http://www.nfib.com/Keep up with the latest news, politics and events for small business in Tennessee.en-usEM3 iOnwebmaster@nfib.orghttp://www.nfib.com/object/IO_37146.htmlA provision in a technical corrections bill would do away with an important franchise and excise tax exemption that encourages ownership of family-owned limited liability corporations and limited partnerships in commercial property. Senate Bill 4173 and House Bill 4129 are moving toward important votes in committees in the Tennessee Senate and House of Representatives, according to the National Federation of Independent Business in Tennessee. Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_37139.htmlThis week, NFIB members and friends spoke loudly and clearly about a controversial provision in the administration's end-of-session technical corrections package. The provision in question would remove a franchise and excise tax exemption on family-owned non-corporate entities, or FONCEs, which are certain limited liability corporations and limited partnerships that derive passive income through commercial property. Many Tennessee small business families have FONCEs.Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_37104.htmlJim Brown, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, said a measure that cleared the state Legislature Tuesday would make it easier for small business owners to find and keep affordable health insurance for their employees and their families.Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_37075.htmlRevenue Commissioner Reagan Farr made the rounds in the Legislative Plaza this week to explain the administration's so-called "technical corrections" package. The amendment to Senate Bill 4173 filed by Sen. Jim Kyle (Memphis) and House Bill 4129 by Rep. Gary Odom (Nashville) is expected to net the state $27 million, up from an earlier $20 million estimate provided by Commissioner Farr's department.Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36998.htmlLast week's Small Business Update noted a so-called "technical corrections" amendment to a bill that's already been filed by the administration. Many provisions of the amendment to Senate Bill 4173 and House Bill 4129 indeed seek to clarify or close existing loopholes, but one purpose is to identify new sources or increase existing sources of revenue. The amendment coincides with an announcement this week by Gov. Phil Bredesen that he expects a deepening budget shortfall.Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36941.htmlNFIB partnered last week with the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce to host an informative exchange about healthcare reform. Panelists included Sen. Jim Tracy (Shelbyville), Reps. Curt Cobb (Shelbyville), John Hood (Murfreesboro) and Donna Rowland (Murfreesboro), Neal Heatherly with StoneCrest Medical Center, Judy Homan with AARP and NFIB State Director Jim Brown. More than 70 NFIB and chamber members attended the spirited forum. While there were diverse viewpoints, attendees praised NFIB's efforts to pass meaningful healthcare reform bills at the state level and with SHOP, the recently introduced bipartisan effort at the federal level. Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36871.htmlNearly 75 small business owners and guests from across the state attended NFIB's Small Business Day at the Capitol in Nashville on Wednesday, April 9.Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36877.htmlNearly 75 small business owners and guests from across the state attended NFIB's Small Business Day at the Capitol in Nashville on Wednesday. Gov. Phil Bredesen gave the keynote address, discussing the economy, the state's eHealth initiative aimed at connecting healthcare providers throughout the state and CoverTN, the state's year-old program to help small businesses cover the cost of providing basic health insurance to their employees. Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36818.htmlNFIB has worked diligently to file bipartisan legislation in the U.S. Senate that would make health insurance more affordable, predictable and accessible for small businesses with up to 100 employees.Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36820.htmlOver 100 small businesses in Clarksville and Montgomery County have joined NFIB/Tennessee over the past few weeks, underlying the strength of the region's small business community. Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36733.htmlThe National Federation of Independent Business says about 100 small businesses in Clarksville and Montgomery County have joined the state's leading small business association during its spring membership drive, underlining the strength of the region's small business community.Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36684.htmlSpecial NFIB member report on healthcare, immigration and workers' compensation in Tennessee, April/May 2008.Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36655.htmlTime is running short to sign up for Small Business Day at the Capitol on Wednesday, April 9. This informative, interactive day with elected officials is an outstanding way to make your voice heard on issues important to you and your business. Gov. Phil Bredesen is confirmed as our keynote speaker. Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36588.htmlNFIB members: Don't miss this year's Small Business Day at the Capitol, sponsored by AT&T and Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9. Gov. Phil Bredesen is confirmed as our keynote speaker. Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36548.htmlThe coming week will be critical for small business. Please contact your state senators and representatives NOW to be heard on key legislation. This week's calendar is filled with very good -- and potentially very bad -- small business legislation. Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36503.htmlRetailers alert: The House agreed with the Senate last week to move this month's sales tax holiday from the Easter weekend (March 21-23) to April 25-27. The bill heads to the governor for his consideration. The sales tax break applies to clothing, school supplies and computers. Another sales tax holiday is scheduled for early August.Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36453.htmlThe National Federation of Independent Business, Tennessee's leading small business association, has named Mark White its 2008 Small Business Champion in Tennessee.Tue, 04 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36420.htmlSupport is growing in the Legislature for bills that would help small business owners offer health benefits to their employees. Senate Bill 2659/House Bill 3100 would provide tax credits for small employers who provide health insurance.Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36178.htmlAfter purchasing what seemed like my millionth product that said "made in China," I was convinced that it was time to go to the source. What could possibly be going on in a country that seemed to be creating the 21st Century Industrial Revolution? So from Oct. 17 through 25, 2007, I, along with 100 fellow Tennesseans, joined the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Developments trade mission to China. The trip, hosted by Gov. Phil Bredesen and Commissioner Matt Kisber, proved to be more than I had anticipated. Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36160.htmlAt least 33 Tennesseans lost their lives in this week's terrible storms. The American Red Cross declared the storms a "level four" disaster and set up emergency shelters in Gallatin, Hartsville and Lafayette. FEMA and the Small Business Administration are preparing relief efforts, and the SBA expects to set up processing centers for loans to affected homeowners and small-business owners soon.Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36055.htmlThank you for your fantastic response to this year's NFIB/Tennessee Member Ballot, which is the driving force for our membership's agenda. As of this morning, 458 members have responded! Your activism is greatly appreciated. So what did you, our membership, say? Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36004.htmlSpecial NFIB member report on activism in Tennessee, February/March 2008.Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36041.html"Small businesses are the drivers of our state's economy, accounting for more than 97 percent of all employers in Tennessee. Small business also creates about two-thirds of all net new jobs. It's vital that we have a thriving small business community for our state and the nation to continue to grow and prosper."Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35983.htmlThe National Federation of Independent Business, Tennessee's leading small business association, today said it supports the establishment of tax credits for small business owners who offer health insurance to their employees and dependents. NFIB also will support the establishment of small-group health cooperatives that allow small businesses and their employees to pool in order to reduce the risk of losing their health insurance.Wed, 30 Jan 2008 08:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35945.htmlAlbert Ray, an NFIB member in Millington, has been using the H-2B Visa program effectively for seven years. That is, until this year. In August, Ray, who owns a landscaping company, submitted his H-2B requests for seven workers who had worked effectively in his business for years. In November, he learned the federal program, which has shrunk from accepting 300,000 applicants a year to 66,000, was full. Ray and many other NFIB members are in the same boat -- they are trying to do the right thing but are up against a system that has failed them. Our nation's archaic guest worker program clearly doesn't meet the needs of today's economy in Tennessee and our country.Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35862.htmlLast summer, a small-business constituent of Sen. Raymond Finney (Maryville) called his office to express concern about a potentially arbitrary order from a state inspector. The entrepreneur was told his expansive seven-foot fence with razor-tops was too low, and he would need to raise it. At a minimum, this would have cost his business thousands of dollars and significant time away from his operation. At a maximum, it could have cost him a trip to the bank for a large loan request or even put him out of business. Sen. Finney called the department to express his constituent's concerns, mentioning the recently adopted Small-Business Regulatory Flexibility Act he had sponsored with Rep. Susan Lynn (Mt. Juliet). A department official soon called Sen. Finney to say his constituent's fence was fine. Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35717.htmlThank you to the many NFIB members who have returned this year's NFIB/Tennessee Member Ballot. If you haven't expressed your views on questions concerning health care, workers' comp and illegal immigration in Tennessee, you still have time!Fri, 04 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35557.htmlNFIB/Tennessee Leadership Council Chairman Shane Reeves, co-owner of Reeves-Sain Pharmacy in Murfreesboro, joined 22 other small-business and Middle Tennessee leaders at a roundtable discussion on rural economic development with Gov. Phil Bredesen in Fayetteville on Dec. 4. Reeves thanked the governor for his leadership on CoverTN and asked the governor about the concept of small-group health cooperatives. The governor said he strongly supports pooling mechanisms for small business, like health cooperatives, as long as they are "fiscally sound."Fri, 14 Dec 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35473.htmlSpecial NFIB member report on the small-business issues such as insurance and activism in Tennessee, December/January 2008.Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35406.htmlJim Cox was busy running his business as usual one afternoon in Franklin, Tenn., when a Dell catalog showed up in the mail. Somewhere in the pages between the laptops and the servers was a picture of Dell's founder Michael Dell and Megan Duckett of Sew What?, last year's winner of the Small Business Excellence in Customer Service Award. "We ought to enter this, too," Cox told his team. And they did.Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:00:00 PST