http://blogs.e-rockford.com/bizrock Thu, 01 May 2008 19:30:31 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Two Rock River Valley area winners in this year's American Advertising Federation of Northern Illinois ADDY awards have qualified to go to the national ADDY competition June 10 in Atlanta. And they are... (drum roll please).... Manifesto Marketing, for its "Rock On" Desktop Kit and Invitation, for Aqua Aerobic Systems -- and ... http://blogs.e-rockford.com/bizrock/2008/04/27/addy-awards-national-contenders-local-winners/ Mr. Edjuan Payne of Rockford came to visit me a few days ago, to tell me about his experiences with some Internet scams so I could warn other people about them. Through popup ads on the Web, he found some out-of-state companies who promised him chances to get into home-based businesses. ... http://blogs.e-rockford.com/bizrock/2008/04/23/if-work-at-home-offer-sounds-too-good-to-be-true-it-probably-is/ The U.S. Small Business Administration recently launched a Web site for National Small Business Week 2008, which takes place April 21-25. It would be nice to go. The week features events and speakers in Washington, D.C., and New York City. But if you can’t make it there — and many of ... http://blogs.e-rockford.com/bizrock/2008/04/15/cant-go-to-washington-or-new-york-bring-national-small-business-week-to-you/ Despite what your feelings may be about the Internal Revenue Service, I must say that Sue Hales, IRS spokeswoman in its Chicago office, has been extremely courteous, available and helpful in the last couple of weeks as I sought information to share with readers concerning last-minute income tax filing tips. For ... http://blogs.e-rockford.com/bizrock/2008/04/10/irs-help-is-a-phone-call-away/ It's no secret: The deadline for filing your federal income tax return is April 15. In case you still haven't started, here are some tips and observations from the IRS office in Chicago. First of all, you’re not alone. During the last few weeks of the tax filing season, the IRS expects Illinois residents to file ... http://blogs.e-rockford.com/bizrock/2008/04/04/last-minute-income-tax-filing-tips/ The Rockford Chamber of Commerce has launched a Speakers Bureau which makes Chamber-member professionals available as guest speakers for local meetings and events. You can find a complete list of the speakers at www.rockfordchamber.com by clicking on the "Speakers Bureau" icon. There's an online speaker request form and a list ... http://blogs.e-rockford.com/bizrock/2008/04/03/rockford-chamber-offers-speakers-bureau-service/ It’s not always easy being the messenger. Business reporters and editors may have the reputation of painting a bleak picture when it comes to economic trends. In fact, we often get blamed for making things worse when we report downward trends in housing starts or upward trends in unemployment. But trust me, ... http://blogs.e-rockford.com/bizrock/2008/04/01/a-roller-coaster-of-business-news-reporting/ If you didn't file an income tax return in 2004 -- and you were owed a refund -- you still have time to file and claim one, says the IRS.  Until April 15, 2008, that is. The IRS has more than $53 million for about 50,000 residents of Illinois who have not filed ... http://blogs.e-rockford.com/bizrock/2008/03/21/tax-refund-due-from-2004-you-still-have-time/ If you earned less than $40,000 in 2007 you might be eligible for as much as $4,716 in extra cash -- through the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The Internal Revenue Service says as many as one of four taxpayers eligible for the EITC doesn't claim it. The EITC ... http://blogs.e-rockford.com/bizrock/2008/03/19/earned-income-tax-credit-dont-miss-out-says-the-irs/ It’s hard, of course, to summarize a whole 26 pages of survey results in just a few column-inches or a few paragraphs on the Web. Especially when the survey gives a voice to 85 Rock River Valley companies — with a total of more than 8,500 employees — and what they ... http://blogs.e-rockford.com/bizrock/2008/03/17/you-are-the-customer/