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e-BIC, Nonprofits, DC Marketing Center, Airports Contracting, and IRS
1. e-BIC Celebrates First Anniversary and Prepares New Programs The Enhanced Business Information Center (e-BIC) opened its doors on September 24, 2003 and since then has helped over 3,400 clients. By maintaining its current rate, the e-BIC will be providing services to 5,720 clients annually, as compared to its annual target of 3,800. The District of Columbia Public Library, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, and the US Small Business Administration (SBA) launched the e-BIC in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library. The e-BIC, located at 901 G Street, NW, offers resources and programs to support the District's small business development. Over the past year, the e-BIC has initiated eight monthly programs that are brand new to the DC small business community:
The e-BIC staff have conducted a first-of-its-kind suite of four train-the-trainer programs on 17 different incentives provided to DC businesses. In addition, the e-BIC has partnered with other small business resource partners (reSTORE DC/DC Main Streets, Southeastern University, Washington Project, Yes Circle, DC SBDC, SBA) to develop and provide 30 other training programs. One recent success was the creation and release of a marketing campaign for 504 loan program that reached 4,000 small businesses. With its business and resource partners, the e-BIC will develop and conduct a suite of programs focused on buying commercial property. Monthly programs will include the following:
Visit the e-BIC.
2. Registration Open for Business Credit Seminar The Enhanced Business Information Center (e-BIC) has scheduled a new seminar: Understanding and Building Business Credit. Agenda topics will include:
Registration fee of $10 includes course materials and actual credit applications. Please book your space early. Only a limited number of spaces are available. Call the e-BIC to reserve your space at (202) 727-2241. The event will be held at the e-BIC in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library, located at 901 G Street, NW. Visit the e-BIC.
3. Deadline Extended for Strengthening Partners Initiative Applications The Mayor's Office of Partnerships and Grants Development (OPGD) extended the deadline to accept applications for its 2004-2005 Strengthening Partners Initiative (SPI) class. The new deadline for applications is October 15, 2004, at 5 pm. SPI is a capacity building program that provides an opportunity for emerging nonprofit and faith-based organizations to attend customized training sessions, learn from nonprofit mentors, and build a new peer network. The free one-year program is available to Executive Directors from organizations located and providing direct services in the District of Columbia. Twenty-five organizations will be selected through a competitive application process. For more information about the program or to obtain an application, call OPGD at (202) 727-8900. View the announcement.
4. Marketing Center to Host 2004 Annual Meeting and Development Showcase The Washington, DC Marketing Center will hold its Annual Meeting and DC Development Showcase, Tuesday, November 2, 2004 at the Mandarin Oriental, Washington, DC, from 11 am until 2 pm. This annual event is a celebration of the District's economic renaissance and development dynamic. The spotlight of this year's Development Showcase is on the District's vibrant hospitality and tourism industry. The event will kick-off with a luncheon featuring keynote speaker Bill Marriott, President and CEO, Marriott International, Inc. and remarks by some of the District's top economic development leaders. The DC Development Showcase will feature an exciting exhibition of DC's recent proposed, planned, under construction or newly completed development projects in all industries. At the Annual Meeting, the Marketing Center will also present the 2004 development awards focusing on hospitality/tourism development. This year, development awards will be given in the following categories:
An array of DC's businesses, government officials, real estate related professionals, and others vital to the city's economic development will be in attendance. This year's meeting is expected to draw a crowd of 600 and over 40 exhibitors at the showcase. For information on exhibiting in the DC Development Showcase, contact Maysoon Kaibni at (202) 661-8679 or mkaibni@dcmarketingcenter.com. For information on becoming a sponsor of the 2004 Annual Meeting and Development showcase, contact Washington, DC Marketing Center President and CEO Michael Stevens at (202) 661-8683 or mstevens@dcmarketingcenter.com. To RSVP for the event, contact Andrea Nicholaou at (202) 661-8670 or anicholaou@dcmarketingcenter.com. Visit the Washington DC, Marketing Center.
5. Marketing Center Gets New Address The Washington, DC Marketing Center has a new home. After more than three years at the 12th & K Street location, the Washington, DC Marketing Center has moved to 1495 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004. The new space has an open floor plan measuring 5,050 square feet with an additional 700 square feet of storage to house the Center's many print publications. A highlight of the new office space is the Center's lobby, which will serve as a showroom for the District's development dynamic with renderings, electronic displays, and graphic illustrations. The first floor storefront location will provide for enhanced visibility of the Washington, DC Marketing Center name and mission. The Marketing Center's new location provides a strategic location for an organization dedicated to promoting and marketing the city. In addition to a new address, the Marketing Center's phone number has changed. The Center's new number is (202) 661-8670. Visit the Washington DC, Marketing Center.
6. Airports Authority Schedules Business Opportunity Seminar The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) has announced its 14th Annual Business Opportunity Seminar. The event will feature procurement opportunities and equal opportunity programs. Making the Connection: Small Businesses Working with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority will occur on November 3, 2004. The Marriott Wardman Park Hotel at 2660 Woodley Road, NW, Washington, DC will host the seminar. There is no charge to attend the Business Opportunity Seminar. You must register in order to participate. The deadline for registration is October 20, 2004. View the announcement for more information and online registration. Or, call (703) 417-8625. Visit MWAA.
7. IRS Schedule C-EZ Change Means Savings for Small Businesses The US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced it will expand the number of small businesses eligible to file a simplified expense form, a move that will save money and reduce paperwork burden. The IRS will double the business expense threshold to $5,000 from $2,500 for filing the Form 1040, Schedule C-EZ. The change will mean a savings of 5 million hours of paperwork burden for small business taxpayers. The threshold change means approximately 500,000 more small businesses--a 15 percent increase- will be able to file the Schedule C-EZ. The Form 1040, Schedule C-EZ was first established in 1992. It was intended to make it easier for small businesses with modest expenses to file a simplified form. Small business owners that file a Form 1040 use the Schedule C to report profits and expenses. View the announcement with links to draft 2004 tax forms and Congressional testimony.
8. IRS Consolidates Information for Public Charities During its existence, a public charity has numerous interactions with the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS)--from filing an application for recognition of tax-exempt status, to filing the required annual information returns, to making changes in its mission and purpose. The IRS provides information, explanations, guides, forms and publications on all of these subjects. They are now easily available through a new IRS website: Life Cycle of a Public Charity. An online illustration provides an easy-to-use way of linking to the documents most charities will need as they proceed though the phases of their life cycle. In addition to the following illustration, you can also download a graphical depiction of the life cycle, which includes useful links back to the IRS website. Visit IRS Information for Charities and Other Nonprofits.
9. DC Business Tools Available
 
10. View the BRC Bulletin Archives Previous editions of the BRC Bulletin newsletter feature articles for small businesses and nonprofits regarding incentives, training, licenses, procurement, commuting, emergency preparedness, and other topics. View the BRC Bulletin Archives.
Submit Feedback to brc@dc.gov
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