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National Survey Reveals Opportunities For Small Business

May 9, 2011 By Adam Ney 1 Comment

Travelers Institute, the public policy division of The Travelers Companies, Inc., last week released the results of its national small business survey – commissioned to identify the challenges facing entrepreneurs across the country. An advocate for small business owners, the Travelers Institute also released its white paper (pdf), titled “Small Business, Big Opportunity – Finding Solutions for Small Business Challenges.” The white paper and survey results will serve as the cornerstone for discussion at the Travelers Institute’s national series of symposia on small business advocacy.

According to the Travelers Institute’s national small business survey, nearly two out of three of those surveyed find tax-related regulations too burdensome, while 51 percent find health insurance mandates challenging. When asked about disaster planning, more than half of all small business owners surveyed indicated that they do not have a business continuity plan, raising an alarm for small business preparedness. [Read more...]

After the Budget Vote: Small Businesses Assess the Damage

May 5, 2011 By Adam Ney Leave a Comment

With the budget vote by Connecticut’s lawmakers just nine hours old, yesterday’s live radio broadcast of WNPR’s Small Business Project was part post-mortem, part prescription.

More than 40 small business owners listened as host John Dankosky moderated a discussion between Catherine Smith, the new commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, and CBIA economist Pete Gioia (see above photo).

Gioa noted that the $40 million, two-year budget, which includes large-scale tax and fee increases, contained no “smoke and mirrors,” no borrowing, and embraced GAAP principles.

“On the other hand…the tax increases were a lot broader than anyone expected, particularly on the income side,” Gioia said during the show, which was broadcast from the Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport.

To read the complete article, click here.

Did You Know CBIA Has a Speakers Bureau?

February 7, 2011 By Adam Ney 1 Comment

Our experts can be your experts—for free.

If your company or organization would like to hear some straight talk about issues and events that are shaping Connecticut’s business climate, let us know. CBIA can provide you with speakers who are knowledgeable on a wide range of important business topics. 

Members of CBIA’s Speakers Bureau are available to talk with businesses (CBIA members and nonmembers) and organizations of all sizes and types, including chambers of commerce, civic groups, and professional societies and associations. [Read more...]

You Should Be at the State Capitol on March 9

January 5, 2011 By Adam Ney 2 Comments

For Immediate Release

Hartford, Conn. – CBIA, along with the Connecticut Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, announced today that the two groups will host Connecticut Business day on March 9 at the Legislative Office Building (LOB).

With a new governor, many new state legislators, and Connecticut facing a historic fiscal and economic crisis, it’s especially critical this year that you communicate with your elected officials about the issues that affect your ability to grow your business and keep and create jobs here. [Read more...]

IRS Releases Form to Help Small Businesses Claim New Health Care Tax Credit

October 26, 2010 By Adam Ney Leave a Comment

The IRS has released a draft version of Form 8941, which small businesses will use to calculate the small business health care tax credit when they file income tax returns next year. (The final version of the form and accompanying instructions will be available soon.) After using the form to calculate the credit, small firms will include the amount of the credit as part of the general business credit on their income tax returns.

Read more about the health care tax credit in the November, 2010  issue of the CBIANews.