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DSLBD Reception, DCRA Permit Center and Website, Childcare Grant Program, Finance Classes, DHCD Accomplishment Report, New Captive Insurance Company Offering, Upcoming Business Classes
1. DSLBD Sponsors Education and Outreach Program and Reception The Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) and the Office of Contracting and Procurement (OCP) are sponsoring the Local Small Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (LSDBE) Education and Outreach Program and Reception. The program will be held Thursday, September 21, 2006, at the Washington Convention Center from 2 to 7 pm. This event will provide an opportunity for all business stakeholders to come together to share ideas and discuss improvements in the implementation of the LSDBE program. In addition, there will be a briefing on legislative changes, existing reporting requirements, and current practices within the LSDBE program. A highlight of the program will be the identification of new and upcoming contract opportunities with the District and its prime contractors. Please contact Assistant Director for the Office of Training and Education Samira Cook at (202) 727-3900 or via email to reserve a place. For more information, see the full invitation for the Local Small Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (LSDBE) Education and Outreach Program and Reception*. Visit DSLBD.
2. DCRA Announces New Hours, Updated Website and Expanded Service for Permit Center The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) has introduced a number of new improvements to the agency's busy Permit Center, as well as plans for additional service changes in the coming months. The changes correspond directly to customer feedback on how DCRA's Permit Center can better serve them. DCRA's Permit Center, which reviews and issues the city's residential and commercial building permits, has made significant improvements to its services in response to feedback from residents and businesses on current procedures. The first set of improvements, already in effect, will greatly increase Permit Center customer access to services and information in person, online and by telephone. Agency officials have been analyzing the overall permitting process and identifying the best practices of other jurisdictions. As a result, DCRA is introducing a series of changes that will be implemented over the coming months. While the majority of the changes will affect the overall permitting process, the agency is also planning changes to the layout and flow of the physical Permit Center. In support of this DCRA initiative, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), which is involved in the building permit process when applications involve public space, will also provide additional onsite assistance and staff for phone consultations at the Permit Center during all extended hours. The specific changes that are effective immediately are:
Visit DCRA's expanded Permit section. You'll be able to:
Visit DCRA.
3. WACIF Announces Childcare Grant Program Funded by ECEA Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF) announces the CareBuilders Recoverable Grant Program. The CareBuilders Recoverable Grant Program offers financing and free technical assistance to help child care providers develop the physical environment at new or existing child care sites in the District of Columbia in order to create, expand or improve child care services for infants and toddlers (birth through age 3). The recoverable grants can be used in combination with other project financing. This program is sponsored by the District of Columbia's Early Care and Education Administration (ECEA), which is part of the DC Department of Human Services. The program is administered by WACIF, Inc. For the purposes of the CareBuilders Program, recoverable grants will be offered to child care providers as deferred repayment, 0.0 percent to low-interest loans. Repayment on a grant will begin as soon as the child care provider is financially able to manage it. WACIF will provide free workshops and limited one-on-one technical assistance to help child care providers understand the components of an infant/toddler-appropriate environment, become grant/loan-ready, develop capacities to sustain operations and prepare to implement projects that create or improve facilities for infant/toddler care in DC. As needed, child care providers can pay for additional technical assistance from approved third-party consultants using grant funds.
Additional eligibility criteria also apply. Recoverable grants offered through this program will typically not exceed $35,000. Larger awards will be considered at WACIF's discretion. Recoverable grants offered through this program can be used to cover costs associated with making physical changes to new or existing child care sites that will result in the creation, expansion or improvement of child care services for infants or toddlers (birth through age 3). This includes consultant costs, professional fees (including architects), sprinkler systems and construction or renovation costs incurred in connection with an approved project. To apply for WACIF's Carebuilders Recoverable Grant Program, Call WACIF at (202) 529-5505 or visit WACIF's Carebuilder program.
4. The Enhanced Business Information Center (e-BIC) Announces Three New Finance Classes In response to client requests, The Enhanced Business Information Center has added three new finance classes to its schedule. Using Financial Statements: Introduction to the P&L Statement Financial Success: The Only Option Using Ratio Analysis: How to use financial ratios to grow your business For more information, visit e-BIC.
5. DHCD Releases Accomplishment Report for Fiscal Year 2001-2005 The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has released its Accomplishment Report for fiscal years 2001-2005. This report provides information about the department's accomplishments in homeownership, affordable housing and community development over the past five years. "The department has worked diligently to provide affordable housing opportunities to District residents and support community revitalization efforts that stabilize the District's communities," said DHCD Director Jalal Greene. "We are proud of our work and are committed to increasing our level of success." View the entire report. Hard copies will be available at the department's headquarters, 801 North Capitol Street, NE, in several weeks. Visit DHCD.
6. DISB Announces New Captive Insurance Company Offering The District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) is pleased to announce that the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) has started operation as a captive insurance company–within one month of its third anniversary–since forming a segregated cell captive insurance company in the District of Columbia. In July 2006, ASAE began marketing an Association Office Package Policy program to its members. The program is fronted by Great American Insurance Company, and provides property, liability, automobile and other insurance products to ASAE members. ASAE had formed a captive insurance company in the District of Columbia on August 15, 2003, and Mayor Anthony A. Williams personally presented them the license. "ASAE is a national icon with global reach. As the association for associations, it provides its members the highest quality resources possible. Association business is a critical segment to the District's future growth in captive insurance. DISB is pleased with this development," said DISB Commissioner Thomas E. Hampton. "ASAE is providing its membership with first-class insurance choices in the marketplace and we look forward to a mutually advantageous relationship in the years ahead." ASAE is a major membership organization comprising 22,000 association CEOs, staff professionals and industry partners, representing nearly 11,000 organizations. Members manage leading trade associations, individual membership societies and voluntary organizations across the United States and 50 countries around the globe, as well as provide products and services to the association community. ASAE began examining the advantages of captive insurance companies since 2002. After reviewing many state captive enabling laws, it decided that the District's segregated cell captive law was significantly more advanced than competing states. ASAE and its consultant, Beecher Carlson Insurance Services, determined that the District made the best jurisdiction to launch ASAE's property and casualty captive insurance member program. The Washington, DC, area is home to many associations such as ASAE, nonprofit and for-profit organizations that benefit by forming and operating a captive insurer to finance their insurable risks. DISB has been regulating captives since 2000, and has licensed 64 companies since then. In the past five years, the District of Columbia has established itself as a leading captive domicile in the nation and remains an ideal location to establish a captive insurance company. To learn how to start a captive insurance in the District, please contact DISB Associate Commissioner Dana Sheppard of the Risk Finance Bureau at (202) 727-5074.
7. Upcoming Classes on the BRC Website Monday, September 18 Tuesday, September 19 Wednesday, September 20 Thursday, September 21 Friday, September 22 Sunday, September 24 Tuesday, September 26 Wednesday, September 27 Thursday, September 28 Friday, September 29 Monday, October 2 Tuesday, October 3 Thursday, October 5 To learn more about these classes, visit the BRC.
Submit Feedback to brc@dc.gov
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