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COBRT's Weekly News for You - April 14, 2016
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Colorado Business Roundtable recently attended an event which showcased NASA's Green Propulsion Infusion Mission (GPIM) at Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp. in Boulder, Colorado. This NASA spacecraft is safer on the ground and more efficient in space thanks to a new, non-toxic fuel. It will launch next year.
Read more
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Connect & Collaborate Radio
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Podcasts are available from all shows including these recently added:
April 8 - Kristen Muzzy, Leading2Lean and Supporting Efficiency in Manufacturing
More about next week's line up can be found
here:
April 18 - Anthony Lambatos, Footers Catering, and
guest Peter Melby of Greystone Technology
April 19 -
Stephanie Veck, Colorado Workforce Development Council
April 20 -
Bart Taylor, Company Week magazine
April 21 -
Paul Bergman, US Department of Commerce, US Commercial Service
April 22 -
Rebecca Laurie, State of Colorado, Department of Regulatory Agencies
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This week, local muralist Bimmer Torres (at left: his mural on 31st & Downing) starts his custom- designed mural at Prodigy Coffeehouse, a social enterprise coffeehouse craft coffee apprenticeship for young adults in northeast Denver.
Prodigy's mural idea came directly from youth during a series of Design Workshops. Youth from Swansea Rec Center, Goodwill and Youth on Record had a consistent call for a local muralist to design an exterior mural that reflected the culture of Elyria-Swansea as well as the mission of Prodigy Ventures. See more
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Last week, we reported on the Honorary Rotary Membership that folk music legend Peter Yarrow was awarded for his work in Colorado with Rotary's Peaceful Schools Program.
Read more about that here.
Yarrow then performed in Denver and Colorado Springs. Here are some photos from his show with Noel Paul Stookey at the Paramount Theatre on April 8, 2016.
See photos
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Colorado Companies to Watch (CCTW) announced last week the 2016 Finalists of the 8th Annual Colorado Company to Watch Awards, a unique program that honors 50 high-performing second-stage companies from across the state for their performance in the marketplace, innovative products, unique processes and philanthropic actions.
Second-stage companies are those that have moved past the startup stage and into a period of growth. The 2016 Finalists selected significantly impact the state's economy by collectively providing thousands of jobs and contributing millions of dollars in revenue while representing Colorado's diverse economic landscape.
Candidates are selected from nominations within the local community. This year had over 1,000 nominations.
Read more
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COBRT is presenting Leadercast Denver for the second year in a row, hosted by KNUS-KRKS-KDMT. Leadercast is the world's largest one-day leadership conference, broadcast LIVE from Atlanta and simulcast to hundreds of locations around the world on May 6, 2016.
The theme of this year's Leadercast conference is "Architects of Tomorrow," focusing on visionary leaders who imagine and build a future that is rich in innovation, collaboration and full of hope. Key speakers - visionaries in their own fields - will inspire the more than 300 people who attend locally, and the more than 100,000 people who will attend the event live or simulcast. COBRT partners and members (that's YOU) receive a discounted rate of $50, so click here to register or
read more here.
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Op-Ed from Consumer Energy Alliance
On April 10, Townhall.com published Consumer Energy Alliance President David Holt's opinion editorial entitled, "Fact over Fiction on Atlantic Offshore Energy."
The editorial discusses the Atlantic's removal from BOEM's five year offshore plan and presents support for offshore Atlantic oil and gas development. The piece delves into topics such as energy security and infrastructure. For more information on the article, please contact Brent Greenfield at [email protected].
Read article
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Transportation and Logistics
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The offices of Colorado Business Roundtable, ICOSA Media and CAP Logistics happen to be just across the street from the 40th and Colorado station on the University of Colorado A Line, the new commuter rail linking downtown Denver's Union Station to Denver International Airport. We are joining with many community partners to celebrate this event with the neighborhood. Station parties are on Saturday, April 23 from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. Rides are free all day, so you can make several festive stops.
Read more
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What if federal budget decisions were in your hands?
The
Bipartisan Policy Center,
in partnership with Denver-based Engaged Public's
Balancing Act,
launched the
Federal Balancing Act: An Interactive Budget Simulation
to promote a deeper dialogue and citizen engagement on the federal budget. Users have the opportunity to adjust a wide variety of federal programs, including health care, Social Security, defense, anti-poverty safety nets, veterans' benefits and services, infrastructure, education, scientific research, and many others. Changes to revenue sources -- such as individual income taxes, corporate income taxes, the federal gas tax and more -- can pay for these programs. Users can also see a receipt for their taxes.
"Citizens pay trillions of dollars a year in taxes, but few understand the process for collecting and spending that money," said Chris Adams, president of Engaged Public. "We are changing that with a convenient simulation-based tool that not only shows the public how their federal tax dollars are currently raised and spent, but also asks them to constructively join the decision-making process."
Read more
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April is Financial Capability Month, and it's the perfect time to take simple steps towards healthier finances or encourage others to do so.
The U.S. Treasury designed myRA for people who don't have savings options at work, such as a 401(k). With myRA, there's no risk of losing money. There are no costs to open an account and no fees.
Read more
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Join U.S. Global Leadership Coalition at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs on Monday, May 2 for a dynamic lunch discussion with Representative Doug Lamborn, Lieutenant General Ed Anderson (U.S. Army, Retired) and Randy Welsch (President, Jibu) on the positive impact of global affairs programs in Colorado.
Register here
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The new grant will support projects that will take place in Colorado between Colorado and Israeli companies that have agreed on a partnership arrangement. Awarded funds will help companies offset some of the costs of their R&D projects. Project may include pilot projects (i.e. experimenting with/implementing an Israeli technology in Colorado) or jointly developed technologies (i.e. a water technology or medical device).
Read more
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From National Small Business Association
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The White House Council of Economic Advisors recently released a report on patent litigation outlining a number of developments in the U.S. patent environment.
Read more
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BRT: 'Real Reform' -- Not Unilateral Action -- Only Way to Address Corporate Inversions
Stop-gap regulation like the Department of Treasury's latest move to limit corporate inversions does nothing to reform t
he systemic anti-competitive nature of the U.S. tax system, BRT said.
"Unilateral action by the Treasury, along with heated political rhetoric, are no substitute for cooperative, bipartisan legislation to address the non-competitive U.S. tax code,"
BRT President John Engler said in response to Treasury's actions and President Obama's April 5 remarks. "Everyone, including the President, knows that real reform is the only way to stop companies from establishing their tax headquarters in foreign countries via 'inversion.'"
BRT Urges Senate Approval of Bilateral Income Tax Treaties and Protocols
Ratification of seven tax treaties and protocols would benefit U.S. business and economic growth, Business Roundtable said
in a letter to U.S. Senators
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These treaties and protocols would provide enhanced protection from double taxation for American businesses competing in global markets and would remove additional tax burdens imposed by foreign governments," wrote Mark Weinberger of EY, Chair of BRT's Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee. Pending agreements are with Chile, Hungary, Japan, Luxembourg, Poland, Spain, and Switzerland.
BRT Reacts to Department of Labor's New Fiduciary Standards
BRT is reviewing the
Department of Labor's new rule redefining 'fiduciaries" to make sure it does not limit employees' access to retirement and investment advice. BRT President John Engler said, "[We] need to ensure that by placing new liabilities on those offering advice, the rule will not discourage employers and advisors from offering any planning guidance at all."
U.S. Supreme Court Allows Excessive Class-Action Litigation to Stand
Rejecting arguments from business groups, the U.S. Supreme Court is showing new reluctance to rein in excessive class-action litigation. On Monday, April 4, the court declined to hear Walmart's appeal of a suit by Pennsylvania employees who were certified as a class and received damages based on statistical extrapolation. In
an amicus brief asking for the court's review, Business Roundtable and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce contended this "trial by formula" approach denied due process for employers. (Scotusblog page.) The ruling followed a March 22 opinion in Tyson Foods v. Bouaphankeo, upholding certification of a class of employees based on similar "representative evidence" of a wage and hours violation. BRT, the Chamber and the Retail Litigation Center argued in an amicus brief that such claims should be based on actual evidence of individual damages. The Supreme Court's recent rulings run contrary to earlier opinions restraining class actions, e.g., Comcast v. Behrend and Wal-Mart Stores v. Dukes.
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These events are located in Denver unless otherwise indicated.
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