Pacific Community Ventures Awarded $165,000 for Job Creation Programs

Pacific Community Ventures Awarded $165,000 for Job Creation Programs

Hearst Foundation contributes $100,000 for effective business advising model

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) July 31, 2010

Hundreds of small businesses in California received a boost recently when Pacific Community Ventures www. pacificcommunityventures. org, an economic development nonprofit organization, secured $165,000 for its job creation programs. An award from the Hearst Foundation for $100,000 will bolster Pacific Community Ventures’ Business Advising program. With a $65,000 Community Development Block Grant from the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Pacific Community Ventures and local non-profit SFMade will provide business advising services to San Francisco-based manufacturers.

Pacific Community Ventures’ Business Advising program recruits California’s brightest business minds to volunteer their time to coach small business owners on issues such as human resources, financial management and socially responsible practices. The companies Pacific Community Ventures advises are primarily manufacturing, service, and retail businesses located in or hiring from economically underserved communities.

“When we saw that Pacific Community Ventures’ advised companies were adding jobs at a rate of 3% during the worst economy in a generation,” said Paul "Dino" Dinovitz, Executive Director of the Hearst Foundation, “we knew their approach to job creation was delivering results. We’re pleased to support these effective strategies to help those in lower-income communities find and keep quality jobs.”

The funding from the Office of Economic and Workforce Development establishes a unique partnership for Pacific Community Ventures. With this Community Development Block Grant, the nonprofit is helping to seed SFMade, a new organization that supports small businesses that produce goods in San Francisco. Pacific Community Ventures will offer its Business Advising program to SFMade’s member entrepreneurs, helping these companies to remain in the city, hiring from the local community and contributing to the local economy.

“Between our collaboration with SFMade and our work with entrepreneurs throughout the state, we aim to support more than 200 small companies that, in turn, employ over 4,000 California workers, including 3,000 from lower-income communities,” noted Pacific Community Ventures’ Executive Director Beth Sirull. “Thanks to supporters such as Hearst and the city of San Francisco, Pacific Community Ventures is helping small businesses create jobs and rise up in down times.”

Since its founding twelve years ago, Pacific Community Ventures has created over 5,000 quality jobs. Virtually all of the organization’s companies pay their lower wage workers - workers at the 10th percentile of the company’s wages - a higher wage than companies in the same industry in California. Eighty-one percent of Pacific Community Ventures’ companies offer health insurance to their lower wage workers, compared to 73% of California companies.

ABOUT PACIFIC COMMUNITY VENTURES
Pacific Community Ventures builds responsible small businesses to create jobs and opportunities in lower income communities. We help create quality jobs—cost-effectively—for the people who need them most. Pacific Community Ventures accomplishes this mission through two core nonprofit programs, Business Advising and Insight, and through our affiliated equity funds. To learn more, visit www. pacificcommunityventures. org Pacific Community Ventures is a fiscal sponsor of SFMade; for more information, visit www. sfmade. org

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Kitchen Design Firm Goes Green with Eco-Friendly Product Options for Creating Your Dream Green Kitchen

Kitchen Design Firm Goes Green with Eco-Friendly Product Options for Creating Your Dream Green Kitchen

Signature kitchen & bath design's top vendors join the green trend.

Saratoga, CA (PRWEB) April 25, 2008

Going green or living green is making the headlines these days. From driving the latest hybrids to installing a geothermal heating and cooling system in their homes, many people are choosing to make the necessary lifestyle adjustments to become more energy-efficient. And going green - or at least living a little green - can even carry over into designing your dream kitchen.
Signature Kitchen & Bath Design, a Saratoga-based design firm, provides the latest in kitchen design trends, techniques and the highest quality products available in the marketplace today. Owner Patty Hayos and her staff of design experts have earned the reputation for creating kitchens that exceed customer expectations both in style and functionality.

"Going green seems to be an increasing trend in kitchen design," commented Patty Hayos. "Now, designers have more green options available to create not only a beautiful kitchen but one that is also environmental friendly. Our top vendors such as Omega Cabinetry, Richlite® and PaperStone™ offer a variety of eco-friendly product options to complement your dream kitchen."

Omega Cabinetry, a leader in all-wood cabinetry, has a variety of eco-friendly cabinet options and is certified by the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturer's Association (KCMA) in their Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP). This program grants certification to those manufacturers who meet a stringent set of environmental criteria. This criteria is based on promoting the sustainability of natural resources, reduce waste and environmental impacts. The KCMA ESP program provides kitchen cabinet manufacturers with a viable method to measure their environmental management practices against an industry standard.

Richlite's paper-based countertops provide an alternative to traditional granite, marble, quartz or ceramic tile. This type of countertop can be manufactured by using a combination of cellulose fiber and a resin. This combination is baked to produce a smooth hard surface similar to a hardwood. The paper used to manufacture this type of product is made from tree pulp, harvested from managed forests.

Another form of paper-based countertops manufactured by PaperStone™ is made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper and a water-based resin. Water-based resin is made from the poisonous skins of cashew nuts, not petroleum.

"We're proud of our relationships with these vendors as well as the opportunity to partner with them in creating a healthy environment for us all," added Hayos.

For green-conscious consumers, the decision to go green is not only good for the environment but also conducive to a healthier lifestyle of living. A well-designed, attractive green kitchen can breathe life into your home. Contact Signature Kitchen & Bath Design today and create the green kitchen of your dreams with an eco-friendly design and products, which save you energy and money.

About Us
Located in Saratoga, California, Signature Kitchen & Bath Design specializes in creating exquisite kitchens that fit your lifestyle and is proud to hold the prestigious Diamond Certification. Visit our inviting showroom where you'll find an abundance of design samples to fit your unique needs and desires and let our experienced designers assist you with creating the kitchen of your dreams. Visit our website at www. sigkb. com or contact us directly at 408-252-8011. Signature Kitchen & Bath Design, where the best in style and function can be yours

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What price would you pay?

What price would you pay?

(PRWEB) November 27, 1999

What Price Would you Pay

To Increase Your TeenÂ’s Safety on the Road?

By Susie Mercer

You are the parent of an active, healthy teenager. She makes good grades and

Participates in lots of after-school activities. She also has a part-time job

And a boyfriend you actually like. But all of these things mean that she

Often drives in the dark — sometimes before and after school. Consider these

Frightening facts:

· Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for people ages 15 to

20 years old. (National Center for Health Statistics)

· In 1998 almost 8,000 drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 were involved in

Fatal crashes. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

· In 1998, more than 24,000 automobile accidents occurred after dark.

(Fatality Analysis Reporting System of the Department of Transportation)

If you could set a price on improving your teenÂ’s chances of arriving home

Safely, what would it be? $1,000? $2,000? What if that price were just

$69.95? Any concerned parent would jump at the chance. 

Be sure that your loved ones have a fighting chance on dark roads. The

Eyemax, by Luxen Corporation, reduces dangerous glare by up to 60 percent, not

Only increasing visual acuity, but also preventing eye strain, fatigue and

Highway hypnosis — all of which can be contributing factors in auto

Fatalities.

Eyemax is a small device that is mounted on the upper left corner of the

Windshield. It is about the size of a personal pager, and is powered by your

CarÂ’s battery. Eyemax is effective on tinted or non-tinted windows, requires

Minimal installation and, best of all, requires no maintenance.

For the techno-savvy: Eyemax has a special scattered filter with an array of

Prisms that produces a particular thermic radiation, with the wavelength

Between ultraviolet and visible zone in parallel with the windshield. The

Result is a mirror effect in the windshield, which changes the reflected

Factor when oncoming beams hit the windshield.

$69.95 is a small price to pay when the life of your child is at stake.

For more information on Eyemax, check out the Luxen Corporation Web site at

Http://www. luxen. com/default. asp (http://www. luxen. com/default. asp).

Dieters Reach Health and Fitness Goals Faster with the Polsa Pura Bracelet

Dieters Reach Health and Fitness Goals Faster with the Polsa Pura Bracelet

Simple, attractive bracelet reminds dieters to make good food choices every day.

Littleton, CO (PRWEB) December 20, 2010

The highly-effective weight-loss and nutritional principles of Clean Eating (i. e. The Eat Clean Diet), produce even better results when followers of these plans track their daily food choices with the Polsa Pura Bracelet. The bracelet, which came on the market in July 2010, is already developing a following of users who report that wearing it every day helps them track their clean eating, stay focused on their fitness and weight loss goals, and get the lasting benefits of the eating clean lifestyle. Using a simple system of beautiful artisanal glass beads and silver charms, dieters keep track of the number of servings of healthy carbs, proteins, fruits, and veggies they eat every day without having to count calories or carb and fat grams. The Polsa Pura Bracelet comes in three versions, one for a basic Clean Eating diet, one for diabetes-friendly eating, and one for people who are eating lower carbohydrate diets. The Polsa Pura Bracelet Creates Daily Diet Accountability

The Polsa Pura Bracelet is not a diet plan in itself, but uses a simple system of beads and charms to help users keep track of the number of servings of clean foods they eat every day. The Polsa Pura Bracelet comes complete with the Polsa Pura "Healthy Me" Plan, which helps users develop balanced eating habits that work with the realities of their busy lives. Personal coaching can also be added to the bracelet for those who need a little extra support. “I created The Polsa Pura Bracelet to help me break free of the hassle of counting calories and carbs and help me learn healthy, realistic habits for lasting weight loss. I've been eating clean for a while with good weight loss results, but I needed a little help sticking to eating clean and controlling my portions on a daily basis. I needed something to make me more accountable for my eating choices, so I developed The Polsa Pura Bracelet,” says Mary Read, who developed the bracelet. “It’s really helped me get the boost I needed to stick to my commitment to health and Clean Eating.”

An Effective and Easy to Use Tool for Healthy Weight Loss

Using the Polsa Pura Bracelet is simple. Each bracelet has a certain number of blue, red, purple, and green beads representing servings of healthy carbs, proteins, fruits and vegetables. These groups of beads are separated by charms which are moved along the groups of beads as servings of each type of food are eaten each day. By following the principles of Eating Clean and being mindful of portions users lose weight consistently and develop healthy eating habits that last a lifetime. “When I wear my bracelet, I’m reminded of my health goals every time I look down. Just seeing it helps me stick to making clean eating choices,” says user Fran Wildner. “Stopping to figure out how many beads I have to move to eat a chili dog helps me skip it and choose to eat something I can feel good about!” Learn more at http://PolsaPura. com

The Polsa Pura Bracelet is not affiliated with or a partner of the Eat Clean Diet.

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President Obama Signs Diesel Emissions Reduction Act Into Law

President Obama Signs Diesel Emissions Reduction Act Into Law

Passage of DERA is important to our national economic growth because diesel engines power over 95 percent of our commercial trucks and an overwhelming majority of our ships, locomotives and farm and construction equipment.

Washington, DC (Vocus/PRWEB) January 05, 2011

Allen Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum (DTF), issued the following after President Obama signed the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) into law Tuesday night.

“While the reauthorization of DERA isn’t receiving the publicity that some other legislative issues attracted, it will be a significant and important accomplishment for the 111th Congress. Because of the national importance of modernizing older diesel engines to reduce emissions, DERA is one of the most important clean air initiatives passed by Congress in recent years.

“In addition, DERA is important to our national economic growth because diesel engines power over 95 percent of our commercial trucks and an overwhelming majority of our ships, locomotives and farm and construction equipment. In fact, when measured in tons per kilometer, more than 90 percent of the world’s global trade is diesel-powered.

“The combination of new clean diesel technology and ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel has helped to reduce diesel emissions to near zero levels for new buses, trucks and off-road equipment. Now the older engines that continue to power our economy will also benefit from the upgraded engines and filters provided by DERA. This legislation will accelerate the introduction of even more clean diesel technology to as many of our older diesel engines as possible.”

DERA Background
DERA was created by Senators Carper and Voinovich and passed into law in 2005. The new DERA reauthorization was approved by the Senate on December 16, 2010 and by the House on December 21, 2010. When signed into law by President Obama, the new legislation will reauthorize DERA for another five years. The legislation authorizes $100 million annually for five years, for a total of $500 million, however the actual annual amount will depend on each year’s funding appropriation. According to EPA, every $1 spent on DERA upgrades has resulted in $13 worth of health and environmental benefits. DERA is supported by more than 500 environmental, health, industry, labor and government organizations. Since 2006, new ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel has reduced sulfur emissions by 97 percent. Just as taking the lead out of gasoline in the 1970s enabled a new generation of emissions control technologies that have made gasoline vehicles over 95 percent cleaner, removing the sulfur from diesel help usher in a new generation of clean diesel technology.

About The Diesel Technology Forum
The Diesel Technology Forum is a non-profit national organization dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of diesel engines, fuel and technology. Forum members are leaders in clean diesel technology and represent the three key elements of the modern clean-diesel system: advanced engines, vehicles and equipment, cleaner diesel fuel and emissions-control systems. For more information visit http://www. dieselforum. org.

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Teens Making Poor Choices When it Comes to Riding in Vehicles

Teens Making Poor Choices When it Comes to Riding in Vehicles

Meharry Medical College study finds only 42% of teen passengers are buckling up

Nashville, TN (Vocus) August 27, 2008

Injury prevention experts have long known that teens are less likely than other motorists to wear seat belts while driving. Now, researchers from the Meharry-State Farm Alliance at Meharry Medical College have discovered lack of seat belt use by teen passengers may be an even bigger problem.

In the first ever direct comparison of the differences between driver and passenger seat belt use for a nationally representative teen population, the Meharry researchers found that 59% of teens always buckled up in the driver seat but only 42% always wore seat belts as passengers. Even more sobering, only 38% of all teens reported always buckling up as both drivers and passengers.

The study population comprised over 12,000 African American, white, and Hispanic public and private high school students ages 16 or older who participated in the 2001 and 2003 National Youth Risk Behavior Surveys. The surveys are conducted every two years by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to track the leading causes of death and disability among U. S. teens.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U. S. teens, accounting for nearly 5,000 fatalities each year. About 40% of all teen motor vehicle occupant deaths involve passengers.

"Because seat belts can reduce the risk of injury and death in crashes by more than 50%, there is a critical need for interventions to increase seat belt use by teens as both drivers and passengers," said Nathaniel Briggs, MD, MSc, lead researcher on the study, published in the September 2008 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

To address the issue, Briggs and his colleagues recommend a combination of approaches.
 Upgrade state seat belt laws to uniformly require that teen motor vehicle occupants in the rear seat be secured in seat belts. Currently, the majority of state laws are limited to front seat coverage for some or all teens in the 16-19 age group.

 Upgrade state seat belt laws from "secondary" (law enforcement officers can ticket motorists for seat belt law violations only after stopping them for another offense) to "primary" (law enforcement officers can stop and ticket motorists solely for seat belt law violations).

 Enhance enforcement efforts directed toward teen motorists.

 Develop comprehensive, community-based interventions including education, peer-to-peer persuasion, and parental monitoring.

"This research reinforces why State Farm is actively involved in advocating for laws that help prevent injuries and deaths resulting from motor vehicle crashes. It's clear from these findings that primary seat belt laws for all occupants would help us accomplish that goal," said Laurette Stiles, Vice-President - Strategic Resources at State Farm.

Additionally, the researchers pointed out a need for targeted interventions that address those teen subpopulations least likely to wear seat belts regardless of whether they are drivers or passengers, including young men, African Americans, students experiencing academic difficulties, and those with a history of either drinking and driving or riding with a drinking driver.

About the Meharry-State Farm Alliance

The Meharry-State Farm Alliance, established in 2002, unites the historically black academic health sciences center and the nation's largest automobile insurer in a drive to save lives on the nation's highways. It engages in scholarly research, education, community outreach, and public policy initiatives to advocate for an increase in the appropriate and consistent use of seat belts. It focuses primarily on African American populations that suffer disproportionate rates of preventable deaths and injuries due to their failure to buckle up, especially youth, seniors, and urban motorists.

About Meharry Medical College

Meharry Medical College is the nation's largest private, independent historically black institution dedicated solely to educating health science professionals. Since its founding in 1876 it has been a leading educator of African American physicians, dentists, and biomedical scientists. The college is particularly well known for: uniquely nurturing, highly effective educational programs; preeminence in health disparities research; culturally sensitive, evidence-based health services; and its significant contribution to the diversity of the nation's health professions workforce. Visit http://www. mmc. edu.

About State Farm®

State Farm® insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U. S., is the leading insurer of watercraft, and is also a leading insurer in Canada. State Farm's 17,000 agents and 67,000 employees serve over 77 million auto, fire, life, and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 1.9 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 32 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm. com® or in Canada statefarm. ca®.

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HSA Resources Releases Webinar: The Impact of Health Reform on HSAs

HSA Resources Releases Webinar: The Impact of Health Reform on HSAs

HSA Resources' Webinar addressing the impact of the new health reform legislation (PPACA) is now being made available to everyone via HSA Resources' website at www. HSAResources. com

Winnetka, IL (PRWEB) September 23, 2010

HSA Resources, one of the nation’s leading HSA providers, just released its new webinar: The Impact of Health Reform on HSAs. This webinar is designed for the professional that wants the details on how the new law impacts Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). The new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) only includes the acronym HSA six times and the law and only makes two direct changes to HSAs: (1) eliminating over-the-counter drugs as an eligible medical expense, and (2) increasing the penalty for non-eligible distributions from 10% to 20%. This webinar goes beyond these relatively minor changes and focuses on seven indirect changes that could dramatically impact HSAs and potentially even eliminate them.

“We believe in HSAs and want to concentrate attention to areas of the new law that could impact HSAs,” said Whitney Johnson, cofounder of HSA Resources and leader of the webinar. “A lot of the detail of the law is left to the regulators to write and we need to ensure these regulations are written such that HSAs survive.”

The forty-five minute webinar details how the following seven reforms could impact HSAs.
 Preventive Care Requirements  Medical Loss Ratios  Essential Benefits  Maximum Deductibles for Small Groups  Insurance Exchanges and Actuarial Value Requirements  Maximum Out-of-Pocket Costs  Cadillac Tax

A recording of the webinar is available at www. HSAResources. com.

About HSA Resources
HSA Resources is one of the nation’s leading providers of Health Savings Accounts. Focused exclusively on HSAs, HSA Resources was founded in 2004 and has been assisting agents, employers and individuals with HSAs ever since. HSA Resources is focused on ensuring that people get the most out of their HSAs via education and selected partnership arrangements. HSA Resources is headquartered in St. Cloud, Minnesota and an office in Chicago, Illinois. For more information on HSA Resources please visit our web site at www. HSAResources. com.

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