MONROE CHAMBER WEEKLY REPORT Volume 16, Issue 12 2585854

Monroe Chamber of Commerce

Weekly Report

March 21, 2016

TOGETHER WE’RE STRONGER CALENDAR

Monday, March 21 at 5:30 p.m.- Ouachita

Parish Police Jury will meet at the Ouachita

Parish Courthouse.

Tuesday, March 22 at 3:00 p.m.-The Monroe

Chamber Governmental Committee will meet at

the Monroe Chamber office to discuss the

current legislative session.

Tuesday, March 22 at 6:00 p.m.-Monroe City

Council will meet at Monroe City Hall Council

Chambers.

Thursday, March 24 at 1:00 p.m.-The

Glamorous Boutique Grand Opening and

Ribbon Cutting. The event will be held at The

RiverMarket in downtown Monroe.

Friday, March 25-GOOD FRIDAY-Chamber

office closed.

Tuesday, March 29 at 8:00 a.m.-Early

Childhood Business Roundtable will meet at the

Monroe Chamber Office.

March 31 at 2:00 p.m.-Ground Breaking for

CenturyLink Village. The ceremony will be held

near Denmon Engineering on US Highway 165.

Tuesday, April 5 at 4:00 p.m.-Ground

Breaking for the Bank of Ruston. The ceremony

will be held at 2450 Tower Drive.

Wednesday, April 6 at 9:00 a.m.-Ribbon

Cutting for McCann School of Business &

Technology. The school is located at 2319

Louisville Avenue.

Wednesday, April 6 at 12 noon-The Greater

Ouachita Port Commission will meet at the

Monroe Chamber office.

Tax Relief for Victims of Severe Storms and Flooding in Louisiana

NEW ORLEANS — Victims of the severe storms and flooding that took place beginning on March 8, 2016 in parts of Louisiana may qualify for tax relief from the Internal Revenue Service.

The President has declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Louisiana. Following the recent disaster declaration for individual assistance issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the IRS announced today that affected taxpayers in Louisiana will receive tax relief.

Individuals who reside or have a business in Bossier, Claiborne, Grant, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, and Webster Parishes may qualify for tax relief.

The declaration permits the IRS to postpone certain deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in the disaster area. For instance, certain deadlines falling on or after March 8, and on or before July 15, 2016 have been postponed to July 15, 2016. This includes 2015 income tax returns normally due on April 18. It also includes the April 18 and June 15 deadlines for making quarterly estimated tax payments. A variety of business tax deadlines are also affected including the May 2 deadlines for quarterly payroll and excise tax returns.

In addition, the IRS is waiving the failure-to-deposit penalties for employment and excise tax deposits due on or after March 8, as long as the deposits were made by March 23, 2016.

If an affected taxpayer receives a late filing or late payment penalty notice from the IRS that has an original or extended filing, payment or deposit due date that falls within the postponement period, the taxpayer should call the telephone number on the notice to have the IRS abate the penalty.

The IRS automatically identifies taxpayers located in the covered disaster area and applies automatic filing and payment relief. But affected taxpayers who reside or have a business located outside the covered disaster area must call the IRS disaster hotline at 866-562-5227 to request this tax relief.

Continued on Page 4

Congratulations to Spa Nouvelle and Derma MediQ for winning Beautiful Business of the Month

for February 2016!! Two businesses under one roof!! Located at 1705 Lamy Lane. Derma MediqQ is Dr. Saidi Sowma-Fakhre, Reba Custer, Kisha Davis and Nancy Bershen. Spa Nouvelle is Drew

Farr, Mary Beth Dickerson, Ana Hale, Jeanette Barron, Kelly Green, Sherri Sullivan, Wendy

Newsom(not pictured) And Kristin Stapleton (not pictured). Thank you all for your efforts in making Monroe beautiful.

MONROE CHAMBER WEEKLY REPORT | Volume 16, Issue 12

MONROE CHAMBER WEEKLY REPORT | Volume 16, Issue 12

SBA Ready to Assist Louisiana Businesses & Residents Affected by Severe Storms & Flooding

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to Louisiana businesses and residents as a result of President Obama’s major disaster

declaration, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet announced.

The declaration covers Bossier, Claiborne, Grant, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland and Webster parishes as a result of the severe storms and flooding that began March 8,

2016.

“The SBA is strongly committed to providing Louisiana with the most effective and customer-focused response possible and with access to federal disaster loans to help

Louisiana businesses and residents affected by this disaster,” said Contreras-Sweet. “Getting our businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our

highest priority at SBA.”

Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment,

inventory, and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to businesses and homeowners to help with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent or

minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.

For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers

Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL assistance is available to businesses regardless of any property

damage.

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000

to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

Interest rates can be as low as 4 percent for businesses, 2.625 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 1.813 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to

30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, victims must first call the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at (800) 621-FEMA (3362). As soon

as Federal-State Disaster Recovery Centers open throughout the affected area, SBA will provide one-on-one assistance to disaster loan applicants. Additional information

and details on the location of disaster recovery centers is available by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955.

Atmos Energy Urges Louisiana Customers to Act Fast if you Smell Gas Safety Tips for Natural Gas Customers During Severe Weather

MONROE, La. (March 10, 2016) – As severe storms and heavy rain continue to blanket Northeast Louisiana, Atmos Energy is urging residents to act fast if they smell natural gas or see bubbling water in flooded areas.

"The safety of our customers, employees and communities is our first priority.” said Ann Hayward, Atmos Energy manager of public affairs. “If you smell gas you need to leave the area immediately and from a safe distance call 911 and our emergency hotline at 1-866-322-8667.”

Atmos Energy crews are working diligently to safely respond to each and every leak call they receive. While natural gas pipelines are mostly underground, they can be damaged by uprooted trees and shifted foundations during a storm. In addition, fallen limbs and other debris can damage gas meters and associated piping near homes and buildings.

Below are recommended guidelines associated with natural gas before and after severe weather to ensure safety:

If you smell gas, immediately leave the affected area and from a safe location call 911 or Atmos Energy’s 24-hour emergency hotline, at 1-866-322-8667.

Do not try to identify the source of a leak. Do not use a cellular phone or anything that might cause a spark, such as a generator.

If flooding occurs at a residence or business and the gas appliances are under water, do not try to operate the appliances. Contact Atmos Energy or a qualified service professional to conduct a safety inspection.

If a natural gas meter is damaged or a gas line is exposed, immediately leave the area and call the Atmos Energy 24-hour emergency response number at 1-866-322-8667.

Customers are encouraged to know where their natural gas meter is located. Ensure that the gas meter is visible and the area surrounding the meter is free of trash and debris. Mechanical equipment used to clean up after the storm may damage the meter if it is hidden.

Before removing downed trees, customers should Call-811 to have the location of underground utility lines marked. Gas service lines could become tangled in the roots of downed trees.

Atmos Energy customers experiencing a natural gas outage or service interruption should contact the company's 24-hour customer service number at 1-888-286-6700. Customers’ gas service will be restored as quickly as possible once the area is deemed safe.

MONROE CHAMBER WEEKLY REPORT | Volume 16, Issue 12

Tax Relief Continued from Page 1

Covered Disaster Area The counties listed above constitute a covered disaster area for purposes of Treas. Reg. § 301.7508A-1(d)(2) and are entitled to the relief detailed below. Affected Taxpayers Taxpayers considered to be affected taxpayers eligible for the postponement of time to file returns, pay taxes and perform other time-sensitive acts are those taxpayers listed in Treas. Reg. § 301.7508A-1(d)(1), and include individuals who live, and businesses whose principal place of business is located, in the covered disaster area. Taxpayers not in the covered disaster area, but whose records necessary to meet a deadline listed in Treas. Reg. § 301.7508A-1(c) are in the covered disaster area, are also entitled to relief. In addition, all relief workers affiliated with a recognized government or philanthropic organization assisting in the relief activities in the covered disaster area and any individual visiting the covered disaster area who was killed or injured as a result of the disaster are entitled to relief. Grant of Relief Under section 7508A, the IRS gives affected taxpayers until July 15, 2016 to file most tax returns (including individual, corporate, and estate and trust income tax returns; partnership returns, S corporation returns, and trust returns; estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax returns; and employment and certain excise tax returns), or to make tax payments, including estimated tax payments, that have either an original or extended due date occurring on or after March 8,2016 and on or before July 15, 2016. The IRS also gives affected taxpayers until July 15, 2016 to perform other time-sensitive actions described in Treas. Reg. § 301.7508A-1(c)(1) and Rev. Proc. 2007-56, 2007-34 I.R.B. 388 (Aug. 20, 2007), that are due to be performed on or after March 8, 2016, and before July15, 2016. This relief also includes the filing of Form 5500 series returns, in the manner described in section 8 of Rev. Proc. 2007-56. The relief described in section 17 of Rev. Proc. 2007-56, pertaining to like-kind exchanges of property, also applies to certain taxpayers who are not otherwise affected taxpayers and may include acts required to be performed before or after the period above. The postponement of time to file and pay does not apply to information returns in the W-2, 1098, 1099 series, or to Forms 1042-S or 8027. Penalties for failure to timely file information returns can be waived under existing procedures for reasonable cause. Likewise, the postponement does not apply to employment and excise tax deposits. The IRS, however, will abate penalties for failure to make timely employment and excise tax deposits due on or after March 8 and on or before March 23, provided the taxpayer made these deposits by March 23, 2016.

Casualty Losses Affected taxpayers in a federally declared disaster area have the option of claiming disaster-related casualty losses on their federal income tax return for either the year in which the event occurred, or the prior year. See Publication 547 for details. Individuals may deduct personal property losses that are not covered by insurance or other reimbursements. For details, see Form 4684 and its instructions. Affected taxpayers claiming the disaster loss on a 2015 return should put the Disaster Designation “Louisiana, Severe Storms, and Flooding” at the top of the form so that the IRS can expedite the processing of the refund.

Other Relief The IRS will waive the usual fees and expedite requests for copies of previously filed tax returns for affected taxpayers. Taxpayers should put the assigned Disaster Designation “Arkansas, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding” in red ink at the top of Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return, or Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return, as appropriate, and submit it to the IRS. Affected taxpayers who are contacted by the IRS on a collection or examination matter should explain how the disaster impacts them so that the IRS can provide appropriate consideration to their case. Taxpayers may download forms and publications from the official IRS website, irs.gov, or order them by calling 800-829-3676. The IRS toll-free number for general tax questions is 800-829-1040.

Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 17-Mar-2016

MONROE CHAMBER WEEKLY REPORT | Volume 16, Issue 12

Call for Nominations -2016 Thomas H. Scott Awards of Excellence

The Monroe Chamber of Commerce, the News Star and the University of Louisiana at Monroe College of Business

plan to recognize the growth and development of new and expanding businesses in Ouachita Parish with an awards

ceremony that will be held on Thursday, May 19th. The three entities have collaborated on The Thomas H. Scott

Awards of Excellence. The awards will be presented to Ouachita Parish businesses that have demonstrated a

commitment to Northeast Louisiana by creating or retaining jobs, making a capital investment in machinery,

equipment or a new facility and that participate in worthwhile projects that make the community a better place to live.

The award is named after Thomas H. Scott, the founder of Scott Companies, which is headquartered in Monroe. Scott

was raised in Mississippi and attended Mississippi State University where he received a degree in agriculture

engineering. Following graduation, he moved to Shreveport where he was employed with International Harvester.

While in Shreveport, he met Mayme, the woman who was to be his wife and life-long companion. The couple moved

to Monroe in 1939 to open Scott Truck and Tractor Company. Over the years, Scott Truck and Tractor evolved into

Scott Companies, which includes Scott Equipment, Scott Financial Services, Scott Irrigation, Scott Real Estate and

CBS Interests.

Scott summarized his business philosophy in a company brochure that was published in 2000. In it he said, “People are

important. Our number 1 goal has always been to serve the customer. Our business has been built on service to our

customer and service to the communities in which we are located.” Scott continued to work at the business until his

death in 2001 at the age of 90.

Four awards will be presented: small business category (businesses that employee 1-10 people); medium business

category (businesses that employee 11-50 people); large business category (businesses that employee 51 to 100

people); and corporate (businesses that employee over 100 people). Nominations are open to any Ouachita Parish

business that expanded their business or made a capital investment in 2015/16; created or retained jobs; and that

participate in worthwhile causes throughout Ouachita Parish. Nomination forms are available at the Monroe Chamber.

Area businesses are encouraged to nominate their own business. The deadline to submit a nomination is 5:00 p.m.

Friday, April 29. All completed nominations should be mailed or delivered to the Monroe Chamber of Commerce at

212 Walnut Street, Suite 100; Monroe, LA 71201.

The winners will be announced at a reception to be held on Thursday, May 19 at the ULM Conference Center. Tickets

for the event are $30 per person. For more information or to nominate a business, please call the Monroe Chamber at

323-3461.

You are invited to attend

a Ground Breaking

On Tuesday, April 5 at 4:00 p.m.

for

The Bank of Ruston at

2450 Tower Drive

MONROE CHAMBER WEEKLY REPORT | Volume 16, Issue 12

MONROE CHAMBER WEEKLY REPORT | Volume 16, Issue 12

Beware of Utility Scams

Monroe, LA (March 11, 2016) – Nationwide utility scams are on the rise and Atmos Energy recommends customers take the following steps to protect themselves from fraud Utility Impostor

Always ask for identification – All Atmos Energy

employees carry company ID badges displaying

their name, photograph and Atmos Energy logo. If

you suspect an impostor has arrived at your door,

call us immediately at 1-888-286-6700 to verify

the Atmos Energy employee’s identity or the work

being done at your home. Do not allow the

suspected impostor inside your home.

Customers who encounter a suspected utility

impostor should notify their local police

department immediately.

MONROE CHAMBER WEEKLY REPORT | Volume 16, Issue 12

MONROE CHAMBER WEEKLY REPORT | Volume 16, Issue 12

MONROE CHAMBER OF

COMMERCE

212 Walnut Street, Suite 100 Monroe, LA 71201

PHONE: (318) 323-3461

FAX: (318) 812-7594

E-MAIL:

communications@monroe.org

Website: www.monroe.org

THE MONROE CHAMBER’S MISSION

IS TO LEAD IN THE CREATION

OF AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH

OUR BUSINESSES THRIVE.