Calif. Offers Millions in Funds for New Appliances

(AP) — The federal government is giving away $35 million to Californians who are buying energy-efficient appliances.

California’s “cash for appliances” program began April 22 — on Earth Day — and is designed to cut energy use in the nation’s most populous state. 

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to buy energy-efficient appliances and take advantage of the program’s three rebates: $100 for clothes washers, $200 for refrigerators, and $50 for room air conditioners.

Many utilities and retailers will add rebates and incentives so consumers can save hundreds of dollars on some products.

Officials say consumers seeking the rebates must submit proof that they bought a new, qualifying appliance and disposed of their old one.

Urban League to Receive Donation from Microsoft

(Microsoft) — The Los Angeles Urban League will be the first nonprofit organization to receive an in-kind donation of Microsoft Dynamics CRM software in fall 2010.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM offers business management solutions focused on the common needs of nonprofit organizations. These solutions promote improved membership management, accurate and timely reporting, easier access to data, and automated processes that help reduce daily overhead. This translates into more time to focus on the core mission of providing services and value to beneficiaries.

Information: www.microsoft.com/mscorp/citizenship.

Pavley’s Green Jobs Bill Signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger

(State of California) — Sen. Fran Pavley’s Energy Efficiency bill, which aims to reduce the cost of consumer and small business loans for energy improvements, was recently signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

SB 77 is also known as the PACE acceleration bill. One of the new financing mechanisms for property improvements is called Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE).

PACE allows commercial and residential property owners to finance energy retrofits using bonds and/or loans, with repayment via assessments added to their property tax bill. Using the PACE loans, home or commercial property owners can lower energy bills and generate positive economic returns.

SB 77 creates a program in state government that will standardize programs to help lower the cost of private-sector borrowing for PACE construction projects without risking state funds. It creates a $50 million reserve that will be repaid with interest that can leverage between $500 million and $1 billion in new construction.

IRS Reaches Out to Employers on Benefits of New Health Care Tax Credit

(IRS) — The Internal Revenue Service began mailing postcards to more than 4 million small businesses and tax-exempt organizations to make them aware of the benefits of the recently enacted small business health care tax credit.

Included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the credit is one of the first health care reform provisions to go into effect.

The credit is designed to encourage small employers to offer health insurance coverage for the first time or maintain coverage they already have.

In general, the credit is available to small employers that pay at least half the cost of single coverage for their employees in 2010. The credit is targeted to help small businesses and tax-exempt organizations that primarily employ low- and moderate-income workers.

Information: IRS.gov.

SBA Recovery Lending Extended Through May

(SBA) — President Barack Obama recently signed legislation providing $80 million in additional funding to continue important enhancements in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s two key small business loan programs.

The enhancements, first made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, include a higher guarantee on some SBA-backed loans and small business fee relief.

The SBA estimates the $80 million will support about $2.8 billion in small business lending under the 7(a) and 504 programs.

Information: sba.gov.