December 2009   Online at www.thesmartcenter.biz   Click here for a printable version

$$   Don't miss out   $$ A Shasta Zone business can get hiring tax credits for employees they already have In the previous issue we focused on Shasta Zone hiring tax credits for new employees, but that's not all! Businesses in the Shasta Zone can also get California tax credits for previously hired staff if they meet the criteria. "For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1997, you may qualify for the hiring credit if you hire an employee after an area is officially designated as an Enterprise Zone and before the designation expires." (ftb.ca.gov) Don’t have a State tax liability this year? Unused tax credits can be applied to future tax years! Be sure to talk to your CPA about all the tax credits and give them plenty of lead time. Your employee can also benefit. A tax credit is available to employees that earn wages within a Zone and meet certain income guidelines. They must use FTB Form 3553 when filing their State tax return. Learn more at www.thesmartcenter.biz/zone In five years, a company could earn $37,440 or more in State tax credits for each qualified employee hired. Please help us spread the word.

To all of you from all of us Happy Holidays The ABCs of Offering Time Off explores your options for setting staff holidays, vacation leave and more. (entrepreneur.com) Did you know... "wage and hour claims are filed in federal court more frequently than any other type of employment law class or collective action." Protect Yourself from Overtime Violations (smsmallbiz.com) Here's an idea: Challenge your staff to a virtual walk to get them up and moving... What's that, you ask? Learn all about it and a number of other inexpensive healthy living motivators when you read Companies Find Inexpensive Ways to Promote Wellness (workforce.com) Marketing It's last year's list, but the ideas are still worth considering. A Small Business Year-End Marketing Checklist (searchengineland.com)

Change December 2, 8am-12 noon “CHANGE... not a four letter word” - or - “How to bring change to the work place without scaring everyone off.” This is one of six Leadership Excellence workshops scheduled by Shasta College EWD. Sessions are open to any organization or individual. Click on the link at the bottom of the flyer to learn more. $20 Payroll Tax Seminars The Employment Development Department (EDD) offers no-fee state payroll tax seminars, either classroom-style or Web-based (Webinars). Both are designed to help employers comply with the State of California payroll tax laws. The next class is scheduled for December 10 at the EDD office in Redding. Reserve your space online or call (866) 873-6083. COBRA Compliance December 16, 7:30-9:30am noon Learn the basics and more - Discover how to "Take the Bite Out of Costly Violations" in this business seminar from the Greater Redding Chamber of Commerce. To reserve your seat contact stephanie@reddingchamber.com or call 225-4433, ext. 100. Members $25, Non-members $35. Smart Centers will be closed from December 25 until January 4th (a Monday), our annual closure between Christmas and New Years.

Our Goal is Your Success Smart Centers provide services to the businesses and job seekers in Shasta and Trinity counties. It's why we are here. As we get to the end of the year, we hope we've made a difference in our community and had a positive effect on the people we serve. YTD Stats All Smart Centers have a job search area with information, computers and more, for use by anyone seeking employment. So far in 2009: 8,110 job seekers visited our centers For a total of 32,440 job seeker visits Adult services include internships and worksite trainings with local employers. Youth services include work experience with local businesses, GED assistance, and - this year - the highly successful Summer Youth Program. 148 Adult Internships 105 Worksite Trainings 220 Summer Youth Work Experience 78 Work Experience (not SY) 32 Youth attained their GEDs Summer Youth recap In 2009, Smart Business Resource Centers in Shasta and Trinity Counties enrolled more than 200 youth into its summer programs. In what has been termed "job match," youth participants were given the opportunity to choose an area of work based on their interest. Virtually all job categories were represented in this year's programs. The media project (the team responsible for the weekly newsletters and a final video documentary of the summer program), in conducting interviews with summer youth, found out very early on that we had enrolled an exceptional group of summer youth. Please check out the video documentary in its entirety at thesmartcenter.biz/summeryouth

We invite you to join us The Smart Business Resource Center is working with the Record Searchlight to design a special newspaper insert called “The Smart Guide to Successful Hiring” as part of our ongoing effort to insure that local companies know they can lower the cost of hiring and training employees. To be published on Saturday, January 9th. Advertise with us and you will not only be helping to get this information out to an audience of more than 25,000 readers, but you will be able to take advantage of the significant distribution of the insert now and in the future to showcase your business. Click on the flyer to learn more. Please contact Lynnette Young at the Record Searchlight to participate. Advertise the Smart way.