ALBANY — Gov. Kathy Hochul’s push to sweeten the state’s film and television tax credit program comes at a time when some lawmakers are out to determine whether the state’s economic development efforts are yielding sufficient benefits for New Yorkers. Representatives of the entertainment industry and the unions whose members have secured jobs from New York productions threw their support Thursday to Hochul’s proposal to boost the film subsidy from $420 million a year to $700 million annually. Citing his experience as commissioner of the Buffalo/Niagara Film Office, Tim Clark, said at a legislative budget hearing the New York incentives “absolutely drive where movies and scripted television shows are made.” Before the creation of the Empire State tax credit, Clark recalled, films set in Buffalo were shot in Toronto, Winnipeg and even Southern California. In a reversal of fortunes, Buffalo has played host to films with story lines set in locales as diverse as Clarksdale, Mississippi, and Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, he noted. “We are now a movie-making destination — something I never envisioned when I became film commissioner 17 years ago,” Clark said. But some lawmakers and others at the hearing were openly skeptical about the enhanced package of […]

Click here to view original web page at www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com

CNN — The US Commerce Department is restricting six Chinese companies tied to the Chinese army’s aerospace programs from obtaining US technology without government authorization. The move comes after a Chinese balloon suspected of carrying out surveillance flew over the US last week, raising political tensions between the world’s two largest economies. US fighter jets shot down the balloon, which American officials have since claimed is part of an extensive surveillance program run by the Chinese military. The six companies support the Chinese government’s “modernization efforts, specifically those related to aerospace programs, including airships and balloons and related materials and components, that are used by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) for intelligence and reconnaissance,” the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security said in a statement . The six companies are: Beijing Nanjiang Aerospace Technology; China Electronics Technology Group Corporation 48th Research Institute; Dongguan Lingkong Remote Sensing Technology; Eagles Men Aviation Science and Technology Group; Guangzhou Tian-Hai-Xiang Aviation Technology; and Shanxi Eagles Men Aviation Science and Technology Group. The inclusion of the companies on the Commerce Department’s “Entity List,” sends “a clear message to companies, governments, and other stakeholders globally that the entities on the list present a threat […]

Click here to view original web page at www.cnn.com

KVOE News file photo. Volunteers from two entities are ready to help qualifying residents with their taxes. Emporia State School of Business students are once again involved in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance or VITA program. Adjunct instructor Payson Maydew says this gives accounting students “real-world experience” before they officially start their careers. The VITA program offers free tax return preparation for residents who make $60,000 or less, have disabilities or are limited English speakers. Residents in these categories can drop off their information and related forms at Emporia State Cremer Hall Room 421. They then schedule a pickup time. Residents with questions can call 620-341-6481. Also, the American Association of Retired Persons’ Tax-Aide program is offering help with tax returns for people needing simple returns. It’s the first time the AARP has offered this service since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. AARP is partnering with the Emporia Senior Center and Emporia State Federal Credit Union for this service. Residents can call the Senior Center at 620-343-3160 weekdays between 9 am and 1 pm to set appointments. Senior Center hours are 9 am to noon Mondays and Wednesdays, while Credit Union hours will be 5-6 pm […]

Click here to view original web page at kvoe.com

Strong opinions on both sides of the immigration issue don’t make achieving consensus easy, but for tech leaders, the bottom line is clear: Immigration fuels growth and needs to accelerate, not slow down. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. In almost every country, immigration is a contentious issue, particularly as it affects the economy. On one side of the debate, detractors argue that too much can saturate job markets and depress wages, while on the other side are those who point to falling birth rates in developed countries and to the need for labor in sectors with increasing worker shortages. Here in Canada, we’ve been for years fairly liberal about allowing immigration. According to Statista , just shy of 493,000 people arrived here legally between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022. And the results of a 2022 poll by Research Co. indicate that three-quarters of Canadians see their arrival and contributions to the economy as a net positive. As a CEO heavily involved with the technology sector, I couldn’t agree more. The reality is that immigrants are critical to economic growth, particularly in this sector, and I’m not the only one saying so. Canada is in […]

Click here to view original web page at www.entrepreneur.com

Simply Swag, a consignment craft store at 4302 13th Ave. S., Fargo, is pictured Monday, Feb. 6. FARGO — Simply Swag, a consignment store that sells locally made handcrafted items, will close its brick and mortar retail shop Feb. 28, the store recently announced on social media. Owner Jessica Erickson said the supply chain snarls and the rapidly rising cost of crafting supplies has squeezed the vendors who rent space at the store. “Our vendors are having a hard time finding supplies to make those products that they sell,” Erickson said Monday, Feb. 6. If the materials can be found, “they are way overpriced,” she said. “They are having a hard time keeping going.” The result is that the store at 4302 13th Ave. S. has had difficulty stocking enough products. “After Christmas, our sales are way down from previous years. It was time to close up shop,” Erickson said. They will still continue to sell at craft shows and craft fairs. She said she will post those events on Facebook. Gift cards and gift certificates will be honored at the shows, or on the store’s Etsy and Shop North Dakota pages. Customers are urged to contact Erickson first […]

Click here to view original web page at www.inforum.com

Medellín, February 10, 2023. Viva, the Low Cost airline that promotes the air inclusion in Colombia and the region, announces the start of the process of Delaware Business Recovery (PRE) in accordance with the regulations that protect companies affected by the COVID-19 crisis, with a view to achieving its permanence in the market, pending the urgent definition by Aerocivil about its alliance with Avianca. This determination occurs due to the crisis that it faces when adding to the effects of the Covid-19, the current macroeconomic factors that are public knowledge. Additionally, the company has not been able to access capital during the last nine months since it has not yet been possible to implement its integration with another airline, which is still pending authorization from the National Government. Viva accepts this voluntary recovery process that lasts 90 days, in order to restructure their debts through a negotiation with their major creditors to continue operating under sustainable conditions that guarantee the continuity of the company. This decision comes after six months of waiting of the definition of the alliance with Avianca, which if approved will allow us to continue in the low-cost business through our linkage to another group of […]

Click here to view original web page at newsroom.aviator.aero

Farmers are forecast to increase planting this year to make the most of high grain prices and offset their higher costs. The U.S. agriculture industry is projecting another strong year, with elevated crop prices and China’s rebound from Covid-19 expected to boost farmers, chemical suppliers and grain traders. Grain-trading middlemen, including Archer Daniels Midland Co. and Bunge Ltd., said demand for crops, vegetable oils and livestock feed will remain strong in 2023. China is also expected to increase its crop imports as Covid-19 restrictions in the country ease, executives said. Seed and pesticide sellers said those forces should support crop prices and keep farmers flush with cash, enabling them to shell out for higher-priced supplies.

Click here to view original web page at www.wsj.com

The growing popular trend of labor hoarding is an effort of businesses to pump up benefits to ease … [+] getty Small businesses are facing big challenges due to talks of a recession and layoffs across multiple industries. As a result, job insecurity is looming for both employers and employees as it becomes harder to fill positions. An Insight Global study reported that 77% of the American workforce planned to stay in their current jobs. And in a recent Skynova survey a whopping majority of 1,010 business owners (21% large, 22% medium and 57% small businesses) say they are labor hoarding . That means they are pumping up their investments in employees to keep the status quo and avoid a labor shortage. Labor hoarding usually occurs in a downturn or recession when businesses avoid layoffs at all costs and employees stay put due to job shortages. Sounds like a match made in heaven, according to Sara Jensen, senior vice president of growth and strategy at Innovative Employee Solutions . “This strategy can be a win-win for both companies and talent,” Jensen explained to me. “It is extremely beneficial for companies by offering a strategic way to continue to meet […]

Click here to view original web page at www.forbes.com

Sarah Roesler, left, adds caramels and Emily Fletcher adds pens to gift boxes at White Spruce Market headquarters in Duluth on Feb. 6. DULUTH — Bailey Aro Hutchence’s workspace is a pole barn on the outside, and confetti-covered chocolate bars, sparklers and trivia tins on the inside. White Spruce Market is Aro Hutchence’s curated gift box business, which will have new website Feb. 20 and a planned on-location expansion this year. Bailey Aro Hutchence, founder of White Spruce Market, talks about some of her favorite products Feb. 6. Unlike a subscription box with a monthly sprinkling of mailed goodies, her clients can carefully select from a long list of products to build their own token of appreciation for loved ones and associates, or, enlist the help of Aro Hutchence and her team to do it from the ground up. And, with the gift items set, White Spruce Market takes care of everything, right down to the handwritten note. “As the owner of multiple businesses, I know how easy it is to get in the weeds with little tedious projects," Aro Hutchence said. "What you think can be simple and straightforward, ‘I’m going to send gifts to 15 of my […]

Click here to view original web page at www.duluthnewstribune.com

Siemens demonstrated how the enormous potential for optimizing machine tools can be utilized, thanks to the continuous analysis of production data. With the open digital business platform Siemens Xcelerator, IoT-enabled hardware and software, the company demonstrated how the physical world can be connected to the digital world. Such a portfolio accelerates digital transformation and enables flexible and sustainable action both in the building of machine tools and in use. Apps for the machine tool business with Siemens Xcelerator Siemens recently launched an open, digital business platform called Xcelerator. The company seeks to enable customers of all sizes in the fields of industry, buildings, power generation, public utilities and mobility to accelerate their digital transformation and increase value creation. The business platform makes digital transformation easier, faster and scalable. It comprises three cornerstones — a curated portfolio of internet of things (IoT) enabled hardware, software and digital services from across Siemens and certified third-parties; a growing ecosystem of partners; and an evolving marketplace to facilitate interactions and transactions between customers, partners and developers. With applications such as Manage MyResources/Tools, Manage MyResources/Programs, Analyze MyPerformance/OEE, Manage MyMachines, Manage MyMachines/Remote and Analyze MyMachine/Condition, as well as the Industrial Edge for Machine Tools platform, […]

Click here to view original web page at www.manufacturing.net