Macy’s will be conducting a major MWBC vendor fair in New York City in late April or early May of 2012. We plan to have representatives of the following Macy’s, Inc. business units that support both Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s:

These business units will be seeking vendors in the following categories of goods/services:

Architecture	Freight	Pallet Racking
Abatement	Furniture Dealers & Installers	Paving
Audio Visual	General Construction	Plumbing
Burglar Alarm	Glass & Glazing	Roofers
Carpentry	Guard Services	Recycling & Equipment
Casework	HVAC/Mechanical	Security
Cleaning	Janitorial	Signage
Concrete	Lead Abatement	Sprinklers
Conveyance Equipment	Locksmith	Storage
Decorative/Ornamental	Logistics	Storefronts
Design	Low Voltage	Suppliers & Distributors
Dock Equipment	Masonry	Surveyors
Doors & Hardware	Material Handling	Systems Integrators
Drywall/Ceilings/ACT	Mechanical	Telecom/Voice/Data
Electric Suppliers & Install	Metal Fabrication & Fixtures	Transportation
Engineering	Millwork	Warehouse, Blinds
Environmental	Mold Abatement	Waste & Equipment
Fire Alarm/Protection	Movers (Corporate Movers)	Windows & Treatments
Fixture Installation	Packaging	Wood Fixtures
Floor Covering	Painting

In order to be considered for participation in this vendor fair, each potential vendor must be able to:

(A) Meet the following General Criteria:

General Contractors – Revenues > $3,000,000 & with workforce greater than (10)W-2 employees. No Construction Management firms.
Trade/Sub-Contractors - Revenues > $1,000,000 & with workforce greater than (10)W-2 employees.
Cleaning/Janitorial Services – Contractors must hire and pay their own staff. No third-party/outsourcing firms.
Freight & Logistics Companies – Carriers with truckloads or less than truckloads who can pick up and deliver into and out of the Southeast states.
Systems & Technology Companies – Only looking for authorized re-sellers and installers of wiring, equipment and products. Contractors must hire and pay their own staff. No third-party/ outsourcing firms.

(B) Meet the following Insurance Coverage Limits:

Commercial General Liability:

$1,000,000 Each occurrence
$2,000,000 General Aggregate
$1,000,000 personal & Advertising
$1,000,000 for products Completed Ops

Workman’s Comp:

$500,000 or Statutory Limits (Each accident, Each employee disease, Disease Aggregate)

Automobile:

$500,000 Each Accident
$1,000,000 for Contractor (including Abatement, Fixture and GS’s) and Consultants (including Abatement, Architecture, Engineer and Interior Designer)

Cargo/ Motor Truck Cargo:

$100,000 Each Trailer for Freight and Logistics Contractors
$350,000 Each Trailer for Freight and Logistics Contractors

Fidelity Bond / Crime Insurance:

$100,000 Each Loss for Freight and Logistics Vendors

Professional Liability:

$1,000,000 for Consultants (including Abatement,Architecture, Engineer and Interior Designer)

Umbrella Excess Liability:

$2,000,000 Each Occurrence for architects and Fixturing Contractors
$4,000,000 Each Occurrence for Freight & Logistics Contractors
$5,000,000 Each Occurrence for Contractors (including Abatement and GC’s)

Contractor’s Pollution Liability:

$1,000,000 Each Occurrence for Abatement Contractors

Builder’s Risk:

On occasion General Contractors may be asked to provide. Amount TBD based upon size and scope of project / contract

(C) Provide the following Documentation:

Valid State Contractors / Trade License Number
MWBE Certificate
W-9 (with Tax ID Number)
Valid Insurance Certificate

You will need to logon to http://www.macysinc.com/vendorfair/ in order to be able to access a temporary website to complete the online questionnaire and attach the required {4} documentations above.
Your temporary password is : NMS14
The questionnaires must be completed by Monday, March 19th, 2012.
PLEASE NOTE – Vendors should have all the required documentation ready to attach. You will not be able to save the questionnaire and come back to it.
If you have any questions, they should email supplierdiversity@macys.com, using “NYC VENDOR FAIR” in the subject line. Specific instructions are provided on the website.
The Council has no further details on this event.

Announcing Weekly Webchats: 2/1 Initiatives to Alleviate Student Debt

U.S. Department of Education sent this bulletin at 01/25/2012 05:00 PM EST

The Weekly Web Chat Series with the White House Initiative

In the spirit of the President’s commitment to engaging the American public, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is proud to announce that we will be hosting a weekly web chat/conference call with the community every Wednesday from 3-4pm EST. This is your opportunity to interact with officials from across the Administration, ask questions, and share your concerns and ideas on how our government can effectively work with you. In addition, you will receive information on how to better access federal programs and services.

To kick off the series, please join a conference call/web chat on Obama Administration Efforts to Alleviate Student Debt onWednesday, February 1 at 3 PM EST.Hear from officials from the White House, Department of Education, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to learn about federal income-based repayment programs, college cost comparisons, federal student financial aid, and other programs.

WHAT: Conference call/ Web chat on Initiatives to Alleviate Student Debt

WHO: Chris Lu, Assistant to the President, White House Cabinet Secretary, and Co-chair of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Zakiya Smith, White House Domestic Policy Council

Phil Martin, Department of Education

Rohit Chopra, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

WHEN: Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 3PM EST

HOW: Email WhiteHouseAAPI@ed.gov with “RSVP for 2/1 Call” in the heading by Jan. 31 at 12PM EST. Call-in details will be emailed to registrants.

This call is hosted in partnership with the White House Initiatives on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Educational Excellence for Hispanics, and Tribal Colleges and Universities.

Additional topics include but are not limited to the following:

February 1, 2012         Financial Literacy: Alleviating Student Debt

February 8, 2012         Immigrant Rights: How Federal Policies Impact the AAPI Immigrant                   and Refugee Community

February 15, 2012       Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Listening Session: Tell Us                              Your Priorities

February 22, 2012       Small Business Administration Educational Series: Government Contracting

February 29, 2012       Youth Engagement: Internships

March 7, 2012             Financial Literacy: Making Home Affordable

March 14, 2012           Language Access: Updates, Tools, and Resources for the Community

March 21, 2012           Women’s Issues: Labor & Health

March 28, 2012           Small Business Administration Educational Series: Access to Capital

April 4, 2012               Civil Rights: Harassment and Discrimination

April 11, 2012             Civil Rights: Voting Rights for the AAPI community and LEP individuals

April 18, 2012             Financial Literacy: Social Security benefits

April 25, 2012             Health: Affordable Care Act

May 16, 2012              Education: Higher Education

May 23, 2012              Health: AAPIs and Diabetes

Information on how to join each week’s web chat will be provided in the Initiative’s Weekly Highlights. To join our distribution list and receive the Weekly Highlights, please email whitehouseaapi@ed.gov.

Are there additional topics you would like to see? Post on the White House AAPI Facebook page or tweet us at @WhiteHouseAAPI with topic suggestions or issues you would like to discuss!

Opportunity for manufacturers of large garden pottery/ planters/ urns

Dear Chapter Presidents and Leaders,

We received an urgent inquiry for manufacturers who can provide large garden pottery/ planters/ urns. The below sample pictures give you an example. The suppliers can be located in any region in the country, ideally in Southwest/ Texas/ Florida.

Suppliers interested in this opportunity can contact us.

LAST DAY to Register! Discussion of Survival Strategies with GM, GE, and PepsiCo, Oct. 27 in Chicago!

US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce Midwest Regional Chapter will host "Survival Strategies in the Changing Marketplace" on Oct. 27 at PepsiCo Plaza (555 W. Monroe Street, Chicago, IL 60661).

The event will feature speakers below:

Alma Guajardo- Crossley, Director of Diversity Initiatives, GM Corporation
Kelly Fowler, Director of Global Procurement, PepsiCo
Parita Patel, Product Line Leader, GE Capital
Ramanandan Kappana, CEO & President, Hydrox Laboratories
Karen Eng, President, CSMI

For more information, please visit the event website: http://uspaaccmidwest.eventbrite.com

What’s Your Story?

Greetings Friends,

Last month, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders announced the launch of its “What’s Your Story?” video challenge. The challenge aims to explore the personal stories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across the country who have impacted their community through their dreams, experiences, and dedication to a cause.

Watch our call out video here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/whatsyourstory

The video challenge asks you to share your unique experiences and the issues that are important to you. Respond to our launch video above with a 3-minute video about your own experience and leadership. You may also submit an essay to address these questions.

The deadline for the challenge is November 1st.

Remember that your story can be in any form, and everyone is welcomed to participate. We will choose three winners and invite them and their guests to share their stories to Washington, D.C.

Submit your entries here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/whatsyourstory

We look forward to hearing your stories.

Sincerely,

The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

ThinkGlobal Exporter of the Year awards

The ThinkGlobal Exporter of the Year awards are given to one U.S. company in each of 16 industry categories.

Winners are chosen based on the total number of documented export deals, total percentage increase in sales, exports as percentage of total sales, the company’s commitment to exporting, the company’s commitment to customer service, and the company’s innovation and originality in marketing products or services. Eligibility details and an application form are online at www.exporteroftheyear.com.

ThinkGlobal Incorporated is the publisher of Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Use our online nomination form at ExporteroftheYear.com

Final deadline for nominations: October 7, 2011.

BATTEN & SHAW, INC.

Invitation to Bid for Macon, GA and Surrounding Area MBE/WBE firms

To: Macon, GA and Surrounding Area Business Assistance Organizations
From: Batten & Shaw, Inc.
Re: Coliseum Northside Hospital ADA Remediation Project
Date: August 31, 2011

Batten & Shaw, Inc. is currently seeking bids for the Coliseum Northside Hospital ADA Remediation project from qualified Macon, GA and surrounding area Subcontractors and Suppliers interested in procurement opportunities associated with the Coliseum Northside Hospital project located at 400 Charter Blvd., Macon, GA 31210-4853.

Please share this information with your members, as local and Diversity Business Enterprise firms will have an opportunity to network and learn more about procurements regarding various bid packages.

Bid packages regarding the project include the following:

Casework
Concrete and Asphalt Paving
Parking Lot Striping/Handicap Signs/Wheel Stops
Concrete Sidewalks and Ramps
Doors/Frames/Hardware
Automatic Doors
Flooring, Tile and Resilient
Painting
Signage
Drywall, Metal Stud Framing and Ceilings
Plumbing, Sprinkler, HVAC Test & Balance
Electrical, Fire Alarm and Nurse Call

Batten & Shaw and HCA are strongly committed to the development and implementation of initiatives which promote the inclusion of local, minority and women-owned businesses. We believe we must work in a way that ensures that business relationships work profitably for both diversity businesses and the corporation.

If you have members in your organization who qualify as a local, minority or woman-owned business and are interested in working on the upcoming Coliseum Northside Hospital ADA Remediation project, please have them contact the following persons listed below for more information:

Nat Lowe, Project Manager at (615) 292-2400 x 329
Email: natlowe@bsinet.us

Chris Webb, Project Estimator at (615) 292-2400 x 330
Email: chriswebb@bsinet.us

Warmest regards,

Rhea W. Kinnard
Diversity Business Enterprise Consultant

SBA Rolls Out 2 Advantage Loan Initiatives

With Small Business Administration’s commitment to economic growth and job creation, geared toward underserved communities, in February 2011, they rolled out two new loan initiatives that fall under the Advantage platform. These initiatives were put in place in order to increase the number of loans to small businesses and entrepreneurs in underserved communities. The Small Loan Advantage initiative and Community Advantage initiative have streamlined the application process for SBA 7 (a) loans up to $250,000.

Here’s what you should know about these Cash Advantage loan initiatives:

Small Loan Advantage

Small Loan Advantage is not set up to get new lenders; rather it is structured so as to encourage larger, existing, SBA lenders to make lower-dollar loans. The purpose being that these lower dollar loans often help the smaller businesses and entrepreneurs in underserved markets. Small Loan Advantage is available to financial institutions that are already participating in SBA’s PLP, and the maximum loan size is $250,000.

With these SBA loans, SBA guarantee 85% for loans up to $150,000, and 75% for those over $150,000. Part of streamlining this process is the improved approval time. Most loans that fall under the Small Loan Advantage category will be approved in just a few minutes using e-Tran, an electronic submission process. The non-delegated Small Loan Advantage loans will take a bit longer, but will be approved within 5-10 days.

In addition to simplified structure, and faster approval time, the paperwork has been cut down and streamlines as well, with only a two-page application for borrowers, and allowing lenders to use their own note and guaranty agreements.

Community Advantage

Community Advantage is an initiative that is set up to increase the number of SBA 7 (a) lenders who serve the underserved communities. This is a pilot program put in place to increase the number of SBA lenders, specifically those who are mission-focused, or community-based, and where previously unable to offer SBA loans. Community Advantage lenders are expected to maintain a portfolio with at least 60% of their SBA loans to be to the underserved markets. Underserved markets include small businesses with at least half the workforce residing in LMI (low to moderate income) communities. This is a three-year pilot initiative where the SBA started taking applications from mission-focused lenders on February 15, 2011.

The Community Advantage loan size is a maximum of $250,000, and the SBA guarantee is 85% for loans up to $150,000 and 75% for loans over $150,000. Approval times are faster, with loans being approved in 5 to 10 days, and like the Small Loan Advantage, applications are only two pages for borrowers.

These two Advantage loan initiatives should help open some lending doors for small businesses and underserved communities looking for business loans.

Small Business Sources Sought for Construction Management Services Associated with Construction of a Courthouse

Solicitation Numbers: GS.llPllMKC0048

Agency: General Services Administration

Office: Public Buildings Services (PBS)

Location: Property Development Division (WFC)

To access this opportunity, download this file.

TARRANT COUNTY COLLEGE

Dear USPAACC Members, Supporters and Friends,

Announces: RFQ #11-037 • College for Kids T-Shirts.

To access this solicitation, go to http://www.tccd.edu/bids to download the RFQ.

Addendums, if any, will be posted to the website.

Fortune 500 Company Contract Opportunities

One of our members, a Fortune 500 Company, has asked USPAACC for referral of minority businesses for the following contract opportunities:

This contract opportunity is for a multi-story office building construction project. USPAACC is looking for Asian American businesses (at least 51% owned, controlled, and operated by Asian Americans) located in Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Bid Packages include:

1) Window Treatments

2) Architectural Millwork

3) Painting and Wall covering

4) Interior Building Signage

5) Miscellaneous Metals

6) Drywall/ Acoustical/ Rough Carpentry

7) Masonry

8) Audio Visual

9) Appliances

10) Testing and Inspection

11) Final Cleaning