entrepreneurs also drive innovation, which gives our economy the fuel it needs to grow and stay competitive.
One of the most important ways to promote entrepreneurship is to protect intellectual property (IP) rights, which incentivize creativity by allowing those who conceived or developed an idea to reap the rewards of its success. All of those who perform creative work, from entrepreneurs to artists to innovators, must be confident that the fruits of their labor will be shielded from piracy or theft. Ensuring that the creators of new products and services are rewarded is crucial to stimulating new business formation.
The Chamber’s Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC) is committed to protecting innovation through IP and other policies. Last week it held its annual IP Champions Gala to celebrate America’s creators and the policymakers who support their rights. As part of this event, GIPC released its sixth annual Global IP Index, ranking the IP protections of various nations based on a range of indicators. The Index provides a road map for each country to strengthen its standards.
The roots of entrepreneurship can be found in America’s protections for the innovators and creators who turn ideas into reality. It’s difficult to imagine what the next generation of entrepreneurs may achieve, but our job is to ensure that they have the chance to begin. As we mark National Entrepreneurship Month, the Chamber and GIPC are committed to continuing our long-standing fight to make America’s already strong protections for entrepreneurs and innovators even stronger.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROPOSES OVER $1.8 MILLION IN FINES AGAINST A WISCONSIN CORN MILLING FACILITY AFTER FATAL GRAIN DUST EXPLOSION
Press release issued 11/ 17/ 17https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osha/osha20171117
CAMBRIA, WI – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed $1,837,861 in fines against Didion Milling Inc. following a May 31, 2017, explosion that killed five workers and injured 12 others, including a 21-year-old employee who suffered a double leg amputation after being crushed by a railcar.
OSHA found that the explosion likely resulted from Didion’s failures to correct the leakage and accumulation of highly combustible grain dust throughout the facility and to properly maintain equipment to control ignition sources. OSHA cited Didion’s Cambria facility with 14 willful – including eight willful per-instance egregious– and five serious citations, most involving fire and explosion hazards. The company has been placed in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program.
“Didion Milling could have prevented this tragedy if it had addressed hazards that are well-known in this industry,” said OSHA Regional Administrator Ken Nishiyama Atha, in Chicago. “Instead, their disregard for the law led to an explosion that claimed the lives of workers, and heartbreak for their families and the community.”
The egregious willful citations were issued for violating OSHA’s Grain Handling standard by failing to perform required maintenance on operating equipment and implementing a housekeeping program to control dust accumulations. Willful citations were issued for failure to shut down ignition sources, prevent static electricity discharge, provide adequate personal protective equipment to employees, correct malfunctioning dust collection systems, maintain equipment safety controls, and have an emergency alarm system. Serious citations addressed hazards associated with fires and explosions, and the lack of employee training.
The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education, and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.
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IRS, State Tax Agencies and Tax Industry Announce National Tax Security Awareness Week, Nov. 27-Dec. 1; Event Focuses on Protecting Tax, Financial Data in Advance of Holidays, Filing Season
IRS PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 11/ 17/ 17https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-state-tax-agencies-and-tax-industry-announce-national-tax-security-awareness-week-nov-27-dec-1-event-focuses-on-protecting-tax-financial-data-in-advance-of-holidays-filing-season
WASHINGTON ― For the second year, the Internal Revenue Service, state tax agencies and the tax industry will host National Tax Security Awareness Week to encourage both individual and business taxpayers to take additional steps to protect their tax data and identities in advance of the 2018 filing season.
Starting Monday, Nov. 27, National Tax Security Awareness Week will focus daily on one issue that poses a threat to individuals and businesses and offer steps they may take to better protect themselves from cybercriminals.
The IRS, state tax agencies and the tax industry, partners in the Security Summit, have enacted a series of defenses in recent years that have made significant inroads into tax-related identity theft. While the Summit partners continue to improve defenses, they also recognize that they need help from taxpayers, tax preparers and businesses to continue progress against identity theft.
Summit partners and other consumer, business and community groups will be hosting a series of more than 20 events across the country to raise awareness during National Tax Security Awareness Week. This is especially timely as the holiday season brings out not only online shoppers but online thieves seeking to trick people into disclosing sensitive information that could be used to help file fraudulent tax returns.
The week also comes amid continuing disclosures that more than 145 million Americans have had their names, addresses and Social Security numbers stolen from a variety of places. No one yet knows how cybercriminals will use this data or try to make money from it.
The IRS and states have put many new defenses in place to help protect taxpayers from identity theft. The new IRS protections have worked well to protect taxpayers, and some key indicators of identity theft on tax returns have dropped by around two-thirds since 2015.
These protections are especially helpful if criminals only have names, addresses and SSNs – which was the information stolen in recent incidents. However, there are continuing concerns that cybercriminals will try to build on this basic information by trying to obtain more specific financial details from taxpayers and tax professionals to help them file fraudulent tax returns.
During the upcoming 2018 filing season, the IRS urges tax professionals, businesses and others to join with the Security Summit partners in sharing the security information through organizations, customers and partners.
During National Tax Security Awareness Week, people will learn about the basic steps necessary to protect themselves and their tax data online, such as using security software, strong passwords and data encryption. They will learn what steps they should take if they are a data breach victim, such as placing a freeze on their credit accounts and the signs of tax-related identity theft.
They will learn how cybercriminals use phishing emails to bait them into disclosing information. Employers will be warned about the dangerous W-2 scam that has made identity theft victims of thousands of employees. Finally, Summit partners will remind small businesses that they, too, are subject to identity theft and should take steps to protect themselves.
There are three key steps the Summit partners urge people to take to protect tax and financial information:
- Learn to recognize and avoid phishing emails, threatening phone calls and texts from thieves posing as legitimate organizations such as banks, credit card companies and government organizations, including the IRS. Do not click on links or download attachments from unknown or suspicious emails.
- Always use security software with firewall and anti-virus protections. Make sure the security software is always turned on and will automatically update. Encrypt sensitive files such as tax records stored on computers. Use strong passwords.
- Protect personal data. Use strong, unique passwords for each online account. Don’t routinely carry Social Security cards, and make sure tax records are secure. Treat personal information like cash; don’t leave it lying around.
The IRS, state tax agencies and the tax industry came together in 2015 to join forces in their fight against tax-related identity theft. Learn more about their efforts and their progress at Security Summit on IRS.gov.
Increasing public awareness about people’s role in protecting their own data is a critical part of the Security Summit efforts. Partners launched the “Taxes. Security. Together.” awareness campaign in the fall of 2015.
The partners followed up with “Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself” campaign aimed at tax professionals. Partners also held a 10-week “Don’t Take the Bait” awareness effort, warning tax professionals of the most common data breach scams targeting their offices and taxpayer data.
THE FED: Agencies amend CRA regulations to conform to HMDA regulation changes and remove references to the neighborhood stabilization program
Press release issued 11/ 20/ 17https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/bcreg20171120a.htm
The federal bank regulatory agencies have amended their respective Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) regulations primarily to conform to changes made by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to Regulation C, which implements the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
Since 1995, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency have conformed certain definitions in their respective CRA regulations to the scope of loans reported under Regulation C and believe that continuing to do so produces a less burdensome CRA performance evaluation process. In particular, the agencies have amended their CRA regulations to revise the definitions of "home mortgage loan" and "consumer loan," as well as the public file content requirements. These revisions maintain consistency between the CRA regulations and amendments to Regulation C, which generally become effective on January 1, 2018.
In addition, the final rule contains technical corrections and removes obsolete references to the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.
The amendments to the CRA regulations also will become effective on January 1, 2018.
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Treasury Releases Memorandum to the President on FSOC’s Designation Processes For Nonbank Financial Companies and Financial Market Utilities
Press release issued 11/ 17/ 17https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/sm0218.aspx
Washington – The U.S. Department of the Treasury today released a memorandum to the President regarding its review of the designation processes of the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC). In response to the April 21, 2017 Presidential Memorandum, Treasury makes recommendations on ways to improve FSOC’s processes both for nonbank financial company and for financial market utility designations. The memorandum released today responds to the Presidential Memorandum issued on April 21, 2017 that directed Treasury to evaluate and make recommendations on FSOC’s designation processes.
“In our recommendations we identify several ways to improve FSOC’s processes for designating nonbanks and financial market utilities,” said Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. “Our recommendations include enhancing FSOC’s analytic process, implementing cost-benefit analysis, and increasing transparency.”
Treasury identifies five policy goals that should be achieved by FSOC’s designation processes, which include: leveraging the expertise of primary financial regulatory agencies; promoting market discipline; maintaining a level playing field among firms; appropriately tailoring regulations to minimize burdens; and ensuring FSOC’s designation analyses are rigorous, clear, and transparent.
For nonbank financial company designations, Treasury recommends that FSOC prioritize its efforts to address risks to financial stability through a process that emphasizes an activities-based or industry-wide approach. Treasury recommends that FSOC implement a process for assessing and addressing potential risks to financial stability that includes three steps: reviewing potential risks to financial stability from activities and products; working with relevant regulators to address any identified potential risks to financial stability; and considering company-specific designations only after consultation with relevant regulators.
Treasury makes the following recommendations to enhance the analytical process, engagement, and transparency of FSOC’s nonbank financial company designation process:
FSOC should revise its guidance to provide that FSOC will assess the likelihood of a firm’s material financial distress as part of analysis;
FSOC should revise its guidance to provide that FSOC will conduct a cost-benefit analysis as part of its analyses, and FSOC should only designate a company if the expected benefits to financial stability outweigh the costs of designation;
FSOC should enhance its communication with nonbank financial companies under review and their primary financial regulators; and
FSOC should provide a clear “off-ramp” to designated nonbank financial companies and adopt a more robust and transparent process for its annual reevaluations.
With respect to the financial market utilities (FMU), Treasury recommends that FSOC add important enhancements to improve the analytical rigor, engagement, and transparency of the process, and to ensure that the designation process is individualized and appropriately tailored. Additionally, FSOC should continue to study key issues related to FMU operation, designation, and resolution. Treasury recommends that the Council consider incorporating cost-benefit analyses into its FMU evaluation process as well.
US COMMERCE DEPT. PRESS RELEASE: U.S. Department of Commerce Issues Affirmative Preliminary Antidumping Duty Determinations on Cold-Drawn Mechanical Tubing from Germany, China, Switzerland, India, Italy and Korea
Press release issued 11/ 16/ 17https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2017/11/us-department-commerce-issues-affirmative-preliminary-antidumping-duty-0
Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the affirmative preliminary determinations in the antidumping duty (AD) investigations of imports of cold-drawn mechanical tubing from Germany, China, Switzerland, India, Italy, and Korea.
“The dumping of goods below market value in the United States is something the Trump Administration takes very seriously,” said Secretary Ross. “The Department of Commerce will continue to stand up for American workers and businesses in order to ensure that everyone trades on a level playing field.”
The Commerce Department preliminarily determined that exporters from Germany, China, Switzerland, India, Italy, and Korea have sold cold-drawn mechanical tubing in the United States at 5.10 percent to 209.06 less than fair value. The Department also preliminarily determined that critical circumstances exist for certain exporters/producers of cold-drawn mechanical tubing from China, Italy and Korea.
As a result of today’s decision, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to collect cash deposits from importers of cold-drawn mechanical tubing from Germany (75.39 percent to 209.06 percent), China (61.59 percent to 186.89 percent), Switzerland (34.15 percent to 68.59 percent), Italy (31.42 percent to 36.80 percent), India (0.00 percent to 7.57 percent), and Korea (5.10 percent to 48.00 percent) based on these preliminary rates.
In 2016, imports of cold-drawn mechanical tubing from China, Germany, Italy, India, Korea, and Switzerland were valued at an estimated $29.4, $38.8, $25.0, $11.9, $21.3, and $26.2 million, respectively.
The petitioners are ArcelorMittal Tubular Products (OH), Michigan Seamless Tube, LLC (MI), Plymouth Tube Co., USA (Warrenville, IL), PTC Alliance Corp. (PA), Webco Industries, Inc. (OK), and Zekelman Industries, Inc. (PA).
Enforcement of U.S. trade law is a prime focus of the Trump administration. From January 20, 2017, through November 16, 2017, Commerce has initiated 77 antidumping and countervailing duty investigations – a 61 percent increase from 48 in the previous year.
The AD law provides U.S. businesses and workers with an internationally accepted mechanism to seek relief from the harmful effects of unfair pricing of imports into the United States. Commerce currently maintains 412 antidumping and countervailing duty orders which provide relief to American companies and industries impacted by unfair trade.
Unless the final determinations are postponed, Commerce is currently scheduled to announce its final AD determinations on January 30, 2018.
If Commerce makes affirmative final determinations of dumping and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) makes affirmative final injury determinations, Commerce will issue AD orders. If Commerce makes negative final determinations of dumping or the ITC makes negative final determinations of injury, the investigations will be terminated and no orders will be issued. If Commerce makes affirmative final determinations of critical circumstances and the ITC makes affirmative final determinations of critical circumstances, the Department will direct CBP to collect cash deposits of estimated antidumping duties on cold-drawn mechanical tubing that entered the United States 90 days prior to the publication of the preliminary determinations in the Federal Register. If Commerce or the ITC makes negative final determinations of critical circumstances, the Department will direct CBP to refund cash deposits of estimated antidumping duties on cold-drawn mechanical tubing that entered the United States prior to the publication of the preliminary determinations in the Federal Register.
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Officials From the U.S., Canada and Mexico Participate in 2017 Trilateral Meeting in Washington D.C. to Discuss Antitrust Enforcement
DOJ press release issued 11/ 20/ 17https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/officials-us-canada-and-mexico-participate-2017-trilateral-meeting-washington-dc-discuss
Antitrust agency heads from the United States, Canada and Mexico meet today at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., to discuss their ongoing work to ensure fair and effective antitrust enforcement and increased cooperation among the nations.
The meeting includes Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, Acting Chairman Maureen Ohlhausen of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, Canadian Commissioner of Competition John Pecman, and President Alejandra Palacios of the Mexican Federal Economic Competition Commission.
The discussions will cover a wide range of topics including developments and priorities, antitrust and the digital economy, and future opportunities for cooperation and convergence on sound antitrust principles.
“Today we welcome our close partners in antitrust enforcement from Canada and Mexico. Close cooperation and convergence around sound economic principles with our international partners is a key priority for the Antitrust Division,” said Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim. “With increasingly interconnected markets, our working relationships with Mexico and Canada are strengthened through meetings like this, and further our efforts to effectively work together to block price fixing cartels that harm consumers, review cross-border transactions and prepare ourselves to tackle the policy challenges of tomorrow.”
“Maintaining and strengthening the already close bonds with our nearest partners is a key international priority,” said Federal Trade Commission Acting Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen. “We have much in common with Canada's Competition Bureau and Mexico's COFECE, including reviewing mergers with cross-border effects and sharing approaches to competition advocacy. By working together to promote good competition policy globally, we benefit consumers in all of our countries.”
The 1995 antitrust cooperation agreement between the United States and Canada, the 1999 agreement between the United States and Mexico and the 2001 agreement between Canada and Mexico laid the foundation for these meetings. The agreements commit the antirust agencies to coordinate and cooperate with each other in an effort to ensure the most consistent and effective antitrust enforcement.
North Carolina Tax Return Preparer Sentenced to Prison for Filing Fraudulent Tax Returns
DOJ PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 11/ 16/ 17https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/north-carolina-tax-return-preparer-sentenced-prison-filing-fraudulent-tax-returns
A former Durham, North Carolina, tax return preparer was sentenced to 24 months in prison today for aiding and assisting in the preparation of fraudulent income tax returns, announced Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Hairston for the Middle District of North Carolina.
According to documents filed with the court, Maria Streater worked for KEF Professional Tax Services, a tax preparation business located in Durham. From 2012 through 2014, Streater prepared fraudulent income tax returns for clients by creating false sources of income in order to maximize the earned income tax credit and obtain refunds to which her clients were not entitled. Streater agreed that she caused a tax loss of $274,090.
In addition to the term of prison imposed, U.S. District Court Judge Catherine C. Eagles ordered Streater to serve one year of supervised release and to pay $83,083 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg and Acting U.S. Attorney Hairston commended special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anand Ramaswamy and Trial Attorney Nathan Brooks of the Tax Division, who prosecuted the case.
Daily Bible Verse: [ A Call to Worship and Obedience ] Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
Psalm 95:1-2 NKJV
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