Earlier this month, New York City Mayor Bill DiBlasio announced a proposal to increase the discretionary spending limit for MWBEs in the city to $1 million for goods, services and construction. The proposal was hailed by elected officials, business entities and advocates across the state as a means of further leveling the playing field for […]
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Firefighters and Workers Compensation Laws
Firefighters are arguably everyone’s heroes. They brave situations most of us can only imagine: running into burning buildings and employing extraordinary measures to rescue those trapped inside. They endure searing heat, smoke and soot on a regular basis in order to ensure that those they have sworn to protect are safe. It’s a dangerous job. According […]
What Are Export Credit Insurance and the EXIM Bank?
Many U.S. small businesses would like to expand operations by exporting their products overseas. And, according to data from Small Business Trends, there are significant benefits to doing so. For example, small businesses that export grow more quickly and are 8.5 percent less likely to go out of business than those that don’t. Additionally, exporting companies tend […]
AGs in Six States Sue Trump Administration Over Final OSHA Reporting Rule
In early March, attorneys general from six states filed a lawsuit in the District Court for the District of Columbia against OSHA and the U.S. Department of Labor, challenging the Trump administration’s sudden rollback of OSHA illness and injury reporting requirements. Led by New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal, the suit comes on the […]
Undocumented Immigrants and Workers Compensation Benefits
Undocumented immigrants are an integral part of the U.S. economy. No matter how one feels about illegal immigration, the fact is that millions of undocumented immigrants are working in the United States today. According to the Pew Research Center, 7.8 million men and women who lack legal immigration status were either employed or actively seeking […]
The Importance of NAICS Codes to MWBEs
Being certified as a woman or minority-owned business has many advantages, the most significant of which is greater access to government contracts in your area of expertise. However, finding, bidding on and winning these contracts is far from a simple process. What’s more, your access to contracts will be limited by the NAICS codes assigned […]
New York Improves Virtual Workers Compensation Hearings
In January 2019, New York State announced it was introducing new technology that would make it easier for injured workers to attend virtual workers compensation hearings. The new tool comes in the form of a mobile app that allows injured workers and their attorneys to know when a virtual hearing is about to take place. […]
How to Improve Your Business Credit Score
Minority and women-owned businesses have more difficulty accessing capital than businesses owned by white males. The reasons for this are many and varied. But when you’re trying to get a business loan, the reasons for the disparity will probably matter far less to you than learning what you can do to maximize your chances of […]
Does New York’s Personal Net Worth Cap Hurt MWBEs?
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 […]
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 […]