In June of 2017, the New York State legislature passed bipartisan legislation lifting the $3.5 million net worth cap on certified MWBEs. The bill received widespread support from the MWBE community, who lauded it as a step forward in helping women and minorities build capacity and win larger and more lucrative bids. But the law […]
Month: February 2019
Will Workers Compensation Pay for Medical Marijuana?
With medical marijuana now legal in 33 states, the issue of insurance coverage for cannabis is one to watch. As of this writing, no private health insurer in the U.S. pays for medical marijuana, nor do Medicare or Medicaid. But a recent court ruling in New Jersey left the issue wide open in regard to […]
How MWBE’s Can Maximize Their Chances of Getting a Small Business Loan
Minority and women owned businesses have a more difficult time accessing capital than firms owned by white males. The reasons for this vary and include issues such as lower credit scores, shorter business lifespans, and institutional bias against women and minorities. But other, more practical factors are frequently in play as well. For example, some […]
What is New York’s Construction Industry Fair Play Act?
In the State of New York, construction contractors are required to provide workers compensation insurance for any person in their employ. But because prime contractors typically subcontract work to other entities, the question of who is and who is not an employee was for many years a source of contention when an on-the-job accident occurred. […]
What Is SCORE and How Can It Help MWBEs?
Whether you’re looking for a mentor or trying to find business advice, helpful resources are often scarce. This is particularly true for minority and women business owners, who tend to have fewer peers and less access to mentors in their field. Nevertheless, a number of options do exist. One of these is SCORE, an organization […]
Overexertion — The No. 1 Cause of Workplace Injuries
Workplace injuries are all too common in the United States. According to the National Safety Council, a U.S. worker is injured every seven seconds, for a total of 4.5 million on-the-job injuries every year. And while many of these injuries are relatively minor, the total cost in terms of lost productivity is enormous. The agency […]
How to Become a Certified Vendor in San Francisco
According to a recent survey from Lending Tree, San Francisco is the top metro area in the country for minority-owned businesses. And data from San Francisco Business Times shows that woman-owned businesses are thriving in the Bay Area too. Many of these firms have taken advantage of the city’s vendor certification programs, which provide access […]
Worker’s Compensation and Workplace Violence
One of the most effective ways in which employers can keep worker’s compensation costs down is by mitigating safety hazards in the workplace. Training employees in the proper use of equipment, ensuring that the workplace is clean and free of debris, using appropriate signage, and fostering an environment in which safety is a priority are […]
Small Business Grants for Female Entrepreneurs 2019
Women business owners and female entrepreneurs face a number of obstacles, one of the most significant of which is access to capital. In fact, at a time when there are more women-owned businesses than ever before, women business owners’ access to funding has taken a significant turn for the worse. According to Biz2Credits 2017 State […]