events July 2009

Member News & Events

Using YouTube & Online Video Blogging to Increase Business, with Nhat Pham, SuccessWerks

July 8th, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Registration & refreshments begins @ 9:00 a.m..

Blogging & Online Video—You will learn to:

• Set up your own YouTube Channel
• Step-by-Step to upload videos
• Creating a Studio for under $500
• Getting Traffic to your Videos & site
• Much more.

RMA Members:  $197 (Members will get a Special Surprise Bonus)
Non-Members: $297

Register—Use Promo Code: RMA

www.successwerks.com

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Children’s Miracle Network Online LemonAid Stand

Have you considered registering an Online LemonAid Stand? This is the second year, in addition to our traditional LemonAid Stands set up around the Richmond area we are offering the ability to register a stand ONLINE. Each dollar raised will be donated to your local Children's Miracle Network hospital to help treat children with pediatric cancer. All you need is a goal for your stand, a few family and friends' email addresses, and you've got yourself an Online LemonAid Stand. Stands will be active from the date you sign up until Friday, July 31st.  Be sure to visit the Frequently Asked Questions page at www.childrensmiraclenetwork.net/lemonaid (Richmond) or call (804) 228-5929. Thank you for helping us "put the squeeze" on pediatric cancer!

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Powhatan Chamber of Commerce—Free seminar on The Power of Email Marketing with Gina Watkins of Constant Contact 

Wednesday, July 8
Powhatan Public Library-large conference room

8:00 to 9:30 a.m.
Best Practices in Email Marketing for Entrepreneurs, Associations, Chambers, Non-Profits, and Small Business

Build the relationships that are the key to your business success with easy, inexpensive and highly effective email marketing! In this seminar, we will provide tips to increase your email deliverability and open rates, write good headlines and content, and perhaps most importantly, strategies for getting—and keeping—high quality prospects, customers and members. You will learn how to:

• Become a trusted email sender in the eyes of your prospects, customers, and members.
• Build your list! How to find and keep email list subscribers.
• Get your sent emails opened and read.
• Turn your readers into more frequent buyers/supporters/donators.
• Target your communications—how to get the right message to the right people at the right time
• Use email communications to improve customer/member loyalty.

9:45–11:15 a.m.
Getting Started with Email Marketing & Constant Contact (Live Demo)

You've learned about best practices—now take the next step! Getting Started will help you create and enhance your first email marketing campaigns - we'll provide tips, techniques and guide you through the tools and features in the Constant Contact system. You'll learn how to set up account options, add signup boxes to your website and emails, load a list, build a campaign, brand your email to match websites and logos. We will also go over text editing and other shortcuts to save time and give your emails a polished, professional look. You'll also learn tips on how to develop content, get your email opened, and track results.

RSVP by responding to Diane and Tina at the Powhatan Chamber office 598-2636.

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American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Provides Energy Incentives for Businesses

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provides a number of energy tax incentives for both small and large businesses. Businesses and individuals who take advantage of these energy-saving steps this year may result see bigger tax savings next year.

Here are some of the major provisions that apply:

1. Extension of Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit: This law extends the “eligibility dates” of a tax credit for business facilities that use wind, closed-loop biomass, open-loop biomass, geothermal energy, municipal solid waste, qualified hydropower and marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy. The "placed in service date” is now Dec. 31, 2012 for wind facilities and Dec. 31, 2013 for the other facilities.

2. Election of Investment Credit in Lieu of Production Credit: Businesses that operate facilities that produce electricity from wind and some other renewable resources after Dec. 31, 2008 can now choose either the energy investment tax credit or the production tax credit. 

3. Repeal of Certain Limits on Business Credits for Renewable Energy Property:  ARRA repeals the $4,000 limit on the 30 percent tax credit for small wind energy property and the limitation on property financed by subsidized energy financing for property placed in service after Dec. 31, 2008.

4. Coordination with Renewable Energy Grants: Business taxpayers can apply for a grant in lieu of claiming either the energy investment tax credit or the renewable energy production tax credit for property placed in service in 2009 or 2010.

5. Temporary Increase in Credit for Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property: Qualified property placed in service in 2009 and 2010 is now eligible for a 50 percent credit, and the per-business location limit increases to $50,000. Property relating to hydrogen remains at the 30 percent rate, but the per-business location limit rises to $200,000.

In addition, there are several other energy credits available that small businesses should be aware of, such as:

6. Residential Energy Property Credit: The new law increases the energy tax credit for homeowners who make energy efficient improvements to their existing homes. The new law increases the credit rate to 30 percent of the cost of all qualifying improvements and raises the maximum credit limit to $1,500 for improvements placed in service in 2009 and 2010. The credit applies to improvements such as adding insulation, energy efficient exterior windows and energy-efficient heating and air conditioning systems.

7. Plug-in Electric Drive Vehicle Credit: The new law modifies the credit for qualified plug-in electric drive vehicles purchased after Dec. 31, 2009.

8. Plug-In Electric Vehicle Credit: The new law also creates a special tax credit for two types of plug-in vehicles—certain low-speed electric vehicles and two- or three-wheeled vehicles.

More information on these business energy tax incentives are available on IRS.gov.

To keep up with ARRA and other IRS tax news, subscribe to e-News for Small Businesses.