Manufacturing Extension Partnership Louisiana

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Manufacturing Extension Partnership of Louisiana

Improving the competitiveness and profitability of Louisiana manufacturers

MEPOL is a statewide sponsored program of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Announcing the International DEC Conference on Exporting
The International DEC Conference will be held both in Detroit and Windsor, Canada October 24 - 27, 2010 and will be North America's largest export conference in 2010. World-class speakers include high level government officials, think tanks and top executives from companies such as Google, Wal-Mart, Pixar Animation, the CATO Institute and many others. The Conference features unrivaled networking opportunities, dozens of trade service providers' exhibitor tables, opportunities for new and experienced exporters and great conference hotel rates. Please visit www.decconference.com for details of the Conference including a taped invitation from U.S. Commerce Secretary, Gary Locke.

Recently, the Small Business jobs Act of 2010 (HR 5297) was enacted into law. This measure includes many provisions to aid small business, including access to capital and programs to promote entrepreneurship. Below is a summary of the bill and its most important elements.
Highlights of the Small Business Jobs Act (H.R. 5297)
Provisions to Provide Access to Capital
100% Exclusion of Small Business Capital Gains. Generally, non-corporate taxpayers may exclude 50 percent of the gain from the sale of certain small business stock acquired at original issue and held for more than five years. For stock acquired after February 17, 2009 and before January 1, 2011, the exclusion is increased to 75 percent. This bill would temporarily increase further the amount of the exclusion to 100 percent of the gain from the sale of qualifying small business stock that is acquired after the date of enactment in 2010 and held for more than five years.
Increase Small Business Administration (SBA) Loan Limits. This provision increases 7(a) loan limits from $2 million to $5 million, 504 loans from $1.5 million to $5.5 million, and microloans from $35,000 to $50,000. It also increases the government guarantee on 7(a) loan limits, while providing the elimination of borrower fees on 7(a) and 504 loans through December 31, 2010.
Extend Elimination of Small Business Administration (SBA) Loan Fees. This provision extends the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act small business lending program that eliminates the fees normally charged for loans through the SBA 7(a) and 504 loan programs and increases the government guarantees on 7(a) loans from 75% to 90%.

NEW ORLEANS Employers in the market for highly skilled workers in a variety of professions are invited to participate in an Oct. 5 career fair for transitioning Lockheed Martin workers.
The career fair will be held at the Lockheed Workforce Transition Center at the New Orleans Regional Business Park for workers previously employed at Lockheed. The company announced in July that it was displacing some 500 workers due to the discontinuation of the NASA Space Shuttle Program.
All of the workers have security clearance credentials, with experienced workers available in a range of professions, including:
- Engineers and engineering managers

The career fair is sponsored by the Region One Workforce Investment Board Partnership and Business & Career Solutions Centers, with support from Lockheed Martin and the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

Where: UL Lafayette - Location to be Determined - Lafayette Meets: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

It's a common practice to keep fixing the same things over and over. This hands-on course provides the background and skills necessary to lead effective root cause analysis. Participants will learn how to apply techniques to define, measure, analyze, improve and control performance problems by understanding variation and uncovering root causes that lead to defects.

https://www.ce.louisiana.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?%7E%7ELEPSF1001

This hands-on course provides the background and skills necessary to learn the principles of Setup Reduction and the Single Minute Exchange of Dies (SMED) methodology. Participants will learn how to apply techniques to define, analyze, implement and standardize a changeover process by separating, converting and streamlining changeover activities.

https://www.ce.louisiana.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?%7E%7ELEQCF1001

MEPOL provides Louisiana's manufacturing companies with a wide array of fundamental services, helping them to become more efficient, resilient, and strong in an increasingly competitive global market.
Continuous improvement, new product and market development, green initiatives, quality, marketing, exporting-- you name it-- at MEPOL, we make the connections that help our state's manufacturers move upward in profitability and growth.