Grand Rapids Area Businesses Can Conduct
Research at J.J. Hill Library in St. Paul
Bus trip scheduled for July 17

The Northeast Entrepreneur Fund and Itasca Economic Development Corporation are sponsoring a day trip to the James J. Hill Library on Thursday, July 17. The trip offers an unusual opportunity for small businesses, professionals or aspiring entrepreneurs to access a wealth of business information and market research.

Examples of topics a business owner or marketer may want to explore include: new product development, industry trends, expansion strategies, global opportunities, target markets and customer profiling.

According to its web site, "the James J. Hill Library, located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, houses a world-class collection of practical business information resources and is considered one of the most comprehensive business libraries in the country. It was founded by one of the nation's true business pioneers, James J. Hill, who used relevant and credible information to build an empire and live his business dreams.”

The bus will leave Grand Rapids at 7:00 a.m. Research instruction and tours will be available from 10 a.m.-noon. After lunch there will be additional time for individual research as well as one-on-one conversations with the librarians. The bus will leave St. Paul around 2:00 p.m., arriving back in Grand Rapids around 6:00 p.m.

The cost for the trip is $30 per person (lunch is not included).  To reserve your space, contact Jane Bymark (NEF) or Mike Andrews (IEDC) at 218-326-9411.

To learn more about services available at the J. J. Hill Library, visit www.jjhill.org/About_Us/.
 

IRS Increases Mileage Rate for the Remainder of 2008

In recognition of recent increases in gas prices, the IRS has made a special adjustment to the standard mileage rate, increasing it to 58.5 cents per mile from July 1, 2008 until December 31, 2008 (an 8-cent increase from the 50.5-cent rate in effect the first six months of this year).

"Rising gas prices are having a major impact on individual Americans. Given the increase in prices, the IRS is adjusting the standard mileage rates to better reflect the real cost of operating an automobile," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. "We want the reimbursement rate to be fair to taxpayers."

While gasoline is a significant factor in the mileage figure, other items enter into the calculation of mileage rates, such as depreciation and insurance and other fixed and variable costs.

The optional business standard mileage rate is used to compute the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business use in lieu of tracking actual costs. This rate is also used as a benchmark by the federal government and many businesses to reimburse their employees for mileage.

Source: Internal Revenue Service
 

Better Business Bureau Offers Programs
and Resources for Business Owners

We often think of the Better Business Bureau as a place to lodge consumer complaints or to investigate the reputation of a person or organization you're doing business with.  As a business owner, you may seek BBB accreditation as a means of establishing or emphasizing your business's credibility. 

The Best Lemonade Stand in America Contest 2008

This Month's Featured Entrepreneurial Resources… 

Business North
http://www.businessnorth.com

Business North is a monthly print publication and website devoted to business and economic news across a 17-county region of northeast Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin.

Hometown Focus
http://www.hometownfocus.us

Hometown Focus is a new community-focused website and weekly print publication highlighting resources, news, and events across the Iron Range and its surrounding region.