John A. Wilson Building

Are you a young entrepreneur?  The U.S. Youth Chamber of Commerce is hosting a reception at the John A. Wilson Building on August 9, 2010 with guest officials.  Here are the details:

What: U.S. Youth Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Network Reception

Where: 1350 Pennsylvania Ave., NW (John A. Wilson Building)

When: August 9, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Guests: Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas, US Shadow Representative Michael Panetta, US Shadow Senator Michael Brown

To RSVP for the event email event@usyouthchamber.com.  You must have ID to get in the building.

Click here to download and share the flyer.

Chevy Chase Community Center (open until 9PM)
5601 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20015
202-282-2204

Turkey Thicket Recreation Center (open until 9PM)
1100 Michigan Ave., NE
Washington, DC 20017
(202) 576-9238

Benning Stoddert Recreation Center (open until 9PM)
100 Stoddert St. SE Washington DC 20019
202-698-1873

For more information on beating the summer heat click here.

New Federal Rules on Overdraft Fees Affect DC Residents

Washington, DC — The DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) today announced that new federal overdraft rules will affect how District of Columbia residents are charged for overdrawn checking account transactions.

Starting July 1, 2010, banks, savings and loans and credit unions can no longer charge overdraft fees on ATM and debit-card transactions unless customers give permission first. If a customer overdraws on his or her account, the transaction can be rejected, unless the customer has elected for automatic overdraft protection. Existing checking account customers will have until Aug. 15 to opt-in and choose to get overdraft protection.

Overdraft protection is an agreement with the bank or financial institution to cover overdrafts on a checking account. An overdraft occurs when a checking account customer uses a debit card for an amount that exceeds his or her account balance or pays with a check that is written for an amount greater than the checking account balance. Typically, banks charge between $35 and $40 in fees to handle each overdraft.

“It is important for checking account customers to monitor their accounts and balances closely to avoid putting themselves in a position to need the overdraft protection and to incur additional fees,” said DISB Commissioner Gennet Purcell, Esq.

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System amended Regulation E, which implements the Electronic Fund Transfer Act. The final rule limits the ability of a financial institution to assess an overdraft fee for ATM or debit card transactions that overdraw a customer’s account, unless the customer affirmatively consents for this protection. Automatic overdraft protection allows the bank to pay for all debit card transactions or ATM withdrawals, even when there is not enough money in the checking account. District residents should note that each overdraft transaction triggers a fee. If three debit card purchases are made in a day, that results in overdrawing the checking account three times and paying the fees three times.

Banks may continue to cover overdrawn checks without any consent and charge a fee. Banks will also continue to cover automated debits from checking accounts, such as bill pay transactions, for a fee.

Most banks allow customers to check online or by phone, and some banks will send text messages to alert a customer when the account balance is getting low. Commissioner Purcell added, “Customers should also consider linking their checking account to a savings account, a line of credit, a credit card or other account that can be automatically drawn down if they overdraw their checking accounts.”

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D.C. Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking | Office of Communications | 810 First St., NE, Suite 701, Washington, D.C. 20002 | Office: 202-727-8000 | Fax: 202-535-1196

Remember, DISB protects your financial interests.  Call us to report fraud, to verify a financial institution, a speaker or consumer information at (202) 727-8000. Or visit the Web site at www.disb.dc.gov. Join us on Facebook. Follow DISB’s tweets on Twitter

DDOT Launches Visitor Parking Permit Pilot in Ward 5

Visitor Passes Will Be Mailed Beginning Next Week
Ward 3 Households Will Also Get New Passes

(Washington, D.C.) More District residents will soon have an easier way to provide parking for their visitors.  Beginning on Monday, July 19, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will mail each eligible household in Ward 5 a visitor parking permit (VPP) as part of a new pilot program. Similar pilots are already underway in 4 other city wards, and DDOT is also preparing to mail new visitor passes for the second year of the program in Ward 3.

The passes are intended to eliminate the inconvenience to residents caused by having to obtain a new visitor parking permit from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) each time a guest is expected. Instead, one visitor parking pass will be mailed to every household on a Residential Permit Parking (RPP) zoned block.

The permits will be valid for one year and will allow visitors to park for more than two hours on any RPP block within the boundaries of the resident’s Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC).

Conditions for Use of the Visitor Parking Pass

• Visitors should display the Visitor Parking Pass on the driver’s side of the dashboard. At the end of the visit, visitors should return the VPP to the resident.

• A VPP is not to be used as a substitute for a valid RPP sticker on a vehicle owned by a resident of the household.
• VPP does not provide an exemption from the Registration of Out-of-State Automobiles (ROSA) requirement to register a vehicle in the District of Columbia within 30 days of residency.
• Vehicles displaying an invalid pass will be subject to a RPP parking citation.
• Duplication or sale of the pass is strictly prohibited and violators are subject to a $300 fine.

Eligible residents, who do not receive their VPP in the mail, may request one by contacting Damon Harvey at (202) 671-2333 or by email at damon.harvey@dc.gov.

The visitor parking passes have been very well received by residents and after next week’s launch in Ward 5, pilot programs will be in place in the following areas:

• All RPP blocks in Ward 1 ANC 1D (Mount Pleasant)
• All RPP blocks in Ward 3
• All RPP blocks in Ward 4
• All RPP blocks in Ward 5
• RPP blocks in the Ward 6 Ballpark District in portions of ANC’s 6B and 6D

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• Ward 1
• Ward 2
• Ward 3
• Ward 4
• Ward 5
• Ward 6
• Ward 7
• Ward 8

Contact: Daour Diawara, Small Business Development Fellow, (202) 661-8673, ddiawara@wdcep.com

Technology, Antiques and Free Legal Aide are Winners at WDCEP Small Business Awards

Adam A Weschler & Son, Digidoc, Inc and the DC Bar Pro Bono Program to be recognized at July 28th Small Business Awards Breakfast

Washington, DC– The 120 year old Weschler & Son, DC’s own Digidoc, Inc and the much respected DC Bar Pro Bono Program will be recognized this July 28 at the third annual Washington, DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP) Small Business Awards.

In addition to recognizing local businesses in the following three categories: Small Business of the Year, 100 Year Old Business of the Year and Business Initiative of the Year; the WDCEP Small Business Awards will feature a keynote address by CoStar founder Andy Florance.  The winner of WDCEP’s $100,000 Business Plan Competition will also be announced.

“These DC based enterprises are icons for other businesses here in the District,” says Steve Moore, President and CEO of the Washington, DC Economic Partnership.  They are a source of pride to us and great servants to the community.”

WDCEP and its Board of Directors worked in partnership with the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development to undertake this business initiative.  For more information, click here. To register for the Small Business Awards ceremony please click here.

DSLBD is offering a new class, Building Your Business Identity – From Securing URL’s to IP Protection on July 22 at the e-BIC. Business and intellectual property attorney will discuss the legal aspects of branding your business, including: securing website domain names, working with web designers, registering trademarks and trade names, copyrighting, utilizing nondisclosure agreements, and other basics of developing and protecting your business’s intellectual property. Classes are from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the e-BIC, Martin Luther King Jr. Library, 901 G St. NW. Be sure to visit our online registration site here to reserve your spot.

GEAR UP FOR JULY’S WORKSHOP ON GSA SCHEDULES

Be sure to register for DSLBD’s July session on procurement with GSA. The free workshop, How to Get On and Keep a GSA Multiple Award Schedule, is designed to encourage and support small businesses interested in obtaining a GSA Federal Schedule contract. This in-depth class will cover: the process of getting on GSA’s Schedules, how to access government solicitations, the most significant sections of an offer, how to submit an offer, and the evaluation and award process. It will take place on July 29 from 1:30 to 3:30 pm at the e-BIC. To register, click here.

OTHER JULY DSLBD COURSE OFFERINGS

This month, DSLBD classes include: CBE Pre-Certification Orientation; Licensing and Tax Offices; Starting a Home-Based Business; Entrepreneurial Mindset; How to Get on and Keep a GSA Multiple Award Schedule; and Business Planning Process.

These classes are located either at the e-BIC, located in Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library on 901 G St. NW, or in the One Judiciary Square Building, located at 441 4th St. NW. Register online here.

Remember, you can also sign up for a one-on-one business assessment or use the computers, software, and other resources at the e-BIC if you are a business owner in the District or a District resident. Call 202-727-2241 for more information or stop by the center, which is open from 12 to 6 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

DSLBD WARD 4 STOREFRONT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AVAILABLE

DSLBD is soliciting a second round of applications for the Ward 4 Storefront Improvement Program (SIP), which it originally launched November 2009. The program is intended for eligible Ward 4 applicant business owners to make small design fixes to their store exteriors, including upgrades to signs, awnings, lighting, painting touch-ups, entry door, security grates, and window glass. Approved improvement services will be funded by the Ward 4 Capital Improvement Program. Read more about the program and how to apply here.

DSLBD AND TOMPKINS BUILDERS CELEBRATED SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT EDUCATIONAL SERIES

Recently, DSLBD and Tomkins Builders Inc. celebrated their successful Construction Management Educational Series. Throughout the month of June, thirty-seven business owners participated in the intensive twelve-hour series of classes taught by industry specialists. They learned about a comprehensive costing, bidding and estimating; safety; subcontracting; insurance and bonding; marketing and sales; accounting basics; scheduling; field operations; and project delivery systems and contract risk management. The class was so well-received that DSLBD plans to continue partnering with area companies including Tompkins Builder Inc. to provide more such trainings in the future. Read more about the program here, and view photos from our graduation ceremony here.

ACCESS CAPITAL THROUGH DSLBD’S MICRO LOAN FUND PROGRAM

DSLBD encourages local businesses to apply for funding through our Micro Loan Fund Program. In order to apply, you must be a Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) that is designated as “small” or “disadvantaged.” Read about other requirements of the program and how to apply here.

BOOKMARK IT!

DSLBD Online Find information about our services, activities, business opportunities, and more.

DC-Procurement Technical Assistance Center (DC-PTAC) Learn how the DC-PTAC can help you win federal contracting opportunities.

DC Stimulus Site For all the latest news about how the federal economic recovery plan is impacting the District.

SBA’s Small Business and Micro Business Lending Report Find rankings of banks based on their record of small business lending.

DC Green Building Act What you should know about green building. (You can find Green Building Act of 2006 here.)

Michael Whitfield, Jr.’s Story

“If I can battle day school, night school, a job and a daughter…you all can do it.  Keep pushing.”

Rico Kinney’s Story

“Having a close brush with death isn’t easy…I would like to thank my mom for letting me see the light.”

Tyler Goodger’s Story

“It was really hard being away from my mother.”

Mario Brooks’ Story

School: “Mario demonstrated growth in community and vocational involvement.  As a student that has an intellectual disability, Mario displayed great character when presented with life’s challenges.”

Shavionne Smith’s Story

“I thank my mom for helping me…”

For all the untold stories visit http://www.youtube.com/tellkwamebrown.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2010

CONTACT: Steven Kania, 202-962-3249

The Joint WMATA Governance Review Task Force will hold an open meeting and forum on July 1, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments for elected officials, stakeholders, and members of the public to provide input on how Metro is governed.  For people who cannot attend, COG is accepting public comments on its web site, www.mwcog.org, and will share them with members of the Task Force in advance of the meeting.

The Task Force was created last month by the Greater Washington Board of Trade and COG to recommend to Metro improvements in the transit agency’s governance.  Its membership is comprised of area business leaders, former elected and appointed officials, and three current elected officials—COG Chair Kwame Brown of the District of Columbia, COG Vice Chair Andrea Harrison of Prince George’s County, and COG Board Member Penelope Gross of Fairfax County.

“We want to hear ideas from the public because how Metro is governed determines how DC, Maryland, Virginia and the federal government pay for its equipment and operations and who is responsible for its safety and management,” said COG Chair and D.C. Councilmember Kwame Brown.

The BOT and COG supported a similar public-private study partnership in late 2004 and early 2005 when they jointly created a Metro Funding Panel.  The panel’s recommendation, to create a federal dedicated source of funding matched by the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia funding, was subsequently approved by Congress and signed into law by the President in 2008.

For more information on the Task Force, the July 1 meeting, or to submit a public comment, please visit www.mwcog.org.

COG is the association of 21 local governments working together for a better metropolitan region.

Stephanie Williams, Miss DC 2010 (Photo by Vithaya at missdc.com)

On Sunday, the new Miss District of Columbia was crowned at the Lincoln Theatre.  Stephanie Williams is a 23-year-old medical student at the George Washington University School of Medicine.  Congratulations to Ms. Williams and we know she will be a great contestant for Miss America!

For more information visit www.missdc.com.