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Newletters From November, 2003
IS YOURS ONE OF THE MOST PRO BUSINESS STATES?
Originally Posted: November 21, 2003 9:05 AM
Last Updated: November 21, 2003 9:05 AM
Virginia, South Dakota, North Carolina, Michigan,Oklahoma, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Wyoming and Delaware have the best programs for helping businesses keep jobs in the United States, according to a corporate location expert.
Dr. Ronald R. Pollina, a leading corporate location expert -- concludes that millions of Americans are unnecessarily losing their jobs overseas because of the failed policies of the Federal Government and four out of five state governments.
"Don't bash China or India -. they are doing their job -. we as a nation are not," says Dr. Ronald R. Pollina.
For the complete story on any NEEDA Newsletter item, click on the headline of this story.
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$406 MILLION IN FEDERAL MATCHING GRANTS AWARDED TO FIRE DEPARTMENTS
Originally Posted: November 21, 2003 8:54 AM
Last Updated: November 21, 2003 8:54 AM
Another 134 grants to fire departments were awarded in round twenty-three of the 2003 Assistance to Firefighters matching grant program.
Since June, 5800 fire departments have received over 406 million in matching dollars to support their role as first responders in the neighborhoods and communities they serve.
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and assists rural, urban and suburban fire departments throughout the United States. These funds are used by the nation’s firefighters to increase the effectiveness of firefighting operations, firefighter health and safety programs, new fire apparatus, emergency medical service programs, and fire prevention and safety programs.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's mission within the new department is to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident.
FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
For other news about fire grants, click on "Search" in the upper right hand corner of your screen. NEEDA has been reporting on this program since Congress began considering it and since it was launched by the Fire Administration.
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NEW CENSUS: 15.6 MILLION STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES,INCLUDING 282,008 FIREFIGHTERS
Originally Posted: November 12, 2003 10:02 PM
Last Updated: November 12, 2003 10:13 PM
State and local governments employed 15.6 million "full-time equivalent" workers in 2002, a 1.6 percent increase over 2001, the U.S. Census Bureau says.
The data are from the 2002 Census of State and Local Government Employment and Payroll. The census found that most employees worked in education (8.2 million), hospitals (917,000), police protection (887,000) and corrections (702,000).
Other smaller employment categories covered were streets and highways, public welfare, health, judicial and legal, financial administration and fire protection.
In March, 2002 there were 282,008 firefighers with a total of $1,272,228,712 in payroll or 10.02 of all state and local government workers.
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RURAL/METRO ENDS FIRE PROTECTION SERVICE TO SCOTTSDALE AZ; REVENUE UP 6% IN LATEST QUARTER
Originally Posted: November 12, 2003 9:25 PM
Last Updated: November 15, 2003 11:30 PM
Rural/Metro Corporation told the City of Scottsdale, AZ, that the company will no longer be the contracted provider of fire protection services effective June 30, 2005.
The company will remain as the exclusive contracted provider of emergency medical transportation services under a five-year agreement that began July 1, 2002.
Rural/Metro's fire protection division serves 100,000 fire subscription customers throughout the nation.
Rural/Metro Corporation provides emergency and non-emergency medical transportation, fire protection, and other safety services in 24 states and 400 communities throughout the United States.
The company reported net revenue of $133.8 million for the three months ended September 30,'03, a $7.5 million or a 6.0% increase, compared to $126.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2002. Medical transportation and related services revenue increased $8.1 million, or 7.7%, from $105.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2002 to $113.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2003. The company attributed the gain primarily to growth in new and existing service areas, as well as rate increases in certain of its service areas.
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BUSH SIGNS SAFER ACT TO PROVIDE GRANTS FOR HIRING FIREFIGHTERS
Originally Posted: November 8, 2003 8:03 PM
Last Updated: November 12, 2003 9:10 PM
Drafted in the wake of the 9/11/01 tragedy, the new law, called SAFER Act, will enable fire departments to operate with safe staffing levels and comply with national standards.
Under the new law, fire departments will be eligible to receive grants to help pay the salary and benefits of hiring new fire fighters over a five-year period.
In the first year, the US government will contribute up to 90 percent of the cost, 80 percent in the second year, 50 percent in the third year, and 30 percent in the fourth. The jurisdiction is then required to pay the full amount for at least one additional year.
The SAFER Act authorizes the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) to award $7.6 billion in grants over seven years to career, volunteer and combination departments for the purpose of hiring additional fire fighters. Grants will be awarded on the basis of need through a competitive, peer-reviewed process modeled after the highly successful Assistance to Firefighters grant program (FIRE Act).
The grants are for a four-year period and must not exceed a total of $100,000 per fire fighter. They require an overall non-federal match minimum of 37.5 percent (10, 20, 50 and 70 percent in years one through four of the grant, respectively, to phase down local government dependence on the federal government), and recipients are required to retain new hires for at least one year following the conclusion of federal funding.
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COMMERCIAL OFFICE, WAREHOUSE SPACE WILL IMPROVE: VACANCIES WILL DROP TO 16.4 PERCENT WHILE 114.3 MILLION SQUARE FEET WILL BE LEASED IN 04
Originally Posted: November 8, 2003 7:42 PM
Last Updated: December 5, 2003 9:17 PM
Emergency equipment dealers located in warehouse and other commercial properties who seek to expand adding repair and refurbishing bays for example-- may consider making their move now as prices will rise by up to 6.4% in 2004 and availabilities will decline in the years to come, according to a report issued in San Francisco, CA.
Warehouse net absorption is forecast at 55.2 million square feet in 2004, down from a projected 82.3 million this year, while the national vacancy rate is expected to drop to 9.3 percent next year from 10.4 percent in 2003. Warehouse rents are seen to decline an average of 2.4 percent this year and 0.3 percent in 2004. However, rents should rise 2.5 percent in 2005 with net absorption of warehouse space forecast to rise to 60.8 million square feet.
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FEMA RELEASES 21st ROUND OF MATCHING FIRE ACT GRANTS: 242 FIRE DEPARTMENTS RECEIVE GRANTS; 03 VEHICLE TOTAL IS $84.4 MILLION
Originally Posted: November 7, 2003 12:01 PM
Last Updated: November 7, 2003 12:01 PM
Another 242 grants to fire departments throughout the U.S. were awarded November 7, 2003 in round twenty-one of the 2003 Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program. To date, over 5400 fire departments have received over $380 million to support their role as first responders in the neighborhoods and communities they serve as firefighters. Of the $380 million, 675 matching grants have been made to purchase Firefighting Vehicles for a total of $84,352,923.
For more information from NEEDA, click on the headline for this story. When you click you will get site to submit applications for future grants.
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HOUSE PASSES BILL TO STOP UNFAIR ADVANTAGES OF FEDERAL PRISON INDUSTRY MADE GOODS VS. PRIVATE SECTOR
Originally Posted: November 7, 2003 11:34 AM
Last Updated: November 7, 2003 12:55 PM
The US House of Representatives voted 350-to-65 to pass legislation reforming Federal Prison Industries (FPI). The legislation has been under consideration in the US Congress for over ten years during which the Federal Prison Industries, located in the US Department of Justice, has sought to expand its sales into the non-Federal market of commercial outlets such as Wal-Mart, and to sell to state and local governments in competition with private dealers and distributors. FPI has also expanded into services such as repairing and refurbishing vehicles. Prisoners work for wages that are a fraction of the Federally mandated Minimum Wage, while prisons pay no taxes or FICAs, and thus the overhead costs of prison made goods are lower than cost of goods made by the private sector.
This government-owned corporation was created to provide work for prison inmates by guaranteeing a market for prison-made goods. However, FPI has been surrounded by controversy since its inception because its guaranteed market of Federal agencies for its products combined with its reduced costs for labor and capital amounted to an unfair advantage that put private businesses and American workers out of work.
The bill is supported by a large coalition of business and labor organizations including the Natinal Emergency Equipment Dealers Association (NEEDA) which serves on the procurement committee of the US Chamber of Commerce.
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REMOTE TRAFFIC LIGHT CHANGING SYSTEMS GETTING INTO UNAUTHORIZED HANDS: WATCH FOR LEGISLATION PROTECTING THESE DEVICES IN 04
Originally Posted: November 5, 2003 11:19 AM
Last Updated: November 5, 2003 11:19 AM
Mobile infrared transmitters, or MIRTs, are used by fire and emergency responders as traffic pre-emption systems to change traffic lights in 78 urban areas at 26,500 intersections from 1,500 feet. The prices for MIRTs have gone down to $300 from $1,000.
The technology is 30 years old and is widely used.
The Associated Press quotes FAC of America, Fridley, MN., President Tim Gaw as working against unquthorized and illegal uses of MIRTs. But, AP says there are some MIRTs available on eBay.
Makers of traffic pre-emption systems, 3M Co. and Tomar Electronics Inc., sell encryption technology to bar illegal use but such systems cost $2,000 more.
New legislation or rules concerning these devices may be enacted by state and federal legislators in 2004.
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