Small Business News | SBTV Daily Business News

Utility Company extends $60 million to Help Small Business

Eligible small businesses on the east coast could get 70 percent of their new energy efficient equipment paid for by their power provider. National Grid has $60 million dollars to spend helping small businesses upgrade their equipment to be more energy efficient. Businesses in the National Grid service area (upstate New York, Long Island, parts of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and Rhode Island) can apply to have the company subsidize up to 70 percent of the purchase or installation of the eligible equipment. The remaining cost associated with the new equipment can be financed interest free for 24-months. An added benefit to paying off the interest free loan early in one lump sum can also knock 15 percent off the amount owed. For the details and all of the eligibility requirements visit National Grid’s website or call them 1-800-332-3333.

Health Care Reform will Cost Small Biz No Matter What

Small business owners report that their health insurance costs went up as much at 20 percent in the last year. And nine out of 10 small business owners say it is important that health care reform offer choices in plans but a recent survey of small business owners finds that 71 percent of small business owners say that health care reform will actually cost them more money. The quarterly survey done by TriNet, a human resources company for small businesses, surveyed 200 small business owners across the United States. Small business owners who say that reform will raise their rates contend that they will compensate with higher rates by reducing benefits coverage (44%), cutting salaries and wages (21%) or decrease staffing levels (20%).

Keeping Small Biz Employees Healthy

It is estimated the Americans spend more than $21 million on food from vending machines each year. According to food service provider Aramark, 15 percent of employees do not have time to take a lunch break. Leaving many of them to turn to the often unhealthy and fattening food stocked in your office vending machine. However, with more and more vending machine groups providing healthier choices this may be the right time to ask them to increase the healthier options in the vending machine near your office space. Canteen Vending Services has 165,000 vending machines worldwide and all of them have a minimum of 15% “balanced choice” offerings which include snacks that either have 7 grams of fat or less or contain less than 260 calories.

Chances are if your employees are too busy to take a lunch break than you probably aren’t going to lunch either. But if you do get to grab that occasional salad don’t forget the dressing. That’s right, according to dieticians and studies from UCLA and LSU salad dressing contains oils that help your body absorb the vegetables natural vitamins.