http://blog-gmccars.com/News/Main_Street_in_Motion_Lets_Customers_Drive_and_Compare
million in preferred stock and warrants to the throughj the Troubled AssetRelief Program. The Feb. 20 sale was discloserd in a report issued by theTreasuryy Tuesday. The bank will use the new capita to grow itsloan portfolio, takingt advantage of a market when some other financialp institutions are not making said Greg Bryant, president and CEO of Bay which is headquartered in Tampa and has six offices in Hillsboroughn and Pinellas counties. “It’s tough for bankd to find good quality loans in this but we grewby $100 million last year,” Bryant The bank had $442 million in total assets at Dec. 31, comparede to $340.
6 million in total assetxs on the same day a year according to a report filedr withthe . Unlike some institutions, Bay Citiee Bank does not needthe capital. As of Dec. 31, it was abovse the level considereda “well-capitalized with a 10.1 percent ratio for Tier 1 the FFIEC report Tier 1 capital is a core measurew of a bank’s financial strength. “Back in Novembefr we stress tested our loan portfolio and showec that ina worst-case scenario, we wouls remain well-capitalized, even if we never got $1 of TARP,” Bryantf said. “The difference in that model was we would have to acceptrslow growth.
… TARP gives you additionakl confidence to remain open for Bay Cities will payabout 7.25 percent afte taxes to the Treasuryu for the capital, Bryant said. Every dollar in extrza capital allows the bank to grow its balancee sheetthrough $10 in loans. The bank can justify payinhg the dividend on the TARP fundinbg as long as its net interest or the difference betwee n rates of interest paid to depositors and receive dfrom borrowers, is in the 3 percen to 3.5 percent range, Bryant “One day we’ll wake up and be on the back side of this crediyt cycle,” Bryant said.
“Wes think this is an opportunitg to grow our when the competition is on the Florida Business BancGroup is the thirdc bank company in the Tamp aBay area, and the first privately owned to accept TARP funding. (NASDAQ: CSFL) in Davenportr sold preferred stock and warrantsfor $27.9 million on Nov. 21, followe d on Dec. 23 by a $10.78 million sale by (NASDAQ: FCFL) in Pinellas
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Six Flags files Chapter 11 bankruptcy - Business First of Buffalo:
zyluzugizovota.blogspot.com
has initiated Chapter 11 bankruptcyg proceedings, Six Flags announced Six Flags’ (OTCBB: SIXF) board of directors on June 12 voteds to begin reorganization proceedingsin U.S. Bankruptcy Courrt for the Districtof Delaware. The company listed assetsz of $3.03 billion and debts of $2.36 billioh in its filing. New York-based Six Flags is planning to reorganizwthe company’s financial structure, whicbh management said is feeling the pressure of an inherited $2.4 billioj debt.
In a letter to employees, Six Flage CEO and president Mark Shapiro saidthe company’s debt is left over from previousw management and despite the company making $275 milliomn last year, it has been difficult for Six Flagz to improve its balance shee when paying out $175 millio in interest on Shapiro asserted. He added that more than $400 millionb in debt is due within the next 12 and the company is having tospenxd $100 million in park improvements in an atmosphere wherse refinancing is difficult. Shapiro assured employees no staff reductionz will arise out of the and employees will continue to be paid andreceivew benefits.
Shapiro said the bankruptcy plan has the support ofthe company’xs lenders and the agent administering the company’s $1.1 billion senio r secured credit facility. Six Flags parks, includiny Six Flags Great America, will continue to operate as usualundeer reorganization. Six Flags sold severapl properties last year toraise capital. It still operatese 20 amusement parks inNorty America.
has initiated Chapter 11 bankruptcyg proceedings, Six Flags announced Six Flags’ (OTCBB: SIXF) board of directors on June 12 voteds to begin reorganization proceedingsin U.S. Bankruptcy Courrt for the Districtof Delaware. The company listed assetsz of $3.03 billion and debts of $2.36 billioh in its filing. New York-based Six Flags is planning to reorganizwthe company’s financial structure, whicbh management said is feeling the pressure of an inherited $2.4 billioj debt.
In a letter to employees, Six Flage CEO and president Mark Shapiro saidthe company’s debt is left over from previousw management and despite the company making $275 milliomn last year, it has been difficult for Six Flagz to improve its balance shee when paying out $175 millio in interest on Shapiro asserted. He added that more than $400 millionb in debt is due within the next 12 and the company is having tospenxd $100 million in park improvements in an atmosphere wherse refinancing is difficult. Shapiro assured employees no staff reductionz will arise out of the and employees will continue to be paid andreceivew benefits.
Shapiro said the bankruptcy plan has the support ofthe company’xs lenders and the agent administering the company’s $1.1 billion senio r secured credit facility. Six Flags parks, includiny Six Flags Great America, will continue to operate as usualundeer reorganization. Six Flags sold severapl properties last year toraise capital. It still operatese 20 amusement parks inNorty America.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Nardin remains No.1 among high schools - Baltimore Business Journal:
showarticle-cultura.blogspot.com
“There’s always the question of what people would think if we did drop says Reeder, who is Nardin’s principal. “But that’s not our main focus. It can’ be. We go beyond looking at test We want to make certain our studentz receivea well-rounded education.” That strategt has paid off again this year, as Nardijn once again ranks No. 1 amon Western New York’s high schools. The all-girls Catholic school has finished first for eightr consecutiveyears -- among private schools from 2002 to and on the combined list ever for the complete high school rankings. And for separate rankinge for each section of WesterjnNew York.
Williamsville East High Schoolis No. 2 in the 2009 just as it was ayear ago. Neighborinh Williamsville North High School holds thirr placethis time, up from fifthj in 2008. Business First analyzed 131 high schools inthe eight-count y region, using four years of data from the New York Statwe Education Department. The formula weigher each school’s Regents diploma rate, as well as its scorees on a wide array ofRegents exams. Nardinm emerged as the clear leader. Ninety-nine percent of its 2008 graduatew earned Regents diplomas withadvanced designations, which are awarded to seniorw who pass eight Regents exams.
No other high school in the region did better than 85 Reeder says her goal is topush Nardin’se advanced diploma rate one point highetr to 100 percent. “We haven’t done it, but it continuesa to be something that weshoor for,” she says. “We alwaysa try to challenge our students, and this is definitelyt one way todo it.” Williamsville East climbecd to second place in 2008 -- its best finisjh ever -- and remains there this It’s one of three Western New York high schools wherer more than two-thirds of students postef superior scores (85 or better) on Regentd exams in English, math, globapl history and U.S.
(Nardin and Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Hear arethe others.) “When you’ve done as well as we some people might think there’s no more room for says Neal Miller, Williamsville East’s principal. “Butf we’ve never thought that. Every we talk about ways that we can get The leader outside of Erie County is Notred DameHigh School, which ranks seventj overall. The Batavia school, which has an enrollmentt of 172, draws students from six Some live as far away as Brockportyand Warsaw. “There’s no secret,” says Joseph Notre Dame’s principal. “We’re basically old We expect all of our kids to do Does thatalways happen?
No, but it doesn’gt mean that we let up.” Twenty-eighg high schools are winners of subject awards, puttingv them among the top 10 percenrt in English/foreign languages, math, science or social studies. for completre lists of subjectaward winners. Williamsville East and Williamsville North are the only schools to swee all foursubject awards, whil 12 institutions are honored in a single field. Principal Kevinj Ryan credits longer class periods with helping Alden Senio r High School win its sole subject awardin science. “Ijn both biology and earth science, we have an 80-minutr class every day along withan 80-minute lab everyt other day,” he says.
“That givexs us some really solid, concentrated time on science, which has had positivre results.” Private schools are not required to administerfRegents exams, and Buffalok Seminary, Canisius High School, Nichols School and Park School of Buffalol are among those that don’t. They have been excludedx from theacademic rankings, since Businesws First lacks the necessary data to generatde objective ratings.
“There’s always the question of what people would think if we did drop says Reeder, who is Nardin’s principal. “But that’s not our main focus. It can’ be. We go beyond looking at test We want to make certain our studentz receivea well-rounded education.” That strategt has paid off again this year, as Nardijn once again ranks No. 1 amon Western New York’s high schools. The all-girls Catholic school has finished first for eightr consecutiveyears -- among private schools from 2002 to and on the combined list ever for the complete high school rankings. And for separate rankinge for each section of WesterjnNew York.
Williamsville East High Schoolis No. 2 in the 2009 just as it was ayear ago. Neighborinh Williamsville North High School holds thirr placethis time, up from fifthj in 2008. Business First analyzed 131 high schools inthe eight-count y region, using four years of data from the New York Statwe Education Department. The formula weigher each school’s Regents diploma rate, as well as its scorees on a wide array ofRegents exams. Nardinm emerged as the clear leader. Ninety-nine percent of its 2008 graduatew earned Regents diplomas withadvanced designations, which are awarded to seniorw who pass eight Regents exams.
No other high school in the region did better than 85 Reeder says her goal is topush Nardin’se advanced diploma rate one point highetr to 100 percent. “We haven’t done it, but it continuesa to be something that weshoor for,” she says. “We alwaysa try to challenge our students, and this is definitelyt one way todo it.” Williamsville East climbecd to second place in 2008 -- its best finisjh ever -- and remains there this It’s one of three Western New York high schools wherer more than two-thirds of students postef superior scores (85 or better) on Regentd exams in English, math, globapl history and U.S.
(Nardin and Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Hear arethe others.) “When you’ve done as well as we some people might think there’s no more room for says Neal Miller, Williamsville East’s principal. “Butf we’ve never thought that. Every we talk about ways that we can get The leader outside of Erie County is Notred DameHigh School, which ranks seventj overall. The Batavia school, which has an enrollmentt of 172, draws students from six Some live as far away as Brockportyand Warsaw. “There’s no secret,” says Joseph Notre Dame’s principal. “We’re basically old We expect all of our kids to do Does thatalways happen?
No, but it doesn’gt mean that we let up.” Twenty-eighg high schools are winners of subject awards, puttingv them among the top 10 percenrt in English/foreign languages, math, science or social studies. for completre lists of subjectaward winners. Williamsville East and Williamsville North are the only schools to swee all foursubject awards, whil 12 institutions are honored in a single field. Principal Kevinj Ryan credits longer class periods with helping Alden Senio r High School win its sole subject awardin science. “Ijn both biology and earth science, we have an 80-minutr class every day along withan 80-minute lab everyt other day,” he says.
“That givexs us some really solid, concentrated time on science, which has had positivre results.” Private schools are not required to administerfRegents exams, and Buffalok Seminary, Canisius High School, Nichols School and Park School of Buffalol are among those that don’t. They have been excludedx from theacademic rankings, since Businesws First lacks the necessary data to generatde objective ratings.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Broadway renews Matrix, MultiPlan leases - New Mexico Business Weekly:
boyanebyboqasavo.blogspot.com
The private real estate investmeng and management firm is renegotiating leases with tenant at the same time it is tryinvg to clear up debt issues withits lender. which lost ownership of the Hancoco Tower after it defaulted on a has debt that matures this The financing in questionn is secured byseveral properties, including the 980,000-square-foot Bay Broadway is in discussions with lenders to renegotiate the termws of the loan. Broadway was given an extensiom onthe loan, which was due earlier this according to a source with knowledge of the However, the landlord reneweds MultiPlan Inc.
, which leases 105,062 square and Matrix Partners, which leases 11,42 square feet, at the officed complex. CB Richard Ellis represented MultiPlan. DTZ/FHl Partners represented Broadway Partners and Matrix in theleaser negotiations. Broadway acquired Bay Colony from Beacon Capitak Partners LLC in May 2007 as part of a larger portfolioof assets. The four-building complex officse park sits ona 58-acre site overlookingh Route 128.
The private real estate investmeng and management firm is renegotiating leases with tenant at the same time it is tryinvg to clear up debt issues withits lender. which lost ownership of the Hancoco Tower after it defaulted on a has debt that matures this The financing in questionn is secured byseveral properties, including the 980,000-square-foot Bay Broadway is in discussions with lenders to renegotiate the termws of the loan. Broadway was given an extensiom onthe loan, which was due earlier this according to a source with knowledge of the However, the landlord reneweds MultiPlan Inc.
, which leases 105,062 square and Matrix Partners, which leases 11,42 square feet, at the officed complex. CB Richard Ellis represented MultiPlan. DTZ/FHl Partners represented Broadway Partners and Matrix in theleaser negotiations. Broadway acquired Bay Colony from Beacon Capitak Partners LLC in May 2007 as part of a larger portfolioof assets. The four-building complex officse park sits ona 58-acre site overlookingh Route 128.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Human Capital: People on the Move - Boston Business Journal:
Whirlpool ACPE102PS
• , a Wellesley-based provider of senior living services inthe Northeast, appointed the Desiree Krajnyak-Baker, senior vice operations; Timothy Reilly, senior vice president, humajn capital operations; Barbara A. Watkins, senior vice president, resident care Allison Guthertz, vice president, qualit y operations; and Teri Marinko, vice president, • The South Shore Women’s Business Networkm , a Hingham, Mass.-based networking organization, appointed Stacey Shipmabn of Weymouth-based Let it Flow president of the boarfdof directors.
Additional board memberz installed included: George Boerger, the Law Officw of George Boerger; Thomas Burke of the Investmeny Centre at Eastern Barbara Case, Wealth Management; Adam Cupples of Strategisd Advertising; Patricia Funder, LaserLight Skin Clinic; Jackie South Shore Savings Bank; Janet LaBerge, Dirty Deeds, Done Dirt Susan Peters, Mt. Vernon Mortgage; Judy Watch All Pest Management; and Immediate Past President BrendaWornum Moore, BWM Consulting.
• , a Wellesley-based provider of senior living services inthe Northeast, appointed the Desiree Krajnyak-Baker, senior vice operations; Timothy Reilly, senior vice president, humajn capital operations; Barbara A. Watkins, senior vice president, resident care Allison Guthertz, vice president, qualit y operations; and Teri Marinko, vice president, • The South Shore Women’s Business Networkm , a Hingham, Mass.-based networking organization, appointed Stacey Shipmabn of Weymouth-based Let it Flow president of the boarfdof directors.
Additional board memberz installed included: George Boerger, the Law Officw of George Boerger; Thomas Burke of the Investmeny Centre at Eastern Barbara Case, Wealth Management; Adam Cupples of Strategisd Advertising; Patricia Funder, LaserLight Skin Clinic; Jackie South Shore Savings Bank; Janet LaBerge, Dirty Deeds, Done Dirt Susan Peters, Mt. Vernon Mortgage; Judy Watch All Pest Management; and Immediate Past President BrendaWornum Moore, BWM Consulting.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Colliers adds to Nashville management team - Nashville Business Journal:
Alen C425
“Creighton brings more than 12 yearws of experience in the commercial real estate industry to Colliers,” says Doug managing principal for Colliers' Nashvills office. “We are thrilled to have him onour Wright’s responsibilities will include the managemenf of large institutionally owned health and medical as well as the growth of the business Until March of this year, Wright was vice presidentt of mixed-use development for Southern Land Co., wherew he was responsible for the development of selecty real estate projects. Southern Land underwent a shifty in executive team makeul earlierthis year.
The Franklin-based development company announcef the appointments of Brian Sewell as presidentg and Chris Bove as CEO inearlyt February. Southern Land is the developerr of the Williamson Countu residentialprojects Westhaven, LaurelBrooke and McEwen. The company also has projectds inthe Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and Texas, markets.
“Creighton brings more than 12 yearws of experience in the commercial real estate industry to Colliers,” says Doug managing principal for Colliers' Nashvills office. “We are thrilled to have him onour Wright’s responsibilities will include the managemenf of large institutionally owned health and medical as well as the growth of the business Until March of this year, Wright was vice presidentt of mixed-use development for Southern Land Co., wherew he was responsible for the development of selecty real estate projects. Southern Land underwent a shifty in executive team makeul earlierthis year.
The Franklin-based development company announcef the appointments of Brian Sewell as presidentg and Chris Bove as CEO inearlyt February. Southern Land is the developerr of the Williamson Countu residentialprojects Westhaven, LaurelBrooke and McEwen. The company also has projectds inthe Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and Texas, markets.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Manpower: More Denver companies expect to cut staff this summer than add - Kansas City Business Journal:
Air Purifiers Santa Rosa
Another 77 percent said they'll keep theifr staffing as it is, and 3 percent weren't sure of theirt plans, Manpower said. "The hiring activity is expected to be consistenrt to theprevious quarter, when 10 percent of companies surveyer planned to increase staff levels and 13 percentg expected to cut payrolls," said Manpower spokespersob Sunny Ackerman. The survey indicated that Denver-arew hiring prospects for the quarter appear brightestgin construction, professional and business, leisure-hospitality and The job outlook from July through September is less rosy in durable-goodzs manufacturing, transportation-utilities, wholesale and retail trade, information, financial activitie and education-health services, Manpower Nationwide, the survey founr a slightly better hiring outloook than in the Denver with 15 percent of U.
S. employerzs surveyed saying they plan to boost staffing in the quarte beginning July 1 and 13 percen t saying they plan to cut Some 28,000 employers in 201 cities were surveyedc nationwide. Milwaukee-based Manpower (NYSE: MAN) is an employmeng services companywith 400,000 clientz in 82 countries worldwide.
Another 77 percent said they'll keep theifr staffing as it is, and 3 percent weren't sure of theirt plans, Manpower said. "The hiring activity is expected to be consistenrt to theprevious quarter, when 10 percent of companies surveyer planned to increase staff levels and 13 percentg expected to cut payrolls," said Manpower spokespersob Sunny Ackerman. The survey indicated that Denver-arew hiring prospects for the quarter appear brightestgin construction, professional and business, leisure-hospitality and The job outlook from July through September is less rosy in durable-goodzs manufacturing, transportation-utilities, wholesale and retail trade, information, financial activitie and education-health services, Manpower Nationwide, the survey founr a slightly better hiring outloook than in the Denver with 15 percent of U.
S. employerzs surveyed saying they plan to boost staffing in the quarte beginning July 1 and 13 percen t saying they plan to cut Some 28,000 employers in 201 cities were surveyedc nationwide. Milwaukee-based Manpower (NYSE: MAN) is an employmeng services companywith 400,000 clientz in 82 countries worldwide.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
John T. Machuzick Executive Profile
Air Purifiers Providence
Since Machuzick joined General Mills in 1978 as a retail sales representative, he has held various sales positions and was named Directofr of Strategic Planning for Consumer Foods Salees in 1991. He became Customer Service in 1992. Machuzicmk was named Vice President, Trade and Promotion Marketint in the Big G Cereao division in 1994 and was appointed Vice Trade Marketing and Promotion forGeneral Inc. in 1997. In Machuzick was named Sr. VP, Sales, Strategic Channels. Concurrenyt with the GMI acquisition of the Pillsbur y Companyin 2001, Machuzick joined the General Mills Bakeries & Food Service Division as Sr. VP, General Convenient Food Solutions group.
In this he was responsible for business segments including Top QuicjkServe Restaurants, National & Regionalo Restaurant chains, Convenience Stores and Vending businesses. He was namecd Sr. VP, President, General Mills Bakeries & Foodservicde in June 2003. Machuzick earned a bachelofr
Since Machuzick joined General Mills in 1978 as a retail sales representative, he has held various sales positions and was named Directofr of Strategic Planning for Consumer Foods Salees in 1991. He became Customer Service in 1992. Machuzicmk was named Vice President, Trade and Promotion Marketint in the Big G Cereao division in 1994 and was appointed Vice Trade Marketing and Promotion forGeneral Inc. in 1997. In Machuzick was named Sr. VP, Sales, Strategic Channels. Concurrenyt with the GMI acquisition of the Pillsbur y Companyin 2001, Machuzick joined the General Mills Bakeries & Food Service Division as Sr. VP, General Convenient Food Solutions group.
In this he was responsible for business segments including Top QuicjkServe Restaurants, National & Regionalo Restaurant chains, Convenience Stores and Vending businesses. He was namecd Sr. VP, President, General Mills Bakeries & Foodservicde in June 2003. Machuzick earned a bachelofr
Monday, March 14, 2011
Stimulus money flows to Texas - bizjournals:
Danby DPAC12031
The funding will flow to local communities througgh a varietyof sources, including stimulus funding, local bond initiatives, disastert recovery programs and nonstimulus grants. The influ of dollars will result in thousands of opportunities to buildnew facilities, renovate and moderniz e existing buildings, upgrade and enhancs existing technology and provide infrastructurwe improvements. New and newly renovatex facilities also will requireupgraded furniture, fixtures and equipment. Despite all the talk surroundinb the American Recovery andReinvestment Act, the vast majoritty of funds have not yet startedc flowing.
A recent report statef that lessthan 6% of the totapl funding has been released by the federaol government. Watch for Texas schooll districts to receive large chunkxs ofthe funding. Some school districts alreadgy have authorization tobegin spending, but most of the activity is stilll a month or so This summer the Texas Education Agency will open an applicationn period for the $4 billion Statwe Fiscal Stabilization Fund — one of the largest federal stimulus programs.
The Stabilizatiob Fund is wrapped aroundgrant programs, and the money can be used by districtes for a variety of purposes such as modernizinb school facilities, upgrading technology purchasing technology products, building scienc e labs, buying education equipment and redesigning high school for more efficiency and student success. In the an additional $60 million will be made availablde to Texas school districts through a funding sourcr known asthe Ed-Tech grant program. This program funds the purchasde of technology to improve student Districts may also use the fundsd to buy technology to help with the management and analysis ofstudent data.
The Texas Watef Development Board will get a largd share of thestimuluzs funding. Because of that, the agenc has received $10.7 billion in funding requests for clean waterd and drinking waterinfrastructure projects. Eligible applicants will be notified of their allocations in June and July and entitiess should begin advertising for bids on the construction projects by Texas was appropriatedapproximately $2.6 billion in stimulux funds for transportation projects. Some biddinv processes have already begun, but the process will be rampinv upfor months. Although details are stilkl pending, the Recovery Act also provides funding for improving broadband service in rural andurban areas.
Depending on how the money is allocateein Texas, there is a potential for billionss of dollars to flow to local communities. And, in spite of the weak Texas voters approved morethan $1.3 billion in local bond electiona on May 9. The approved funding will financw capital improvement projects such as new andrenovatedf facilities, technology, large equipment purchases and improved infrastructure such as parkse and drainage.
Some of the larger bond packageds in Texas includethe following: • Colleger Station Independent School District : $144 million for a new high schoolk campus, new elementary school campus, new transportation renovations to the existing high school and the purchase of • Carroll Independent School Distric : $138 million for new schools, expansion of existinbg schools and an overhaul of technology infrastructure. City of Plano : $128.6 million for capital improvement prograkm projects forpublic safety, libraries, park recreation center improvements, street improvements and a technology service • Allen Independent School District : $119.
r million for a new athletic stadium, high school transportation maintenance and student nutrition center. • Midland County Hospitao District : $115 million for facility improvements to Midland Memoriak Hospital including a new patient towerwith 240-plu s beds, expanded emergency facilities and more telemetry Even more funding will make its way to Texax in the form of nonstimulue grants to school districts. A bill approvede earlier this month bythe U.S. House of Representatives wouldx provide Texas school districts withapproximatelh $600 million to modernize schooles and improve energy efficiency.
In the bill includes $600 million in separate fund s for public schools damaged by Hurricanes Katrinsand Rita. The programs discussed here represent only a few of the source s of federalstimulus funding. Therde are many other programs that will provide fundint for airportimprovement projects, port transit programs, improved security and more. Government contractorss should be loving life in Texasthese days.
The funding will flow to local communities througgh a varietyof sources, including stimulus funding, local bond initiatives, disastert recovery programs and nonstimulus grants. The influ of dollars will result in thousands of opportunities to buildnew facilities, renovate and moderniz e existing buildings, upgrade and enhancs existing technology and provide infrastructurwe improvements. New and newly renovatex facilities also will requireupgraded furniture, fixtures and equipment. Despite all the talk surroundinb the American Recovery andReinvestment Act, the vast majoritty of funds have not yet startedc flowing.
A recent report statef that lessthan 6% of the totapl funding has been released by the federaol government. Watch for Texas schooll districts to receive large chunkxs ofthe funding. Some school districts alreadgy have authorization tobegin spending, but most of the activity is stilll a month or so This summer the Texas Education Agency will open an applicationn period for the $4 billion Statwe Fiscal Stabilization Fund — one of the largest federal stimulus programs.
The Stabilizatiob Fund is wrapped aroundgrant programs, and the money can be used by districtes for a variety of purposes such as modernizinb school facilities, upgrading technology purchasing technology products, building scienc e labs, buying education equipment and redesigning high school for more efficiency and student success. In the an additional $60 million will be made availablde to Texas school districts through a funding sourcr known asthe Ed-Tech grant program. This program funds the purchasde of technology to improve student Districts may also use the fundsd to buy technology to help with the management and analysis ofstudent data.
The Texas Watef Development Board will get a largd share of thestimuluzs funding. Because of that, the agenc has received $10.7 billion in funding requests for clean waterd and drinking waterinfrastructure projects. Eligible applicants will be notified of their allocations in June and July and entitiess should begin advertising for bids on the construction projects by Texas was appropriatedapproximately $2.6 billion in stimulux funds for transportation projects. Some biddinv processes have already begun, but the process will be rampinv upfor months. Although details are stilkl pending, the Recovery Act also provides funding for improving broadband service in rural andurban areas.
Depending on how the money is allocateein Texas, there is a potential for billionss of dollars to flow to local communities. And, in spite of the weak Texas voters approved morethan $1.3 billion in local bond electiona on May 9. The approved funding will financw capital improvement projects such as new andrenovatedf facilities, technology, large equipment purchases and improved infrastructure such as parkse and drainage.
Some of the larger bond packageds in Texas includethe following: • Colleger Station Independent School District : $144 million for a new high schoolk campus, new elementary school campus, new transportation renovations to the existing high school and the purchase of • Carroll Independent School Distric : $138 million for new schools, expansion of existinbg schools and an overhaul of technology infrastructure. City of Plano : $128.6 million for capital improvement prograkm projects forpublic safety, libraries, park recreation center improvements, street improvements and a technology service • Allen Independent School District : $119.
r million for a new athletic stadium, high school transportation maintenance and student nutrition center. • Midland County Hospitao District : $115 million for facility improvements to Midland Memoriak Hospital including a new patient towerwith 240-plu s beds, expanded emergency facilities and more telemetry Even more funding will make its way to Texax in the form of nonstimulue grants to school districts. A bill approvede earlier this month bythe U.S. House of Representatives wouldx provide Texas school districts withapproximatelh $600 million to modernize schooles and improve energy efficiency.
In the bill includes $600 million in separate fund s for public schools damaged by Hurricanes Katrinsand Rita. The programs discussed here represent only a few of the source s of federalstimulus funding. Therde are many other programs that will provide fundint for airportimprovement projects, port transit programs, improved security and more. Government contractorss should be loving life in Texasthese days.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
US Proposals For Secret TPP 'Son Of ACTA' Treaty Leaked; Chock Full Of Awful Ideas - Techdirt
http://coopdevelopment.org/funds_student.html
Ars Technica | US Proposals For Secret TPP 'Son Of ACTA' Treaty Leaked; Chock Full Of Awful Ideas Techdirt This is the entertainment industry and the pharma industry trying to bypass the actual law-making process and using "friends" within the USTR to get such rules in place via secretive, non-democratic, treaty making processes. ... Leaked: US Proposal for TPP agreement IP chapter |
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Good sports: WNY
onoeuqedol1902.blogspot.com
Don’t take that to mean, that East Aurora High Schoolis one-dimensionally It also happens to have the in Western New York, accordinv to a Business First analysis of records from 2005 to the “We’ve been on a roll the last few which has been just says Jay Hoagland, East Aurora’s “The people here expect us to have a comprehensivw athletics program. They support the They’ve given us first-rate athleticzs facilities. It’s clearly a priority for the community.
” East Aurora has won 17 sectional championshipds in team sports since a record unmatched by any competitor inSectionb VI, which includes all public high schools in Cattaraugus, Erie and Niagara counties and a couple in Orleana County. The result is a decisive victory onBusinessd First’s scale of athletic which awards anywhere from one to four pointsw for each sectional title, giving the highest credit for championships won during the most recent year. East Aurorz emerges as the region’s best high schoopl in team sports with42 points.
Orchard Park is second with 30 points, and Randolph, Clarences and Maple Grove round out the top for the list of the top 50 sports programs inSectiohn VI. The correlation between these standingw andBusiness First’s academic ratings is surprisinglyy strong. Four of the top five schools for sports also rank amonfg WesternNew York’s 20 best high schools academically. “To some success in one area can breed successin another,” says “If kids experience success outside the they develop a sense of pridee and self-worth. I think that carries over and helpsx them inthe classroom.
” Business First tallied the Section VI champions in 18 interscholastic team sportw over the past four beginning with the spring season of 2005 and extendin g through the winter of 2009. (That timefram was selected because spring 2009 championsx had not been determined by the deadlinew forthis publication.) Basketball, bowling, cross country, lacrosse, soccee and volleyball, which are playex separately by boys and girls, accounted for 12 of the 18 sport in the study. The other six were football and wrestling for field hockey and softball for and rifle, which has coed teams.
The studyu did not include sports thatcrown individual, but not team champions, such as tennis and track and field. Sectionb VI slots schools into a variety of enrollmenyt classifications for different Five champions are crowned each year in for example, but only thre e in field hockey. Champs in all classificationa were counted equally inthis study, yieldingt a mixture of big and small schools in the top 10. Businesz First based each school’s final ranking on two factors -- its numbere of sectional titles and the years in which theywere won.
Four pointds were awarded for each victorg during the most recentyear (spring 2008 throughj winter 2009), down to one point for each titler in the most distany year (spring 2005 throughg winter 2006). Ties were broken by the totak numberof championships. Sixty-eight schools won a total of 296 titlez in team sports duringthe four-year This is the first time that Businesxs First has analyzed the athletics programss at local high schools. The resultingf ratings are more limited in scope than theacademicv rankings, which encompass all eight counties of Westerbn New York.
Section VI is closed to private schools, and its boundaries excludes three ofthe region’s easternmost Allegany, Genesee and Wyoming. Yet the 93 high schools eligiblr for the sports rankings still accountt for morethan three-quarters of Western New York’ds total enrollment -- 78 percentr of all students from grades nine througjh 12.
Don’t take that to mean, that East Aurora High Schoolis one-dimensionally It also happens to have the in Western New York, accordinv to a Business First analysis of records from 2005 to the “We’ve been on a roll the last few which has been just says Jay Hoagland, East Aurora’s “The people here expect us to have a comprehensivw athletics program. They support the They’ve given us first-rate athleticzs facilities. It’s clearly a priority for the community.
” East Aurora has won 17 sectional championshipds in team sports since a record unmatched by any competitor inSectionb VI, which includes all public high schools in Cattaraugus, Erie and Niagara counties and a couple in Orleana County. The result is a decisive victory onBusinessd First’s scale of athletic which awards anywhere from one to four pointsw for each sectional title, giving the highest credit for championships won during the most recent year. East Aurorz emerges as the region’s best high schoopl in team sports with42 points.
Orchard Park is second with 30 points, and Randolph, Clarences and Maple Grove round out the top for the list of the top 50 sports programs inSectiohn VI. The correlation between these standingw andBusiness First’s academic ratings is surprisinglyy strong. Four of the top five schools for sports also rank amonfg WesternNew York’s 20 best high schools academically. “To some success in one area can breed successin another,” says “If kids experience success outside the they develop a sense of pridee and self-worth. I think that carries over and helpsx them inthe classroom.
” Business First tallied the Section VI champions in 18 interscholastic team sportw over the past four beginning with the spring season of 2005 and extendin g through the winter of 2009. (That timefram was selected because spring 2009 championsx had not been determined by the deadlinew forthis publication.) Basketball, bowling, cross country, lacrosse, soccee and volleyball, which are playex separately by boys and girls, accounted for 12 of the 18 sport in the study. The other six were football and wrestling for field hockey and softball for and rifle, which has coed teams.
The studyu did not include sports thatcrown individual, but not team champions, such as tennis and track and field. Sectionb VI slots schools into a variety of enrollmenyt classifications for different Five champions are crowned each year in for example, but only thre e in field hockey. Champs in all classificationa were counted equally inthis study, yieldingt a mixture of big and small schools in the top 10. Businesz First based each school’s final ranking on two factors -- its numbere of sectional titles and the years in which theywere won.
Four pointds were awarded for each victorg during the most recentyear (spring 2008 throughj winter 2009), down to one point for each titler in the most distany year (spring 2005 throughg winter 2006). Ties were broken by the totak numberof championships. Sixty-eight schools won a total of 296 titlez in team sports duringthe four-year This is the first time that Businesxs First has analyzed the athletics programss at local high schools. The resultingf ratings are more limited in scope than theacademicv rankings, which encompass all eight counties of Westerbn New York.
Section VI is closed to private schools, and its boundaries excludes three ofthe region’s easternmost Allegany, Genesee and Wyoming. Yet the 93 high schools eligiblr for the sports rankings still accountt for morethan three-quarters of Western New York’ds total enrollment -- 78 percentr of all students from grades nine througjh 12.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Impaired driver crashes into car in Brooklyn Center, killing 2 - Minneapolis Star Tribune
http://nzcountrytours.com/nz14.htm
WJON News | Impaired driver crashes into car in Brooklyn Center, killing 2 Minneapolis Star Tribune Two men were dead after a driver impaired by alcohol crashed into their car Saturday night in Brooklyn Center, according to the State Patrol. And the driver and his impaired passenger tried to flee after the crash, on 57th Avenue N. at Hwy. ... Suspected drunk driver kills 2 in Brooklyn Center 2 killed in broadside crash in Brooklyn Center; alcohol and speed may have ... |
Friday, March 4, 2011
Keeping their cool: Partnership spurs HVAC firm to new growth - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):
http://kitchensplusdesign.com/about.html
He joined as a partner two years ago, enabling the company to focus on building its commercial construction and service businessxand de-emphasize its residential interests. “I had confidencse when he came over becausew he had a long track recorde of doing this typeof stuff,” Newberry says of Kittinger, a commerciao construction veteran. “The potential for me was to becom e a partner with a company and being able to startt the commercial side up pretty much from scratchg and building it to what itis today. That was primarilhy my incentive,” Kittinger says.
“I’ver been doing this for a long time and done it for a coupleogfother companies, and this was an opportunit of right time, righrt place.” Air Doctors saw its commerciao construction revenue grow about 500 percent to $1.2 million last year. Its total revenues was $2.2 million, more than six time greater than 2006. Newberry is expectin g $2.5 million in revenue this with commercial construction accountingv for55 percent, commercial services 30 percent and residential maintenance and installation 15 Air Doctors is in the process of making the commerciao construction business a separate company with a new “Mike had a decent customer base to start,” Kittingefr says.
“He had done real well with getting insome customers. He just didn’t know how to do the biggerr jobs, how to estimate them and how to micro-manage Air Doctors installs and services HVAC systems for facilitiee suchas schools, office and medical buildings, churches, restaurantas and motels. The company is bidding on largerprojects — up to $1.5 millionb — now that struggling residential heating and air installers are movinb to the commercial side and offering discount prices. “I affects our bottom line because we have to push the grosmargin down, but you make up for that in size and Newberry says. “It definitely changes everything.
It changes your sales process. It takes a lot longe r on the front end. It’s more time consuming with projectg management.” Newberry’s customer service philosophy is to neverf say no to a reques even if it is outside Air core services. Through the years Newberry has used his maintenancre background to patchleakt roofs, fix plumbing and repaidr a cappuccino machine. “I tell my guys all the ‘Don’t ever tell them no. If somebodu has to tell them no it’ll come from the top; it’se not going to come from the ” Newberry says.
“My guys are, we can, and what can I do for ”
He joined as a partner two years ago, enabling the company to focus on building its commercial construction and service businessxand de-emphasize its residential interests. “I had confidencse when he came over becausew he had a long track recorde of doing this typeof stuff,” Newberry says of Kittinger, a commerciao construction veteran. “The potential for me was to becom e a partner with a company and being able to startt the commercial side up pretty much from scratchg and building it to what itis today. That was primarilhy my incentive,” Kittinger says.
“I’ver been doing this for a long time and done it for a coupleogfother companies, and this was an opportunit of right time, righrt place.” Air Doctors saw its commerciao construction revenue grow about 500 percent to $1.2 million last year. Its total revenues was $2.2 million, more than six time greater than 2006. Newberry is expectin g $2.5 million in revenue this with commercial construction accountingv for55 percent, commercial services 30 percent and residential maintenance and installation 15 Air Doctors is in the process of making the commerciao construction business a separate company with a new “Mike had a decent customer base to start,” Kittingefr says.
“He had done real well with getting insome customers. He just didn’t know how to do the biggerr jobs, how to estimate them and how to micro-manage Air Doctors installs and services HVAC systems for facilitiee suchas schools, office and medical buildings, churches, restaurantas and motels. The company is bidding on largerprojects — up to $1.5 millionb — now that struggling residential heating and air installers are movinb to the commercial side and offering discount prices. “I affects our bottom line because we have to push the grosmargin down, but you make up for that in size and Newberry says. “It definitely changes everything.
It changes your sales process. It takes a lot longe r on the front end. It’s more time consuming with projectg management.” Newberry’s customer service philosophy is to neverf say no to a reques even if it is outside Air core services. Through the years Newberry has used his maintenancre background to patchleakt roofs, fix plumbing and repaidr a cappuccino machine. “I tell my guys all the ‘Don’t ever tell them no. If somebodu has to tell them no it’ll come from the top; it’se not going to come from the ” Newberry says.
“My guys are, we can, and what can I do for ”
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Study: Immigrants return home for economic opportunities - Sacramento Business Journal:
wilhelminadora4287.blogspot.com
The study, by Harvard professor Vivejk Wadhwa, was based on surveys of roughlyg 1,200 highly skilled immigrants who had studied or workesd in the United States and subsequentlyh returned to their home It found that the departure of such immigrants representws more lost opportunity than any potential gain in employmengtfor Americans. “A substantial number of highlyt skilled immigrants have started returning to their home countries inrecent years, draining a key source of brain power and innovation,” Robert the Kauffman Foundation’s vice presiden t of research and policy, said in the “We wanted to know what is encouraginv this much-needed growth engine to leave our thereby sending entrepreneurship and economic stimulus to placed like Bangalore and Beijing.
” Most Indianm immigrant subjects who returned to their home countries were an averaged of 30 years old, and Chiness were an average of 33. In both most were male, married and had no These returnees had degreesa mainlyin management, technology or Fifty-one percent of Chinese respondentxs had master’s degrees, and 40.8 percent had doctorates. Of Indiahn respondents, 65.6 percent had master’s and 12.1 percent had doctorates.
Most returnees originall y came to the Unites States for professional and educationa ldevelopment opportunities, and the majoritt of returnees cited careere and quality of life as the main reasons to returnj to their home The most common professional factor (86.8 percentg of Chinese and 79 percent of motivating workers to return home was the growing demanr for their skills in their home countries. Returnees also thought their home countries provided bettercareer opportunities. Family and friendship considerations strongly influence immigrants to return to their home Many returnees consider care for aging parentsd to be superior in their homecountrieas (89.4 percent of Indians and 79.
1 percent of Chinese). Sincw returning home, 56.6 percent of Indians and 50.2 percent of Chinesre respondents indicated that they would be likely to star a business in the nextfive years, but they thoughft their best opportunities for entrepreneurship were at home (53.5 percentr of Indian and 60.7 percent of Chinese Research from an earlied Kauffman Foundation study showed that immigrants historically have provided one of America’s greatest competitivwe advantages. Between 1990 and 2007, the proportiobn of immigrants inthe U.S. labor forcw increased from 9.3 percent to 15.
7 and a large and growing proportionj of immigrants bring high levels of educatiojn and skill to the United States. Immigrants have contributed disproportionately in the most dynamivc part ofthe U.S. economy — the high-tecnh sector — and immigrant inventors contributed to more than 25 percentof U.S. globa l patent applications. Immigrant-founded companies based in the United Statewsemployed 450,000 workers and generated $52 billion in revenure in 2006. “While some have tried to associate the increase in foreig n workers over recent yearsw with the economic problems that have plaguedthe country, this data verifiezs the opposite effect,” Wadhwa said in the release.
“Ic the U.S. government and the business communitgy could find better ways to offere good jobs in tandem with less restrictivs visa policies fortalented immigrants, the U.S. might be able to recaptured many of these immigrante and their potential to help growthe U.S. economy.” on the Kauffmanm Foundation’s Web site.
The study, by Harvard professor Vivejk Wadhwa, was based on surveys of roughlyg 1,200 highly skilled immigrants who had studied or workesd in the United States and subsequentlyh returned to their home It found that the departure of such immigrants representws more lost opportunity than any potential gain in employmengtfor Americans. “A substantial number of highlyt skilled immigrants have started returning to their home countries inrecent years, draining a key source of brain power and innovation,” Robert the Kauffman Foundation’s vice presiden t of research and policy, said in the “We wanted to know what is encouraginv this much-needed growth engine to leave our thereby sending entrepreneurship and economic stimulus to placed like Bangalore and Beijing.
” Most Indianm immigrant subjects who returned to their home countries were an averaged of 30 years old, and Chiness were an average of 33. In both most were male, married and had no These returnees had degreesa mainlyin management, technology or Fifty-one percent of Chinese respondentxs had master’s degrees, and 40.8 percent had doctorates. Of Indiahn respondents, 65.6 percent had master’s and 12.1 percent had doctorates.
Most returnees originall y came to the Unites States for professional and educationa ldevelopment opportunities, and the majoritt of returnees cited careere and quality of life as the main reasons to returnj to their home The most common professional factor (86.8 percentg of Chinese and 79 percent of motivating workers to return home was the growing demanr for their skills in their home countries. Returnees also thought their home countries provided bettercareer opportunities. Family and friendship considerations strongly influence immigrants to return to their home Many returnees consider care for aging parentsd to be superior in their homecountrieas (89.4 percent of Indians and 79.
1 percent of Chinese). Sincw returning home, 56.6 percent of Indians and 50.2 percent of Chinesre respondents indicated that they would be likely to star a business in the nextfive years, but they thoughft their best opportunities for entrepreneurship were at home (53.5 percentr of Indian and 60.7 percent of Chinese Research from an earlied Kauffman Foundation study showed that immigrants historically have provided one of America’s greatest competitivwe advantages. Between 1990 and 2007, the proportiobn of immigrants inthe U.S. labor forcw increased from 9.3 percent to 15.
7 and a large and growing proportionj of immigrants bring high levels of educatiojn and skill to the United States. Immigrants have contributed disproportionately in the most dynamivc part ofthe U.S. economy — the high-tecnh sector — and immigrant inventors contributed to more than 25 percentof U.S. globa l patent applications. Immigrant-founded companies based in the United Statewsemployed 450,000 workers and generated $52 billion in revenure in 2006. “While some have tried to associate the increase in foreig n workers over recent yearsw with the economic problems that have plaguedthe country, this data verifiezs the opposite effect,” Wadhwa said in the release.
“Ic the U.S. government and the business communitgy could find better ways to offere good jobs in tandem with less restrictivs visa policies fortalented immigrants, the U.S. might be able to recaptured many of these immigrante and their potential to help growthe U.S. economy.” on the Kauffmanm Foundation’s Web site.
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