November 6, 2003

Council asks businesses to participate in survey. . .

The chairman of The Business Council of New York State is urging business people across the state to participate in a survey designed to identify the business community's priorities and concerns. The survey, which focuses on New York's business climate and competiveness, is available from The Business Council's Web site.

"The more business leaders share their perspectives through this survey, the more persuasive The Business Council can be in urging lawmakers to make the policy changes that New York needs to be more competitive," said Heidi Nauleau, chairman of the Jamestown-based Aarque Companies and chairman of The Business Council.

The survey seeks information on a range of issues that affect the costs of doing business in New York and the state's economic competitiveness, including:

• Various costs, including taxes, health insurance, workers' comp, environmental regulations, product liability, and labor laws.
• Access to capital, R&D capabilities, government investment incentives, transportation facilities, and energy.

The survey also asks questions about how businesses might participate in Business Council activities as well as businesses perceptions of The Business Council's approach to advocacy.

Manhattan Chamber looking for help . . .

The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce is reaching out to chambers across the country about a bill in Congress that could repeal the taxation of federal grant monies given to New York City businesses after the September 11th attacks. MCC is encouraging chambers to write their representatives, urging them to sign on to Carolyn Maloney's HR-1620. A letter provided by the MCC follows below. For more information or background, please contact Nancy Ploeger at np@manhattancc.org.

Dear Fellow Chamber Member,

You may or may not be aware of the fact that the IRS is taxing the federal grants that were extended to businesses affected by the 9/11 terrorist attacks in Lower Manhattan. The final ruling was made earlier this year. The businesses all received their grant monies in 2002 and were not told at the time that they would be taxed on these grants. Naturally, all of their grant monies were poured back into reconstructing their businesses and many are still just barely hanging on. Compiled, over $265+ million will be paid back to the government through this taxation procedure. In effect, "one hand giveth, one hand taketh away!"

Congress never intended for the grants to be taxable but because of a loophole (distribution through HUD instead of FEMA) the grants are being taxed. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and Congressman Jerrold Nadler, both representing downtown Manhattan, have put forth a bill, HR 1620, to overturn this ruling.

We need your support in undoing this onerous burden and hope that you will take a few moments to contact your Congressional leaders and ask them to sign on to this bill. Attached is a sample letter with talking points.

Thank you in advance for your help in this matter. We want to make sure this is not a precedent for future rulings as well in any disaster situation.

Sincerely,

Nancy Ploeger
President
MCC

PS. A full release on this issue can be found at http://www.manhattancc.org/News/detail.cfm?QID=1744

Tell us about it . . .

Roseanne Castellano from the Staten Island Chamber needs your help: We are in the process of reinstating and revamping our membership committee and need some retention ideas. Does anyone have a particularly effective membership program that helps attract new members and retain long-time members? Please e-mail all suggestions to rcastellano@sichamber.com

Rob Robinson from The Otsego County Chamber needs your help: Are any chambers changing their dues structure this year, and increasing dues? How are you balancing the necessity of a dues increase with the difficult economic times? Please e-mail suggestions to rob@otsegocountychamber.com.

Got a question you’d like to ask other CANYS members? Job opening in your chamber? Great idea you’d like to share? Send it to maggie.moree@bcnys.org.