The US Small Business Administration today published a package of final rules that will revise regulations to strengthen its 8(a) Business Development program to better ensure that the benefits flow to the intended recipients and help prevent waste, fraud and abuse.The rules were published today in The Federal Register and will become effective in 30 days on March 14, 2011.The revisions are the first comprehensive overhaul of the 8(a) program in more than 10 years. The regulations incorporate technical changes and substantive changes that mirror existing or new legislation enacted since the last revision in June 1998.‘The 8(a) Business Development Program is an effective tool for providing small businesses with support to help them compete for and win federal government contracts, and in turn put them in the best possible position to drive economic growth and create jobs,’ SBA Administrator Karen Mills said. ‘Through public meetings held in cities throughout the country, SBA gained valuable input from members of the small business community on ways to strengthen the program to provide the best opportunities for eligible firms, while also stepping up efforts to combat waste, fraud and abuse.’The rules cover a variety of areas of the program, ranging from clarifications on determining economic disadvantage to requirements on Joint Ventures and the Mentor-Protégé program. Some of the components of the 8(a) program that the revised regulations will affect include:· Joint Ventures ‘ requiring that the 8(a) firm must perform 40 percent of the work of each 8(a) joint venture contract that is awarded, including those awarded under a Mentor/Protégé agreement, to ensure that these companies are able to build capacity;· Economic Disadvantage ‘ providing more clarification on factors that determine economic disadvantage as it relates to total assets, gross income, retirement accounts and a spouse of an 8(a) company owner when determining the owner’s ability to access capital and credit;· Mentor-Protégé Program ‘ adding consequences for a mentor who does not provide assistance to their protégé, ranging from stop-work orders to debarment.· Ownership and Control Requirements ‘ providing flexibility on whether to admit 8(a) program companies owned by individuals with immediate family members who are owners of current and former 8(a) participants;· Tribally-Owned Firms ‘ requiring firms owned by tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, Native Hawaiian Organizations and Community Development Corporations to report benefits flowing back to their respective communities;· Excessive Withdrawals ‘ amending regulations on what amount is considered excessive as a basis for termination or early graduation from the 8(a) program; and· Business Size for Primary Industry ‘ requiring that a firm’s size status remain small for its primary industry code during its participation in the 8(a) program.The SBA initially published the proposed rule on Oct. 28, 2009 and provided a 60-day comment period for the public to submit their comments. Many businesses requested more time, so the SBA extended the comment period an additional 30 days, allowing the public to submit their comments by Jan. 28, 2010. In addition to requesting written comments from the public, the SBA also embarked on a ‘Listening Tour’ and hosted public meetings between December 2009 and January 2010 in 10 cities around the country: Albuquerque, N.M., Atlanta, Ga., Boston, Mass., Chicago, Ill., Dallas, Texas, Los Angeles, Calif., Miami, Fla., New York, N.Y., Seattle, Wash. and Washington, D.C.The SBA also conducted tribal consultations to gain further public input to the revisions in Albuquerque, Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska, and Seattle. In total, the SBA received more than 2,500 individual comments from the public.The 8(a) program is a nine-year business development program for small businesses where the owner(s) fits the SBA’s criteria of being socially and economically disadvantaged and the same owners control the firm. The 8(a) program helps these firms develop their business and provides them with access to government contracting opportunities, allowing them to become solid competitors in the federal marketplace. It also provides specialized business training, counseling, marketing assistance and high-level executive development to its participants. In FY09, small businesses received $18.6 billion in 8(a) contract dollars.For more information about the revised 8(a) regulations, a compliance guide, and the 8(a) program, visit http://www.sba.gov/content/revised-8a-regulations(link is external) or e-mail questions to: 8aBD2@sba.gov(link sends e-mail).2.11.2011### read more

Sign up for our COVID-19 newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest coronavirus news throughout New York Francis Bongarzone was arrested Thursday and accused of loan sharking.A 53-year-old Wantagh man convicted three decades ago for solicitation in a murder-for-hire plot was arrested Thursday for an alleged loan sharking scheme that netted more than $100,000 in interest, authorities said.Francis Bongarzone, also known as “Frankie Chase,” was arraigned before Judge Joy Watson at Nassau District Court Friday on a felony charge of first-degree criminal usury and for varying counts of criminal possession of a weapon for several loaded guns allegedly found in his home.Watson set bail at $250,000. The judge declined prosecutors request of $1 million bail. He is due back in court on Wednesday.The year-long investigation uncovered an alleged loan scheme of at least $50,000 that enabled Bongarzone to collect more than $100,000 in interest of more than 100 percent per loan from at least a half-dozen victims, prosecutors said. Authorities also accused him of threatening victims who were unable to pay him back.A search warrant executed on Thursday led Nassau County District Attorney investigators to a 9mm Glock with two 17-round high capacity magazines, two .38 caliber revolvers with more than 70 rounds of ammunition, two switchblades and a “blackjack”—a leather-covered piece of lead designed to knock out victims struck in the head, authorities said.Investigators also found records that prosecutors said allegedly confirms Bongarzone’s loan activities.“Mr. Bongarzone’s brand of banking has victimized others and resulted in charges that bring with them the threat of a long stay in prison,” Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice said. “I ask any other victims of this individual to come forward and contact my office to assist with this investigation.”Bongarzone was previously convicted in 1984 for soliciting another person in a murder-for-hire plot, authorities said.His attorney could not be reached for comment. read more

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The NSW couple will make a fresh start at 12 Dirk Hartog Place, Hollywell.The house was built by Eric Roth, who was responsible for some of the Gold Coast’s most prestigious homes in the early 2000s. But for a keen angler, it’s the 23 metres of waterfrontage and onsite pontoon that hold the main appeal. “We can just tie the boat up at the back of the house and fish when we want,” Mr Brooks said.“We hope to be settled in before winter, but with all of the border closures we’re not sure how that will pan out.“A lot of people are in a worse position than us right now though, at least we’ve got a roof over our heads.” Video Player is loading.Play VideoPlayNext playlist itemMuteCurrent Time 0:00/Duration 3:08Loaded: 0%Stream Type LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time -3:08 Playback Rate1xChaptersChaptersDescriptionsdescriptions off, selectedCaptionscaptions settings, opens captions settings dialogcaptions off, selectedQuality Levels720p720pHD540p540p360p360p270p270pAutoA, selectedAudio Tracken (Main), selectedFullscreenThis is a modal window.Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.TextColorWhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentBackgroundColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentTransparentWindowColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyTransparentSemi-TransparentOpaqueFont Size50%75%100%125%150%175%200%300%400%Text Edge StyleNoneRaisedDepressedUniformDropshadowFont FamilyProportional Sans-SerifMonospace Sans-SerifProportional SerifMonospace SerifCasualScriptSmall CapsReset restore all settings to the default valuesDoneClose Modal DialogEnd of dialog window.This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.Close Modal DialogThis is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.PlayMuteCurrent Time 0:00/Duration 0:00Loaded: 0%Stream Type LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time -0:00 Playback Rate1xFullscreenHow will COVID-19 compare to other market downturns03:08It wasn’t so long ago that Australians were fighting another dangerous peril. Not unlike the coronavirus, this peril destroyed people’s livelihoods and claimed many lives aswell. And those fortunate enough to survive were left stunned and picking through the ashes for fragments of a former life. On the day bushfires raged across the NSW South Coast, Jeff Brooks was preparing to take out a fishing charter.“It was the morning of New Year’s Eve,” he said.“I do fishing charters and I got up at 4am to check the weather. The forecast wasn’t very good, but it didn’t really indicate what was going to happen that day.” The Batemans Bay home before it was destroyed by bushfire on New Year’s Eve 2019.As conditions worsened, Mr Brooks and his deckhand spent the day wetting down the brick home he shared with his partner, Margaret, overlooking Batemans Bay and the islands beyond. “We thought it won’t get us, but we’ll be prepared anyway,” Mr Brooks said. “It just got worse and worse so Margaret grabbed a few things and went to my brother’s place. We said we’d see each other later on, that everything would be good. “It was like a tornado came through in the direction of our house. “Only 300m up the hill from us a house burst into flames and then another to the side of that.“It was so hot and windy, and really hard to breath. “In the end it got too much so we jumped in the car and drove away. “We were confident that we’d go back and the house would still be there.” More from news02:37International architect Desmond Brooks selling luxury beach villa8 hours ago02:37Gold Coast property: Sovereign Islands mega mansion hits market with $16m price tag1 day agoThe contents of the dishwasher inside the Batemans Bay home after the bushfire.After months of bedhopping between family, a tourist park and a short-term rental, the couple is preparing for a fresh start on the Gold Coast.Home is soon to be 12 Dirk Hartog place, Hollywell, purchased for $1.5 million in a deal handled by Alex Phillis Luxury Real Estate. Fire torn through the Batemans Bay house.When the couple was finally able to return later that night, they discovered their home had been destroyed. “It was like a bomb had gone off inside the house,” Mr Brooks said. “The roof had collapsed, the walls were blown over and the aluminium windows had melted.“We had been there for 19 years. There were a lot of memories and a lifetime of possessions inside – photos, jewellery, furniture – everything was just gone.” read more

Silverstream has also expanded its Technical, Operations, and Administration Teams, and continues to seek new talent. The company announced a flurry of new appointments to its senior leadership saying the expansion reflects the increasing demand for its technology despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the shipping market. The Silverstream® System, a type of Air Lubrication System (ALS), pumps tiny bubbles through vents on the hull to reduce friction between the vessel and the water, helping it glide through the ocean. “Our continued expansion during COVID-19 also highlights the attitudinal change within the industry as it acknowledges the shift that is required to meet shipping’s decarbonisation targets. Viable clean technologies play a critical role in delivering this widescale change, creating a more sustainable and profitable industry.” The technology can reduce fuel consumption by 5-12%, which in turn cuts running costs, according to its developer. London-based firm Silverstream Technologies is expanding its team by over 90% to support the increasing demand and uptake of its air lubrication technology. Senior leadership appointments include Gideon Overton as the company’s new Finance Director; Pete Dymond as Head of Contract Management; Daniel Mann as Programme Director; Simon Cuthbert as Head of Supply Chain Management; and Andrew Wall as Head of QSHE. The company has already sealed deals with industry majors Grimaldi Group, Lloyd’s Register, and more recently Shell International Trading and Shipping Company. Two months ago the company said it was in the final stages of securing deals to supply an additional 15 ships with its micro-bubbles system that cuts fuel consumption. “We’ve delivered significant and exponential growth over the past two years, and it’s critical that we have the infrastructure and the right people with the right experience in place to ensure that we continue on this trajectory and meet our ambitious targets,” Noah Silberschmidt, CEO, Silverstream Technologies, said. read more

El Desmarque says the Reds are preparing to make a £90million transfer move for Dembele. The Frenchman has been sidelined for the majority of the season following separate hamstring injuries.Advertisement But Dembele has still been linked with a switch to the Premier League, with Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal all linked. And it’s claimed Jurgen Klopp is preparing to make a move for the 22-year-old to provide competition for Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino. Read Also:Chelsea: Cavani on a free, Dembele blow, Newcastle chase Giroud Barca chiefs would demand £90m for the winger, as they look to raise funds to re-sign Neymar from PSG. FacebookTwitterWhatsAppEmail分享 Loading… Promoted ContentThis Guy Photoshopped Himself Into Celeb Pics And It’s Hysterical10 Absolutely Unique Facts About Kanye12 Flicks That Almost Ended Their Stars’ Careers8 Superfoods For Growing Hair Back And Stimulating Its Growth7 Ways To Understand Your Girlfriend Better10 Risky Jobs Some Women DoInsane 3D Spraying Skills Turn In Incredible Street ArtCouples Who Celebrated Their Union In A Unique, Unforgettable WayWho Is The Most Powerful Woman On Earth?Portuguese Street Artist Creates Hyper-Realistic 3D Graffiti8 Most Beautiful Modern Chinese ActressesThe Most Exciting Cities In The World To Visit Liverpool boss, Jurgen Klopp, continues to be linked with Barcelona attacker Ousmane Dembele. read more

East Central Trojan Football standout Jayden Williamson has signed to attend Wabash College. The student-athlete will be majoring in Accounting.Jayden is the son of Justin and Tiffany Griffin and was a member of The 2017 EC Trojans 4A State Championship team coached by Justin Roden.Williamson was The 2017 Class 4A Football Eskew Mental Attitude Award winner.

​Zlatan Ibrahimovic Zlatan Ibrahimovic is on the brink of signing a new one-year contract at AC Milan after his impressive return to form with the Serie A side at the end of last season.According to Sky Italy, the two parties are closing in on an agreement that will fall between the £4.5m-a-year offered by Milan and the £6.7m asked for by Ibrahimovic.Milan are looking to wrap things up and make an announcement before Monday, when their squad returns for pre-season training. Ibrahimovic, 38, rejoined Milan last December after 18 months in the United States with Los Angeles Galaxy.Back at the San Siro, the Swede fired in an impressive 11 goals in 20 appearances and Milan want to keep hold of the striker for the upcoming campaign.Ibrahimovic previously spent two years at the club from 2010, joining from Barcelona.He won the Serie A title there in 2011, followed by the Italian Super Cup the next season.But now, Milan are somewhat of a fallen giant in Italy and Ibrahimovic is tasked with helping restore the side to their former glories.They finished sixth in Serie A last season, with Stefano Pioli’s side qualifying for the Europa League.The new Serie A season will start on September 19, with fixtures for the campaign yet to be announced.Share this:FacebookRedditTwitterPrintPinterestEmailWhatsAppSkypeLinkedInTumblrPocketTelegram read more

Following an eighth-place finish at the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters Tournament last week, the USC men’s golf team looks for brighter prospects as it competes in the Barona Collegiate Cup on Thursday and Friday.The tournament, held at Barona Creek Golf Course in Lakeside, Calif., will be hosted by San Diego State University and features 16 teams. Among the squads the Trojans will face are fellow Pac-12 rivals Arizona and Utah.Bumpy road · Senior Steve Lim and the Trojans have skidded to a halt after success at the beginning of spring. They have yet to get back on track. – Photo courtesy of Sports InformationAfter a strong opening to the spring season, which featured back-to-back second-place finishes at the Hawaii Big Island Invitational and the San Diego Intercollegiate Classic, the Trojans have struggled to maintain such a start in recent play.After a loss to Oregon at the Del Walker Match Play in Long Beach, Calif., in late February, the team finished eighth at the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters in Las Vegas.Senior Steven Lim achieved the best individual result, finishing at 3-over-par 219 and tying for 11th place.The standing marked the fourth top-13 finish of the season for Lim, who opened the final round with 12-straight pars, then shot a double bogey on the final hole that kept him from the top 10.Sophomore Jeffrey Kang posted a team-best score of 1-over-par 73 on the final day, recording a 1-over-par on the front nine before coming in even on the back nine. Kang finished 32nd with a final score of 9-over-par 225.Freshman Anthony Paolucci finished tied for 33rd at 10-over-par 226, sophomore Ramsey Sahyoun tied for 48th at 13-over-par 229, and junior Martin Trainer tied for 56th at 15-over-par 231.Following the short, two-day tournament, the Trojans will have a week off before participating in the U.S. Intercollegiate Tournament at Stanford Golf Course in Palo Alto, Calif., March 30-April 1, where they will seek their second victory of the season. read more