Chicago, IL – 1400 N. Washtenaw: on April 20, 2012 at 10 am, community residents and prominent leaders will gather to celebrate the groundbreaking of Borinquen Bella, a $11.7 million affordable housing rehabilitation project by Latin United Community Housing Association (LUCHA). Through this project, 47 units of housing will be rehabbed and preserved as affordable. Borinquen Bella will also bring investments by creating 40 construction jobs and opportunities for local vendors.

In addition to developing housing, the project will restore two historical and culturally significant murals. “Breaking the Chains” located at 1456 N. Rockwell was painted by John Pitman Weber in 1971 and is one of the oldest surviving murals in the country. “Honor Boricua”, located at 1318 N. Rockwell, was painted by Hector Duarte in 1992. The original artists will be leading the restoration of the murals and will be at the groundbreaking to answer questions.

Juan B. Rivera, Executive Director of LUCHA says, “We are excited to break walls on Borinquen Bella and to bring millions of dollars for affordable housing and build a project that will contribute to the vitality of the area. LUCHA will restore two extremely important murals which are symbols of the culture, the struggle and the spirit of our people. Arranging financing was challenging, our political leaders, our board of directors and our staff work together and made it possible. We could not have done it without our partners at the National Equity Fund, the Chicago Department of Housing and Economic Development, the Illinois Housing Development Authority and Harris Bank which have a great group of people that worked very hard to make this project a reality.”

Judy Jackson, who has lived in the apartment since 2007, stated “My family and I are ecstatic about the rehab. I am looking forward to moving into my new unit and having access to a new washer and dryer”.

LUCHA has contracted McShane Construction as the general contractor and Landon Bone Baker Architects as architects for the project.

The event brings together various supporters of Borinquen Bella. Representatives of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the City of Chicago, the Office of U.S. Congressman Luis Gutierrez, the Office of Alderman Roberto Maldonado, State Senator William Delgado and State Senator Iris Martinez will attend.

The mission of LUCHA is to provide decent and affordable housing, housing services and education to low and moderate income Latinos and other residents. LUCHA fosters community stability in areas lacking adequate housing due to discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, religion, familial status, and disability. This is done by empowering residents through education and participation, promoting affordable housing development, providing technical assistance, rehabilitating and managing housing, advocating for resources, and reinvesting in communities. The organization has developed and manages 153 units of affordable housing.

For more information call 773-276-5338 ext. 226

——————————————————————————

$ 12 Millones en Viviendas Asequibles Vendrá a Humboldt Park:
Creará 40 Puestos de Trabajo y Preservará Murales Históricos

Chicago, IL- 1400 N. Washtenaw: el 20 de abril de 2012 a las 10 horas, residentes de la comunidad y líderes prominentes se reúnen para celebrar la ceremonia de la primera piedra de Borinquen Bella, un proyecto de $ 11.7 millones para a rehabilitación de viviendas asequibles de Latin United Community Housing Association (LUCHA). A través de este proyecto, 47 unidades de vivienda serán rehabilitadas y preservadas como asequible. Borinquen Bella también traerá inversiones mediante la creación de 40 empleos en la construcción y las oportunidades para los proveedores locales.

Además del desarrollo de vivienda, el proyecto va a restaurar dos murales históricos y de importancia cultural. “Rompiendo Cadenas”, ubicado en 1456 N. Rockwell fue pintado por John Pitman Weber en 1971 y es uno de los más antiguos murales que sobreviven en el país. “Honor Boricua”, ubicado en 1318 N. Rockwell, fue pintado por Héctor Duarte en 1992. Los artistas originales estarán al frente de la restauración de los murales y estarán en la ceremonia para contestar preguntas.

Juan B. Rivera, Director Ejecutivo de LUCHA, dice, “Estamos muy contentos de romper las paredes de Borinquen Bella y traer millones de dólares para viviendas asequibles y construir un proyecto que contribuirá a la vitalidad del área. LUCHA va a restaurar dos murales muy importantes que son símbolos de la cultura, la lucha y el espíritu de nuestro pueblo. Arreglar el financiamiento fue un reto, nuestros líderes políticos, nuestra junta directiva y nuestro personal trabajaron juntos y lo hicieron posible. No podríamos haberlo hecho sin nuestros socios en National Equity Fund, el Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Económico de Chicago, Illinois Housing Development Authority y el banco Harris, que tienen un gran grupo de gente que trabajó muy duro para hacer realidad este proyecto. ”

Judy Jackson, quien ha vivido en el apartamento desde el año 2007, declaró: “Mi familia y yo estamos emocionados con la rehabilitación. Tengo muchas ganas de mudarme a mi nueva unidad y tener acceso a una nueva lavadora y secadora.”

LUCHA ha contratado a McShane Construction como el contratista general y Arquitectos Landon Bone Baker como arquitectos para el proyecto.

El evento reúne varios partidarios de Borinquen Bella. Representantes del Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano, la ciudad de Chicago, la Oficina del Congresista Luis Gutiérrez, la Oficina del Concejal Roberto Maldonado, el Senador Estatal William Delgado y la Senadora Estatal Iris Martínez asistirán.

La misión de la LUCHA es proporcionar una vivienda digna y asequible, servicios de vivienda y educación para los latinos y otros residentes de ingresos bajos y moderados. LUCHA fomenta la estabilidad de la comunidad en las áreas que carecen de vivienda adecuada, debido a la discriminación por motivos de raza, origen nacional, religión, estado familiar o discapacidad. Esto se hace mediante la potenciación de los residentes mediante la educación y la participación, la promoción del desarrollo de vivienda asequible, la prestación de asistencia técnica, la rehabilitación y la gestión de la vivienda, la defensa de los recursos, y la reinversión en las comunidades. La organización ha desarrollado y gestiona 153 unidades de vivienda asequible.

Para mas informacion llamar al 773-276-5338 ext. 226

$12 million in Affordable Housing Coming to Humboldt Park: 40 Jobs to Be Created and Historic Murals to Be Preserved | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

By Benjamin Yount | Illinois Statehouse News

SPRINGFIELD — It’s clear that finding or keeping a job in Illinois is getting tougher, but it is much less clear as to why.

Originally reported by Illinois Statehouse News. Read the original article here.

Illinois: Jobs picture worsening | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

CHICAGO, June 24, 2011 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — Milicruit, powered by UBM Studios, successfully brought together industry leading employers, government agencies, and military personnel seeking employment in a fully interactive, online environment at the Veterans Virtual Career Fair, Thursday, June 23, 2011.

Over 35,000 active duty military personnel, veterans and their spouses registered for the Virtual Career Fair and employers met with over 21,000 visitors in their virtual booths. On average, attendees visited 21 booths with an average dwell time of 143 minutes.

The Virtual Career Fair, open to all active duty personnel, veterans and military spouses, showcased military-friendly employers who are committed to helping veterans and military spouses find suitable employment.  Eighty corporations and public and private sector organizations, representing more than 15,000 jobs, participated in offering positions nationwide.  Organizations participating in the job fair included: Abbott, Archer Daniels Midland, Amazon, Amtrak, ATS, Black & Veatch, Boeing, Booz Allen Hamilton, CB Richard Ellis, Chase, CITI, Columbia College, Comerica, Crunch Fitness, Daiichi Sankyo, DaVita, U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Treasury, Deutsche Bank, Dish Network, Dollar General, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, EODT, Excelsior, FBI, FedEx Services, FedEx Office, Flextronics, G&B Solutions, GEICO, General Motors, Graybar, Gulfstream Aerospace, Harris Corporation, Hewlett Packard, Home Depot, Humana, IBM, Ideal Innovations, Intel, Kaplan University, Medtronic, Military to Medicine, New York Life, Nike, Oakwood, Olympus, Panasonic, Progressive, Prudential, Raytheon, Realogy, Reynolds and Reynolds, Rockwell Collins, SCANA, Sears Holdings, Secret Service, SGS North America, Six Flags Theme Parks, Strayer University, TCF Bank, The Hartford, T-Mobile, Tobyhanna Army Depot, Travelers, Verizon, VetSuccess, Walgreens and Waste Management.

The virtual career fair gave job seekers the opportunity to meet with potential employers in real time, walk the exhibit floor, visit employer booths, view and/or apply for jobs, chat with recruiters, build a network of peers – all from the privacy of their own homes, and with no travel expense, or carbon output.

The Veterans Career Fair is supported by MOAA, Veterans Affairs – VetSuccess, Wounded Warrior Project, Disabled American Veterans, ESGR, USO, IAVA, Hire Heroes USA, Walter Reed Medical Center and the Student Veterans of America.

The Milicruit perpetual environment allows military personnel, veterans and military spouses’ access to the virtual career fair all year long – 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The virtual career fair environment is FREE of charge and can be accessed by registering at www.veteranscareerfair.com/. The only requirement to attend the virtual career fair is a computer with high speed internet access.

“Through our virtual career fair we are very pleased to connect military job seekers with potential military-friendly employers, while also assisting recruiters to fill open positions,” said Kevin O’Brien, Vice President, Milicruit.  ”In addition, our perpetual environment allows job seekers to participate at their convenience, whenever and wherever they have access to a computer connected to the web.   We are very pleased to offer a gateway that assists veterans in finding suitable employment as they look to transition into the civilian workforce.”

The next Milicruit virtual career fair will take place September 12, 2011 in recognition of the men and women who gave so much on 9/11, 2001.

For additional information on Milicruit, UBM Studios or to purchase a virtual career fair, contact Kevin O’Brien, at (215) 525-5776 x101 or kevin.obrien@ubm.com.

UBM produces virtual career fairs in education, chemical, technology and military in Asia, Europe and North America.

To follow Milicruit on Twitter, visit Milicruit, to follow on Facebook visit Milicruit and to follow on LinkedIn, visit Milicruit Virtual Career Fairs.

About Milicruit

Milicruit is the recognized leader of virtual career fairs for military veterans, powered by UBM Studios.   Milicruit brings employers who are committed to helping veterans find suitable employment after serving the country together with military veterans and their spouses seeking suitable employment.  Given the large number of veterans looking to reenter the civilian job market, Milicruit allows employers and job seekers to meet and interact in an online setting.  For additional information on Milicruit, visit www.milicruit.com.

About UBM plc

UBM plc is a leading global business media company. We inform markets and bring the world’s buyers and sellers together at events, online, in print and provide them with the information they need to do business successfully. We focus on serving professional commercial communities, from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewellery traders, from farmers to pharmacists around the world. Our 6,000 staff in more than 30 countries are organised into specialist teams that serve these communities, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently.

Contact
Kevin O’Brien
UBM’s Milicruit
(215) 525-5776 x101
kevin.obrien@ubm.com

SOURCE UBM Studios

http://www.milicruit.com

Milicruit’s Virtual Career Fair Links Military-Friendly Employers with Job Seekers | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

At the McDonald’s on Chicago and State, owner Nick Karavites is enthusiastic about the restaurant giant’s program.

“Not only are we looking to hire cashiers, but also hospitality staff and kitchen staff,” Karavites said. He and his family own a total of 18 McDonald’s located throughout the city.

Karavites added that the pay averages $9 per hour at his restaurants and that his employees can participate in the company’s insurance plan.

McDonald’s, who opened its first location here in the Midwest, now has about 14,000 restaurants nationwide. The company says it is hiring more employees because sales in the last year have jumped 5 percent and continue to rise.

McDonald’s planning to hire thousands | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

State Investment Package to Help Retain Over 300 Jobs at A. Finkl & Sons

CHICAGO (CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM) — Gov. Pat Quinn today announced a $10.3 million business investment package to help Chicago-based steel manufacturer A. Finkl & Sons Co. expand its operations. The state’s investment will leverage about $150 million in private investment and help keep more 300 jobs in Illinois.

“If we want to remain competitive in today’s global economy, we must continue to invest in areas like manufacturing,” said Governor Quinn. “We’re helping to keep good-paying, sustainable jobs right here in Illinois, boosting our manufacturing industry and improving our economic competitiveness.”

A. Finkl & Sons, the world’s leading manufacturer of specialty steel alloys, will construct a new $150-million manufacturing campus on Chicago’s south side.

After more than a century on Chicago’s north side, Finkl has been working with state and city officials to relocate to a larger facility that would allow the company to expand production and increase its product lines to serve a growing global marketplace.

The company plans to redevelop the 44-acre former Verson Steel plant that has been vacant for many years. The plant will serve as the company’s North American headquarters. Finkl considered other locations for expansion, but ultimately opted to remain in Chicago rather than move out of state or to Quebec, Canada.

“Illinois is a competitive place to do business, and Finkl’s decision to stay in the state is a huge positive for our economy and for job growth and investment,” said Warren Ribley, director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. “By supporting the Finkl project, we are helping to ensure businesses can remain and thrive.”

DCEO is administering the state’s $10.3 million business investment package. The package consists of Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) tax credits and Employer Training Investment Program (ETIP) job training funds that will help enhance the skills of the company’s workforce. In addition to support from the state, Chicago’s Community Development Commission approved $20 million of support through the Burnside Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district.

Illinois continues to see strong signs of economic growth and recovery. Since January 2010 when Illinois employment resumed after the national recession, the state has added 85,100 new net jobs, including nearly 10,000 manufacturing jobs. February marked the 13th straight month of declining unemployment. Illinois ranks first in the Midwest for exports and foreign direct investment.

Gov. Quinn Announces Investment to Boost State’s Manufacturing Industry, Keep Hundreds of Jobs in Illinois | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

At an event on the site of a new store at 76th and South Ashland, Mayor Richard M. Daley and Ald. Latasha Thomas joined Walmart to share plans for new small and mid-size stores in the West Englewood community that will each provide local residents with another option for affordable groceries.

West Englewood is in the heart of a food desert and one of Chicago’s most underserved communities.

These new stores, combined with the company’s existing projects, will create close to 1,000 new jobs and nearly 200 construction jobs putting Walmart on the path to meeting the goals outlined in its “Chicago Community Investment Partnership.”

“When I met with Walmart last year, I encouraged them to take an approach that addressed the needs of the urban shopper if they truly wanted to make a difference in our underserved neighborhoods,” said Mayor Daley. “Today, it appears that Walmart has done just that by creating smaller urban store formats that will better serve our communities.  I applaud their leadership in creating jobs and providing retail and grocery services in areas of the city that need it most.”

Walmart’s investment in Chicago now includes the following projects:

• Supercenter in Pullman at 111th St. and South Doty Ave. (opening spring 2013)
• Supercenter in West Chatham at 83rd St. and Stewart Ave. (opening spring 2012)
• Walmart Market in the West Loop at West Monroe St. and South Jefferson St. (opening fall 2011)
• Walmart Market in West Englewood at West 76th St. and South Ashland Ave. (opening spring 2012)
• Walmart Express™ in West Englewood at South Western Ave. and West 71st St. (opening winter 2012)
• Walmart Express™ in West Chatham at 83rd St. and Stewart Ave. (opening summer 2011)

“Mayor Daley has been a champion of economic development in the city and his support of Walmart through the years has allowed us the opportunity to do what we do best: open stores that create jobs and offer a broad assortment of products at everyday low prices,” said Julie Murphy, Senior Vice President, Walmart U.S., who is based in Chicago.  “Moving forward, we will continue to identify sites in Chicago’s food deserts, while also looking for opportunities to help even more Chicagoans save money and live better.”

Chicago’s Walmart Express™ stores will be less than 30,000 sq. ft and will focus on a broad assortment of brands at everyday low prices, selling grocery, pharmacy and limited general merchandise.  Walmart Market – previously called Neighborhood Market – will range in size from 30,000 to 60,000 sq. ft. and provide a wider assortment of fresh grocery, as well as a bakery and delicatessen. The Walmart Supercenter will continue to serve as a one-stop destination, offering full service grocery as well as a wide range of general merchandise.

“I am extremely pleased that Walmart has chosen to invest in the Auburn Gresham/West Englewood neighborhoods.  Walmart recognizes that the residents of the 17th Ward desire to spend their hard earned money on quality goods,” said Alderman Latasha Thomas.  ”The new jobs, economic development and access to quality fresh produce will be welcomed by the residents of these communities.”

In June 2010, Walmart announced the “Chicago Community Investment Partnership,” a five-year plan to open several dozen stores, create approximately 10,000 jobs and 2,000 unionized construction jobs, generate more than $500 million in sales and property taxes and develop charitable partnerships worth $20 million.

“We welcome Walmart’s continued investment in Chicago and the region,” said Jerry Roper, President and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.  “It is our mission for Chicago to be the most business-friendly and innovative city in the United States and Walmart’s proposed expansion here will illustrate that Chicago has charted a course towards economic recovery.”

About Walmart

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at 8,970 retail units under 60 different banners in 15 countries. With fiscal year 2011 sales of $419 billion, Walmart employs more than 2 million associates worldwide. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting www.walmartstores.com and on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/Walmart. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com and www.samsclub.com.

SOURCE Walmart

http://www.walmartstores.com

Walmart on Pace to Create 10,000 Jobs in Chicago by 2015 | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

CHICAGO, Jan. 7, 2011 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — Looking for a job in 2011? You might want to think about being an in-home care professional.  Sittercity, the nation’s largest and most trusted online source for babysitters, nannies, eldercare providers, pet sitters, housekeepers and tutors, is expecting more than 250,000 new jobs to be posted on the site in 2011, an 80 percent increase over 2010.    

And the number of new jobs is actually higher than 250,000 as parents and individuals who are looking for in-home caregivers on Sittercity can also find them by searching profiles on the site rather than posting a job.

Job postings to Sittercity include both full-time and part-time jobs; and as the 2010 numbers showed, full-time positions are growing at a higher rate (107 percent) compared to part-time positions (with a growth rate of 70 percent) when measured against the previous year.  The most popular jobs on Sittercity are babysitting jobs and nanny jobs.

Sittercity.com has a new job posted almost every two minutes – up from every four minutes last year – and has been an increasingly popular vehicle for finding jobs and pursuing careers in this challenging economy. In fact, more than 45 percent of the Sittercity.com care providers stated that they were pursuing caregiving as their career.

About Sittercity.com®

Sittercity.com, the inventor of online caregiving, is America’s largest and most trusted online source for child care, pet care, senior care, housesitting, housekeeping and tutoring.  Sittercity has a network of more than a million caregiver profiles nationwide, and helps families and individuals across America find the perfect in-home care provider quickly, easily and safely. Sittercity’s care seekers can use the company’s four-step screening process, which includes checking references, reading caregiver reviews, conducting interviews and utilizing free access to background checks. Sitter profiles also come with photos, experience, training, safety skills, availability calendars, reviews and more. Our Corporate Program now serves a number of marquee clients, including Avon, MasterCard, FOX Networks, Pitney Bowes and Monster Worldwide. For more information, visit the company Web site at http://www.sittercity.com.

SOURCE Sittercity

http://www.sittercity.com

Popular Job Website Expects More Than 250,000 New Jobs in 2011 | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

MORE HIRING: Employers in 41 states added jobs in October, the most states to report net job gains since May.

UNEMPLOYMENT STILL HIGH: But there weren’t enough new jobs to broadly reduce unemployment rates. The jobless rate fell in 19 states, remained the same in 17 and rose in 14 states.

GOOD SIGN: The states with the highest jobless rates — Nevada, Michigan and California — all showed signs of improvement. Nevada’s unemployment rate fell for the first time in almost 5 years, Michigan’s also fell, and California reported the biggest monthly job gain in more than 4 years.

Summary Box: 41 states report job gains in Oct. | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The economy created a net total of 151,000 jobs in October. In the past 30 years, monthly job growth has surpassed 400,000 15 times. These are the months and the totals:

July 1983 418,000

September 1983 1,114,000

January 1984 447,000

February 1984 479,000

October 1987 492,000

February 1988 452,000

March 1994 462,000

November 1994 423,000

February 1996 434,000

September 1997 508,000

May 1998 401,000

February 1999 410,000

October 1999 408,000

March 2000 472,000

May 2010 432,000

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Monster months: When job growth exceeded 400K (AP) | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

CHICAGO — When President Barack Obama, along with a large contingent of U.S. politicians and corporate leaders, arrives in India this weekend the local stock market will greet the group with an impressive track record of 431% total investment returns for the last 10 years – arguably the best such returns in the world among major economies.

Keeping a close eye on the Obama visit to India is Chicago Nonprofit Director Rao Tuthika, who served as a financial advisor for a Fortune 500 Company spin-off from American Express and now runs U.S. Charities, a 501(c)(3) based in Oak Brook. The organization focuses in part on helping companies expand into prospering world markets and serving America’s unemployed and underemployed who have been impacted by the recession.

“Over the last10 years, America’s S&P 500 and NASDAQ gave negative returns; the CAC 40 French index was down 39%, while Japan’s NIKKEI 225 gave -37% returns,” said Tuthika. “Contrast those results to India’s Stock Market BSE Sensex, which gave investors returns that were up 431%, and you readily see how U.S. businesses can learn and benefit from India’s success.”

At the same time, according to Tuthika, more than 95 million American investors, including 401(k), and IRA account holders, have experienced negative or zero returns in the last 10 years.

“India’s past investment performance combined with the significance of Obama’s visit should serve as a wake-up call for those 95 million investors,” said Tuthika.

In the next 10 years, in industries ranging from agriculture and infrastructure to transportation and defense systems, the world is expected to consume $123 Trillion imports. Tuthika estimates that by partnering with India and exporting to global markets, American businesses can create more than 11 million U.S. jobs.

Backing this up, the Goldman Sachs report, “Ten Things for India to Achieve its 2050 Potential,” points out that India’s economy might surpass that of the U.S. within the next 40 years.

Like his predecessors before him, Obama has expressed a vision of India as a major world power for years to come. The administration considers the U.S.-India relationship a “defining partnership of the 21st century,” said Bill Burns, the undersecretary of state for political affairs, during a background briefing on the trip.

“I would simply say that a key part of the message is going to be that we want to make sure (there are) opportunities for U.S. jobs, U.S. exports,” said Ben Rhodes, deputy national security adviser for strategic communications remarking on the Obama trip to Asia and India. “So India is a cornerstone of our broader Asia approach, which is focused on, again, expanding exports for U.S. goods, deepening partnerships in important part of the world (and) partnering together in the (Group of 20) and other forums.”

Tuthika explains that with a trade deficit in excess of $2.2 trillion, China displaced 22 million American jobs since 1985.

“In the next 10 years, without India’s partnership, America can lose another 22 million jobs to China” says Tuthika. “We cannot afford to miss out on what India has to offer the United States, specifically, creating 11 million jobs for Americans from exports to global markets and preventing another 22 million jobs from going to China.”

“The mission of uscharities.org is to advance the prosperity of the United States by job creation and retention for all Americans,” said Tuthika. “Right now I see no better opportunity to do so than to have a strong partnership with India for the remainder of the 21st century to take advantage of a $123 trillion global import market for securing American Jobs. President Obama and his team need to stress the same during this trip.”

Editor’s Note: Rao Tuthika is available for interviews and expert commentary during the Obama visit on the economic advantages of U.S. (and specifically Chicago) businesses partnering with India for the purpose of job creation and investment.

To arrange an interview, please contact Lisa Gunggoll at lgunggoll@lg-pr.com or at 708.829.8669.

About uscharities.org

The mission of uscharities.org is to advance the prosperity of the United States by job creation and retention for all Americans.

To advance its nonprofit mission, U.S. Charities offers JOB Placement Services for the unemployed, export promotion services for America’s Fortune 1000 companies, and investment services for mid-sized companies.

Other programs include services for nonprofits training the unemployed, information consulting services for broadcast and publishing outlets, and policy consulting for American lawmakers.

For more information visit www.uscharities.org.

About Rao Tuthika

Rao Tuthika holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and was a former financial advisor for a $491 billion dollar Fortune 500 company spin-off from American Express. He is also a director for uscharities.org, a Chicago-area nonprofit that serves unemployed and underemployed Americans throughout the United States as well as raises funds for relief efforts in times of disaster.

Indian Stock Markets Greet President Obama with 431% Investment Returns | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS: The number of people seeking unemployment aid jumped sharply last week to 457,000. The increase undermines hopes that, after falling four times in the previous five weeks, unemployment claims were on a sustained downward trend.

CLAIMS STUCK: Applications for jobless aid remain stuck between 440,000 and 470,000, where they have been most of this year. A drop below 425,000 would signal healthy job growth.

JOBS REPORT: On Friday, the government releases its monthly unemployment figures. The jobless rate is forecast to remain 9.6 percent for the third straight month.

Summary Box: Applications for jobless aid rise (AP) | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

INDIANAPOLIS (CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM) — E-mail marketing company ExactTarget Inc. has announced plans to nearly double the number of people working at its Indianapolis headquarters by adding up to 500 jobs by 2015.

The company announced the expansion plan Tuesday, saying it would also invest $45 million in technology and infrastructure for its Indianapolis operations.

ExactTarget CEO Scott Dorsey says the expansion comes as the company moves into new markets across the country and around the world.

The company says it provides billions of e-mails, mobile messages, websites and social media updates monthly for clients including Best Buy, CareerBuilder, Expedia and Microsoft.

It plans to hire technology specialists, software developers, sales, marketing, administration and customer service staffers.

Originally reported by Indiana’s WISH-TV News 8. Read the original article here.

ExactTarget to add 500 new jobs | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

According to a new report by the Illinois Hospital Association (IHA), the state’s 200 hospitals and health systems employ more than a quarter of a million people, resulting in 426,700 direct and indirect jobs, and generate a total annual impact of $75.1 billion on the state’s economy.

Illinois Hospitals $75 Billion Impact on our Economy, the first report of its kind examining the statewide economic impact of hospitals, was released this morning at IHA’s annual Leadership Summit in Galena and presented to Governor Pat Quinn and state Senator Bill Brady, who both spoke at the Summit.

“Illinois hospitals play a vital role in supporting and strengthening the economy of their local communities and the state, which is even more important now during the current economic downturn,” said Maryjane A. Wurth, President of the Illinois Hospital Association. “By providing jobs for a wide range of health care workers and spurring more economic activity through their spending on goods, services and capital improvements, hospitals are a key cornerstone of the local and state economy.”

The IHA report notes that Illinois hospitals are among the top three employers in nearly half of the counties in the state. Not only do hospitals provide jobs, they also create jobs and generate further economic activity by purchasing goods and services from other businesses and investing in capital improvements. Hospitals also are essential to local and statewide economic development – companies looking to relocate or expand want access to comprehensive, high-quality health care services.

“To continue to retain and create jobs, attract businesses to their communities, and provide access to high-quality health care services, it is critical that Illinois’ hospitals have the funding support they need to remain fiscally healthy,” said Wurth. “We urge state and federal lawmakers to take steps to continue to invest in the state’s health care system to ensure that hospitals remain strong and viable employers in their communities.”

Among the report’s key findings:

• Illinois hospitals employ more than a quarter of a million people and expend $14.8 billion a year on payrolls, resulting in a total of 426,700 direct and indirect jobs and an economic impact from hospital payrolls alone of $35.5 billion;
• Illinois hospitals spend $16.5 billion on goods, services and capital improvements, resulting in $23.1 billion in other spending in the state economy, for a combined impact of $39.6 billion;
• Illinois hospitals generate a total economic impact on the state of $75.1 billion;
• Each Illinois hospital job generates an additional 1.1 Illinois jobs elsewhere in the economy;
• Every dollar spent by Illinois hospitals on goods, services and payroll generates an additional $1.40 in spending throughout the local and state economy;
• Health care and social assistance will be the second fastest growing sector in the Illinois economy in the next eight years;
• Health care and social assistance are projected to create the greatest number of jobs of any sector – nearly 150,000 jobs by 2018; and
• The vast economic activity generated by the health care sector makes it the sixth highest contributor to the state’s Gross Domestic Product, accounting for 6.8% of the state’s economic activity.

The IHA report also notes that Illinois hospitals provide enormous benefits to their communities in the form of charity care and uncompensated care; subsidization of money-losing services such as emergency and trauma care; medical research; education and training of the next generation of physicians, nurses and other highly-skilled health care professionals; and underpayments for Medicare and Medicaid patients that they absorb.

Overall community benefits provided by the more than 100 Illinois hospitals that file annual community benefit reports is now nearly $4.9 billion annually, including nearly $500 million in charity care, an increase in charity care of nearly 100% since 2005.

Illinois’ hospitals annually care for 1.6 million inpatients, 5.1 million patients in emergency departments, and 30.7 million outpatients. Each year, they deliver more than 174,000 babies and perform more than 1.1 million surgical procedures.

Estimates of the economic impact of Illinois hospitals are based on the Regional Input-Output Modeling System II (RIMS-II) developed by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The final demand multipliers, obtained from BEA RIMS-II, were applied to the latest available Medicare cost report data of hospital jobs and spending (2008 and 2009 cost report data) as validated and updated by hospitals.

The full report, Illinois Hospitals $75 Billion Impact on our Economy, is available for viewing and downloading online at: ihatoday.org/economicreport.pdf.

The Illinois Hospital Association, with offices in Naperville, Springfield, and Washington, D.C., is an advocate for 200 Illinois hospitals and the patients and communities they serve.

For more information about IHA, see the website, ihatoday.org.

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Four More Projects will Create Hundreds of Jobs Across State

CHICAGO — Sept. 13, 2010 — Gov. Pat Quinn today announced that four more Illinois broadband projects have been awarded a total of $73 million in federal funding to build and improve high-tech infrastructure throughout the state.

Over $16 million in funding from the Illinois Jobs Now! capital program helped secure the federal awards, which bring Illinois’ American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) broadband funding total to more than $244 million.

“Broadband access is critical to help grow the Illinois economy. That’s why we’ve aggressively competed for federal stimulus money to improve our state’s high-tech infrastructure,” Governor Quinn said. “As of today, Illinois has received over $240 million in federal broadband funding, which will put hundreds of highly skilled Illinoisans to work.”

Together, the four projects will create approximately 500 direct jobs and put more than $96 million public and private dollars into the Illinois economy.

“Broadband is an important economic tool, and too many Illinoisans lack adequate and affordable access. Our homes and businesses need affordable access to high speed internet connections, in the same way our homes and businesses need services like water, gas and electricity,” said U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). “Today’s funding will increase access to broadband, create jobs in Illinois and help close the digital divide.”

Convergence Technologies, Inc. received a $9.1 million federal award matched with $700,000 in state capital funds to offer last-mile wireless broadband and digital phone service (VoIP) in Cook, Kankakee and Will Counties in Illinois, and Lake, Newton and Porter Counties in Indiana. The project will benefit tens of thousands of residents, businesses and community institutions, and create 50 jobs.

Norlight, Inc. received an $11.1 million federal award matched with $450,000 in state capital funds leveraged with $350,000 in private investment to expand a wireless network in 13 unserved and underserved areas in central Illinois. This project will benefit more than 9,700 businesses and 804 community institutions, and will create more than 36 jobs.

Northern Illinois University, on behalf of the Illinois Broadband Opportunity Partnership – Northwest Region, received $46.1 million in federal dollars matched with $14 million in state capital funds and $8.5 million in private funding to build an 870-mile fiber-optic network across nine-counties, creating 300 direct jobs. This project will interconnect with the DeKalb County broadband project, which received stimulus funding in February.

MyWay Village, will use its $4.7 million federal award matched with $1.2 million in state capital funds leveraged with $890,000 in private investment to engage thousands of senior citizens and people with disabilities in 23 public housing communities to learn the basics of e-mail, Web access and other practical computer skills, creating over 100 jobs. MyWay Village has partnered with local Workforce Investment Act organizations to help seniors who develop their digital literacy skills to find part time work.

All of the federal funding was awarded through a highly competitive process led by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service. Seventeen Illinois projects have so far secured broadband funding from the USDA and the US Department of Commerce. All together, they represent more than 3,000 jobs and $350 million of investment in Illinois.

A longtime advocate of broadband-based opportunities in Illinois, Governor Quinn made sure funding for technology projects was included in the Illinois Jobs Now! public works plan.

For more information, visit Broadband.Illinois.gov.

Gov. Quinn Announces Illinois to Receive Nearly $100 million in New High-Tech Investment | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The program is called “Put Illinois to work” and is part of the massive federal economic stimulus package passed in 2009.

Illinois got a cut of more than $200 million, and that created 23,000 temporary jobs paying $10 an hour.

But while the program is fully funded not all of the people who got jobs are getting paid.

The state said the temp workers are employed as clerks and security guards, in restaurants — all different types of jobs.

But for more than two months now some have not seen their first paycheck.

That means a program designed to teach skills and help put people back on their feet has actually put some of them in a deeper financial hole.

So what’s the problem?

The company contracted by the state to administer the program said while the vast majority of participants are getting paid there have been a number of data entry errors, missing timesheets and all sorts of technical gremlins associated with starting up such a massive enterprise on short notice.

“In general the system works well,” Said Joseph Antolin of Heartland Human Care Services. “We have an error rate of less than one percent. But when you’re talking about 23,000 people that’s still a significant number of people.”

FOX Chicago News gave Antolin the names of four people we talked to who haven’t yet been paid.

He says they should all get their first checks tomorrow.

There is so much demand for work in Illinois, the program is no longer taking applications, and at this point those jobs are only funded through the end of September.

Originally reported by FOX News Chicago. Read the original article here.

Stimulus Jobs Program Not Paying Workers | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Some 2.5 million jobless Americans have seen their benefits lapse since the end of May as the Senate has deadlocked over how to cover the $34 billion cost of extending them through November.

Congress is all but certain to restore those benefits by the end of the week after Democrats broke a Republican procedural hurdle on Tuesday afternoon. But Republicans appeared to be running out the legislative clock, delaying a final vote until as late as 9 p.m. on Wednesday.

“Perhaps the overwhelming majority of Republicans think that since they’ve turned their backs on the unemployed for so many months, what’s another few days?” Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said. “Perhaps they think that when unemployment goes up, their poll numbers do too.”

With congressional elections looming in November, Democrats are eager to show voters they are doing all they can to bring down the 9.5 percent unemployment rate and help those struggling to emerge from the worst recession since the Great Depression.

Republicans, meanwhile, are raising the alarm about a budget deficit that is expected to come in near last year’s level of 9.9 percent of GDP. They say Congress should cut spending elsewhere to cover the cost of extending benefits.

Congress could have renewed the expired benefits months ago if Democrats had agreed to cut spending elsewhere, said a spokesman for Republican Senator Tom Coburn.

“Reid, and many politicians in Washington who are addicted to spending, don’t want to do the hard work of choosing between funding unemployment benefits or the obscene amount of waste in the federal budget. They want both,” said Coburn spokesman John Hart.

Democrats said the additional delay served no purpose other than to prolong the difficulties faced by those who are struggling to make ends meet. Nearly half of the unemployed have been out of work for more than six months, the highest level of long-term joblessness since the government began keeping track in the late 1940s.

“This latest move gives the partisan minority 30 more hours to stall in the Senate, but that means 30 more hours of suffering for these hard-working families trying to get by,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

(Additional reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Eric Beech)

Republicans delay vote on jobless benefits | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

‘We’re going to build these products in America’

Said the president to workers: “You are leading the way in showing how manufacturing jobs are coming right back here to the United States of America.”

Obama’s day-trip to Michigan sought to give attention to the electric vehicle battery industry — and to the White House’s effort to spur job creation in a growing field — with financial help from taxpayers. With millions of people still looking for work and frustrated, Obama is under pressure to demonstrate progress.

“Our goal has never been to create a government program, but rather to unleash private-sector growth,” Obama said. “And we’re seeing results.”

The president spoke at a groundbreaking for a Compact Power plant, the ninth factory to begin construction with the help of economic stimulus money, in this case $2.4 billion. Obama stood on a platform in the middle of the work site, which at the moment remains a big area of mud and dirt, with shovels ready to go.

The plant is expected to ultimately employ 300 full-time workers, coming at a time when every new job is coveted.

The technology Obama is promoting is not yet widely available and remains far out of reach for most consumers, although Obama said Thursday that manufacturing advances will drive down costs significantly over the next few years. Electric cars currently on the market, such as the Tesla Roadster, retail for around $100,000, but federal tax credits can drive down the price somewhat.

Obama plugs electric vehicles in Michigan | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Boeing submitted its proposal July 9 to replace 179 of the 400 Eisenhower-era KC-135 aircraft. The Air Force is expected to award a contract in November.

“Boeing’s NewGen Tanker would support more than 200 jobs at Hamilton Sundstrand in Rockford and in the surrounding communities, bringing $11 million in economic impact to the region each year,” said U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo. “Boeing is in great position to win this competition and build the Air Force’s next-generation refueling tanker, putting more Americans back to work in northern Illinois and throughout the country.”

“I have been a strong supporter of Boeing building the new tanker, precisely because it will mean good paying jobs right here in Illinois,” said U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello. “This fact is even more important as we continue to deal with the effects of the economic downturn. Boeing has a tremendous economic impact on our state, and I look forward to this process moving toward completion.”

Illinois manufacturers ready to produce critical components on the NewGen Tanker include:

• Elecsys Division of DCX Chol, Pekin
• Hamilton Sundstrand, Rockford
• Northrop Grumman, Rolling Meadows
• Rexnord, Downers Grove
• Scot, Downers Grove
• SKF Aerospace Sealing Solution, Elgin
• Woodward MPC, Skokie.

Currently, Boeing has more than 600 employees in Illinois and works with nearly 850 suppliers/vendors, delivering a total $714 million in annual economic impact.

The NewGen Tanker is a widebody, multi-mission aircraft based on the proven Boeing 767 commercial airplane and updated with the latest and most advanced technology. Capable of fulfilling the Air Force’s needs for transport of fuel, cargo, passengers and patients, the combat-ready NewGen Tanker will meet or exceed the 372 mandatory requirements described in the service’s final KC-X Request for Proposal released Feb. 24.

The NewGen Tanker will be made with a low-risk approach to manufacturing that relies on existing Boeing facilities in Washington state and Kansas as well as U.S. suppliers throughout the nation, with decades of experience delivering dependable military tanker and derivative aircraft. Nationwide, the NewGen Tanker program will support approximately 50,000 total U.S. jobs with Boeing and more than 800 suppliers in more than 40 states.

The Boeing NewGen Tanker also will be more cost-effective to own and operate than a larger, heavier tanker. It will save American taxpayers more than $10 billion in fuel costs over its 40-year service life because it burns 24 percent less fuel than the competitor’s airplane.

Boeing has been designing, building, modifying and supporting tankers for decades. These include the KC-135 that will be replaced in the KC-X competition, and the KC-10 fleet. The company also has delivered four KC-767Js to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and is on contract to deliver four KC-767As to the Italian Air Force.

More information on Boeing’s NewGen Tanker, including video clips and an interactive tour of the aircraft, is available at www.UnitedStatesTanker.com. For more information on joining the company’s efforts, visit www.RealAmericanTankers.com.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security (www.boeing.com/bds) is one of the world’s largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $34 billion business with 68,000 employees worldwide.

MEDIA CONTACT:

William Barksdale
Boeing Communications
Office: 314-232-0860
Mobile: 314-707-3294
william.a.barksdale@boeing.com

Boeing NewGen Tanker Win Would Bring 1,100 Jobs, $57 Million to Illinois | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The Democrat has given 43 salary increases averaging 11.4 percent to 35 staffers in the past 15 months, according to an CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM analysis of records obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.

They include a $24,000-a-year bump for the man promoted to shepherd the state through the fiscal storm. Budget Director David Vaught got a 20 percent raise to $144,000 in October when he moved from senior adviser to Quinn.

Quinn’s office said the raises did not prevent him from making deep spending cuts in both the governor’s office and his Office of Management and Budget.

But lawmakers, whom Quinn has asked to raise income taxes and borrow billions to meet its obligations for employee pensions reacted with skepticism and anger.

“It’s insulting,” said Rep. Jack Franks, a Woodstock Democrat who voted “no” on Quinn’s proposal to borrow $3.7 billion for the pension payment that the House OK’d but Senate has not.

“It shows how out of touch he is with the real world, where businesses are freezing salaries and in some cases laying people off,” Franks said.

Half of the raises are the result of promotion or a change in job title, Quinn’s spokeswoman Marlena Jentz said.

But others were reported as “salary adjustments,” such as a 10.4 percent bump in January for deputy budget director Gladyse Taylor, to $110,000, and a 7 percent jump in May 2009 to bring associate budget director Malcolm Weems’ pay to $92,000.

They were based on “re-evaluated work output, additional duties and overall performance,” Jentz said.

Weems now makes $110,000 after he was promoted in January to deputy director and chief of staff with a 19 percent raise.

Giving Quinn’s staff big pay hikes while he slashes spending in education and health care services doesn’t sit well with lawmakers and could hamper the governor’s efforts to convince them to support borrowing for state pensions.

Sen. Michael Noland, an Elgin Democrat who opposes the borrowing plan despite heavy lobbying, said there might be circumstances where a raise is warranted for someone taking on significant new duties. But he encouraged the governor to follow his own call for shared sacrifice and “hold the line.”

“The whole economy is in a situation where people, whether in the public or the private sector, are having to accept wage freezes and I certainly believe the government should be conducting itself in a similar manner,” Noland said.

Jentz, whose salary rose 25 percent, to $75,000, in December because of what she described as “re-evaluated work output and additional duties,” said the governor’s office reduced spending by more than 10 percent in the budget year that just ended and plans another 25 percent in reductions this year. She did not provide specifics.

She said the budget office cut spending by 17 percent last year, but Quinn proposed a 9 percent increase in budget office spending this year.

The overall payroll for the governor’s staff and his budget office was slightly lower in May than last July — $123,000 less, or just under 2 percent. But other records obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that dozens of employees reporting to the governor’s office are paid by other agencies under Quinn’s control.

Hard times for Ill., but not for governor’s staff | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

- 20 new jobs created for local area

- Over 4000 products under one roof

LONDON, July 1 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — Currys and PC World, the UK’s leading electrical retailers, will open the doors to a brand new joint Superstore in Hamilton on 3rd July. The 2-in-1 store has created 20 new jobs in the local area and offers Hamilton residents the biggest electrical shopping destination in the South Lanarkshire area.

The 18000 square foot new Superstore provides the best of both brands under one roof, making shopping for electricals a much simpler and more enjoyable experience for customers. The new store will offer the widest ranges and best selection of electricals from both Currys and PC World ensuring a better shopping experience for customers.

The new joint Superstore showcases over 4000 products including a huge range of TVs, over 50 digital camera SKUs, and over 40 MP3/4 players including brands such as Apple and Archos. There are various styles of fridges and freezers to suit every need and a massive range of netbooks, laptops and PCs for sale throughout the store.

The new 2-in-1 Superstore offers customers a “hands-on” product experience coupled with extended product ranges, which is designed to meet all technology needs. This Superstore has a huge selection of interactive “play tables” allowing customers to pick up, turn on and test out a wide range of products before they purchase including premium brands such as Apple – including Apple iPad, Siemens, Liebherr, Bosch, Miele and more. Also in-store will be PC World’s first dedicated Apple area offering excellence in computing, as well as an interactive gaming zone, a specialised Microsoft Windows section.

The Currys and PC World Hamilton Superstore will additionally have a dedicated TechGuys service desk enabling shoppers to benefit from expert technical support and a specific PC World Business area, supplying equipment and software for small businesses customers.

Other services available at the Superstore will include: Next Day Delivery service, which gives customers the option to choose when they have their product delivered within a three hour time slot, the award-winning WEEE recycling scheme and the option to reserve goods online for collection in-store.

Paul King, Store Manager, comments: “The new 2-in-1 Superstore in Hamilton brings together the best from both Currys and PC World and offer shoppers a great range of consumer electronics. The store opening is also a huge boost to the local economy with 20 new jobs created.”

“As the biggest electrical shopping destination in Hamilton customers will be greeted by an exciting, fun and interactive in-store experience where they can test out and play with products and get impartial advice from store colleagues. Whether you’re tech-savvy or need a bit more advice with your purchases, the staff will be on hand to make sure you get the most out of your visit.”

The Hamilton store colleagues have all taken part in a new training programme; specifically designed by the retailer, to ensure they can offer customers help and advice to enable them find the right solution to their individual needs and technology requirements. As well as improved customer service and a new in-store experience, Currys and PC World remain committed to giving customers the best priced electrical goods.

The Hamilton 2-in-1 Superstore is part of an ongoing Currys and PC World refurbishment program across the country. Paul added: “The Hamilton Superstore will offer an unbeatable combination of value, choice and service and will be the number one destination for electrical products in South Lanarkshire.”

About Currys:

Currys is the UK’s biggest electrical retailer with a network of over 500 stores nation-wide, including out of town stores, high street Currys.digital stores and a Currys Megastore in the Midlands. It also stocks a wide range of netbooks, cheap tumble dryers and the apple ipod.

SOURCE DSGi plc

Currys and PC World Unveil a 2-in-1 Superstore in Hamilton | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.