Volume 2 | Issue 4
Week of February 8, 2010

President Barack Obama made it clear in his State of the Union Address that finding jobs for Americans in 2010 must be our number one priority, starting with Small Businesses hiring more workers. Some may be skeptical, but President Obama is right in track in terms of what needs to be accomplished this year.
He plans to use $30 billion in repaid Wall Street bailout money to help community banks increase lending to Small Businesses.

Small businesses are suffering throughout the country and many are unable to sell their businesses presently. According to previous economic patterns, many business brokers expect a turn-around by the 2nd half of 2010. Brokers see that bankers are starting to loan much more than they were last summer. It’s always great to see some progress!

According to Decennial Census and 2007 American Community Survey (ACS) Integrated Public Use Micro Samples (IPUMS), couples are reversing their roles in a marriage, and some women may be the real breadwinners in the household. In 2007, the number of wives with higher education and income greater than their husbands has increased significantly since 1970. Even women with children are employed more now than ever before.

Women continue to breakground in the workplace. Even though they are just only 3% of CEO and 13.5% of all executive-officer positions in Fortune 500 companies today, studies show that men and women expected much higher numbers. So while women may not hold as many positions for other reasons, the actual perception of gender equality in the workplace has improved. Business women continue on the road to success!

View a new movie on how women are taking the lead.

www.groundbreakingwomen.com/impact

Save the date for February 22, 2010 and attend a special Seminar on Social Media. Learn what social media can do for your business, how to navigate the tools and how to create a competitive advantage for yourself. It’s an introduction to the new social media revolution that you won’t want to miss!








February 1, 2010
New York Daily News
Quirk Allows Americans to Buy Stock In Chinese Companies At a Very Low Price
If you want to invest in China, the world's fastest-growing major economy, there's an opportunity due to a quirk that allows Americans to buy stock in several thousand Chinese companies at valuations far lower than what's available to the Chinese.

February 1, 2010
Black Enterprise
Building Security for Business Success
Savvy CEO tells how to get the most out of your business.

January 28, 2010
The Business Review
Mixed Reviews For Obama's Small Biz Plans
Small businesses played a prominent role in President Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech, but some business groups doubt his proposals would lead many small firms to hire more workers. Obama said jobs “must be our No. 1 focus in 2010.”

January 19, 2010
The Los Angeles Times
With Profits Down, Firms Just Aren't Changing Hands
Sales of businesses in L.A. County fell 32% last year from 2008, and the median price also dropped. Still, there are signs that the number and value of deals will improve this year.

January 19, 2010
Pew Social & Demographic Trends
Women, Men and the New Economics of Marriage
The institution of marriage has undergone significant changes in recent decades as women have outpaced men in education and earnings growth. These unequal gains have been accompanied by gender role reversals in both the spousal characteristics and the economic benefits of marriage.

October 1, 2009
Pew Social & Demographic Trends
The Harried Life of the Working Mother
Women now make up almost half of the U.S. labor force, up from 38% in 1970. This nearly forty-year trend has been fueled by a broad public consensus about the changing role of women in society. A solid majority of Americans (75%) reject the idea that women should return to their traditional roles in society, and most believe that both husband and wife should contribute to the family income.

February 3, 2010
CNN Money
Reversing The Jobs Wipeout: What $5,000 Can Do
America's smallest businesses shed another 12,000 workers last month, extending a two-year streak in which job losses have mounted every month, according to a report released Wednesday by payroll processor ADP. But the tide could be turning: The pace of losses has slowed, and one segment of the market -- companies with 50 to 499 workers -- added a net 9,000 positions in January.

February 2, 2010
The New York Daily News
Obama Proposes Using $30M In Repaid Wall Street Bailout Funds to Help Community Banks
President Obama proposed Tuesday using $30 billion in repaid Wall Street bailout money to help community banks increase lending to small businesses.



Take the Lead: Groundbreaking Women in Construction
NEW DATE AND LOCATION
APRIL 15 - 16. McGraw-Hill Conference Center, New York City

A LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE FOR WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION
McGraw-Hill Construction, ENR and Architectural Record are proud to support the national leadership conference for women in the design and construction industries. Explore the leadership skills, experiences and strategies you will need to grow your position, your practice and your market power in today’s challenging construction industry.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
If you are a construction industry company owner, executive, project manager or rising through the ranks, you should plan to attend this special two-day program designed especially for you.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN?
Acquire the strategies and insights you need to lead in a changing industry.

For more information and to register, please visit:
http://www.groundbreakingwomen.com
Take the NEW LEADER SURVEY. Click Here.

The results of this survey will be reported in a special supplement to be published by McGraw Hill Construction’s ENR.

WHEN:
Thursday, April 15
8:00AM - 8:00PM
Friday, April 16
7:00AM - 2:00PM
WHERE:
1221 Avenue of the Americas
2nd Floor
New York, NY

NYC Small Business Services: A Series of 7 FREE Seminars
FREE SEMINAR
SOCIAL MEDIA: UNDERSTANDING THE NEW MEDIA AND DRIVING YOUR BRAND

Create a competitive advantage with Social Media

LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and more. What do you need to know about navigating new social media and creating new business relationships and opportunities? How can you create a competitive advantage with Social Media?

In this special two-hour session, led by a veteran sales and marketing professional, learn more about the new media and how it will affect your business and marketing plans.

Here’s what you will learn:
• An introduction to the new social revolution
• An expanded definition of ‘competitive advantage’ in the business-to-business market
• How Social Media fits into your marketing plan
• How select companies are using Social Media: case studies and best practices
• An introduction to LinkedIn and how you can use it

For more information and to register visit the 7 Seminars Web Site:
http://www.wbcnyc.org/7seminars

WHEN:
February 22, 2010
8.00 am - 10.30 am
WHERE:
Con Edison Conference Center
4 Irving Place at 14th Street
New York, NY

Seniors Fitness Benefit Performance & Cocktail Reception

Hosted by David B. Pinter & Virginia Wade
 
Performance by Woody Mann, Renowned International Guitarist

Special Musical Appearance by David B. Pinter and Lester Holt

CityParks Seniors Fitness provides a fun, free way for New Yorkers 60 years and older to stay active through tennis, yoga, and walking each autumn and spring in several of the city’s parks. This program, the only one of its kind in the city, offers free activities and social experiences that enhance the lives of older New Yorkers and makes our parks more inviting.

To RSVP for the Seniors Fitness Benefit, please click here: SeniorsBenefit2010
WHEN:
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
6:00-8:30 p.m.
WHERE:
B.B. King Blues Club & Grill
237 West 42nd Street
(between 7th and 8th Avenues)
New York, NY

NATIONAL MINORITY BUSINESS COUNCIL
30TH ANNIVERSARY AWARDS LUNCHEON
38 YEARS OF HELPING TO GROW MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES
The Organization Will Introduce a New Award Category and Will Announce
Details of its Plan to Assist in the Reconstruction of Haiti.


For further information about the 30th Annual Awards Luncheon and/or the Entrepreneurship Boot Camps, please call (212) 693-5050, e-mail info@nmbc.org
or visit the NMBC’S Web site at www.nmbc.org.

Click here to download the press release for more details.


WHEN:
February 25, 2010
WHERE:
New York Marriott Marquis
1535 Broadway (45th Street and Broadway)
New York, NY

Komen Greater NYC Annual Awards Luncheon
Celebrating 20 years of fighting breast cancer in the greater metropolitan NYC area

The Greater NYC Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure celebrates 20 years of fighting breast cancer in 2010.  The Annual Awards Luncheon is an entertaining and inspirational way to find out more about the organization, get involved with eradicating breast cancer, and meet people engaged in the fight. 

Awards will be given to Dr. Alisan Goldfarb (compassionate care award), Dr. Tiffany Traina (triple negative breast cancer), and Duane Reade (corporate honoree).  The Luncheon will be emceed by CBS 2 anchor Maurice DuBois and feature a special appearance by Fran Drescher.  

Komen Greater NYC will also introduce its 2010 grantees.  Last year, Komen Greater NYC awarded over $3.9 million grants to local breast health programs and national peer-reviewed research. 

The Komen vision is a world without breast cancer.  Be a part of the solution.  Journal acknowledgments, tables and tickets are available at a variety of levels.  Register here.

Questions?
Call Sarata Kaba at 212-461-6195 or email skaba@komennyc.org
WHEN:
Wednesday, May 12, 2010

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Silent Auction preview and bidding

12:00 noon - 2:00 p.m.
Luncheon.  Program begins promptly at noon
WHERE:
Hilton New York
Grand Ballroom
1335 Avenue of the Americas
(between 53rd and 54th Streets)
New York, NY



Institute of Design and Construction: Professional Education Courses


At the Institute of Design & Construction, we know the building construction industry is changing constantly, and the need for continuing education never ceases.  That’s why IDC offers a wide range of professional education courses designed to provide you with the knowledge you need to stay abreast of current developments in the industry, as well as the skills required to accelerate your career path.

Continuing and Professional Studies Courses
• A.R.E.® Preparation Courses
• Green Building Design (LEED)
• Construction Site Safety (OSHA)
• NYC Construction Code
• MDL/Zoning Laws
• Construction Management
• Estimating
• Surveying

For a full course list, call 718-855-3661 or visit www.idc.edu
SBS Training and Seminars
To download the 2010 SBS Seminars Calendar, click here.



Certification Workshop
Date/Time:
Every 3rd Thursday, 2:00 to 4:00 PM
Every 4th Wednesday, 6:00 to 7:30 PM
Highlights the benefits of certification and provides guidance to attendees on how to correctly complete the certification application. Register here

Locally Based Enterprise (LBE) Workshop
Construction and construction-related businesses can receive detailed assistance on how to correctly complete the LBE certification application. Register here

Selling to Government
Date/Time:
2nd Tuesday of every month
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Addresses basic government contracting issues and details how and where to search for contracting opportunities. Register here

All seminars require advanced registration.

GSA Solicitation No. GS-02-09-DTC-0018(N)
Small Business Participation Request to Bid/Modernization of the Peter W. Rodino Federal Building.


The documents for this project are sensitive, and security restrictions apply. Therefore, in order to receive bid documents, a signed security agreement must be signed and returned to Plaza. This will be required of all bidders in all trades. If interested in bidding, please contact Plaza's estimator immediately to request the Document Security Notice to Prospective Bidders.

Download our invitation to bid here. The Bid Due Date is THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2010 @ 5:00PM

As required by the GSA, 8a and HUBZONE companies must be certified by the SBA prior to award. All other referenced small businesses must meet the GSA qualification requirements.

For questions please contact Rosie Toscano at 212-849-4734 or rtoscano@plazaconstruction.com