A virtual cup of coffee with DDIFO Executive Director Ed Shanahan

SBA Exhausting PPP Funds  Although the Small Business Administration (SBA) is slated to continue taking applications for the popular Paycheck Protection Program until the end of this month, it appears the agency has exhausted its funds for most lenders. The SBA acknowledged earlier this week that it was not accepting application for new loans from most lenders – but… Read More »

Court Tosses Eviction Moratorium  A Washington DC-based federal judge has thrown out the eviction moratorium prompted by the coronavirus pandemic and imposed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) last year. The federal moratorium on residential evictions has been extended three times since it was first implemented under President Trump last September, was most recently extended by President Biden… Read More » DOL Withdraws Gig Worker Rule  The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) officially rescinded the Trump-era independent contractor rule, which gave employers more leeway in classifying gig workers as independent contractors rather than employees. Announcing the decision, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh categorized the decision as helping to “preserve essential worker rights and stop the erosion of worker protections that would have… Read More »

Upcoming DDIFO Webinar  As we look toward possibly being able to host some in-person meetings in the near future, we continue to schedule timely and informative regular webinars for your benefit. Our next presentation in the DDIFO Wednesday Webinar Series will be held next Wednesday, May 12. Beginning at 2:00 PM EDT, we’ll present, “7 Facts About Background… Read More » Fighting the Labor Shortage  With many small businesses continuing to struggle to get the workers it needs to get their business – and state economies – back on track, some states are trying to recreate a work-favorable environment again. Montana governor Greg Gianforte is leading the way with a most creative approach to addressing the current labor shortage in… Read More » Federal Back to Work Idea  Perhaps taking a page from the Montana playbook, a couple of republicans in Congress have drafted a federal back-to-work bill that seeks to address the current labor shortage on a national level. Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Reisch along with Representative Kevin Brady (R-TX8) have filed the Reopening America by Supporting Workers and Businesses… Read More »

New York Enacts Heroes Act  On Wednesday, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the New York Heroes Act into law but has delayed its effective date until the legislature adopts some “technical corrections” the Governor insisted upon. The law mandates that all employers in the Empire State – regardless of the number of employees – must adopt minimum health and safety requirement… Read More » Business Confidence  Notwithstanding ongoing challenges with the labor shortage and lingering COVID fears, small businesses are generally more optimistic about the future now than they were a year ago, although access to capital is keeping many awake nights. According to a national survey a few weeks ago of 2,140 small business owners by Goldman Sachs, 84% said… Read More » Competitor News  Krispy Kreme may be going public again, after being privately held by JAB Holdings since it acquired the Winston-Salem based chain out of bankruptcy just about five years ago. Krispy Kreme officials acknowledged earlier this week that it had confidentially filed a draft initial public offering (IPO) with U.S. regulators. The IPO still must be… Read More »

May 7, 2021

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