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2020

Clean Energy Corner

More than 620,000 U.S. clean clean energy workers have lost their jobs since March after 27,000 new workers filed unemployment claims in May, according to the latest analysis of unemployment data by BW Research for E2, E4TheFuture, and the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE).

The analysis of Department of Labor data found that 620,590 workers in clean energy occupations, representing 18.5% of the industry’s workforce, filed for unemployment benefits in March, April, and May. The number of jobs lost is more than double the number of clean energy jobs created since 2017.

While the speed at which clean energy jobs are being lost declined in May, there are increasing concerns about the number of energy-related jobs that are being supported by the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The majority of clean energy firms in the U.S. are small businesses, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Meanwhile, the construction sector (the largest segment of the clean energy economy) is the largest recipient of PPP loans, at more than 13 percent. The expiration of the employment window of PPP may result in a fresh round of layoffs in clean energy if there is no further intervention.

The continued job losses in May and forthcoming PPP expiration indicates it will be very tough for the clean energy sector to return to its economy-leading jobs growth without significant intervention from Congress and state governments. Given the size of the clean energy industry (nearly 3.4 million jobs in every state, pre-COVID-19) that could cast a pall over the nation’s broader economic recovery.

Before March, clean energy had been one of the U.S. economy’s biggest and fastest-growing employment sectors, growing 10.4% since 2015 to 3.4 million jobs at the end of 2019. That made clean energy by far the biggest employer of workers in all energy occupations, employing nearly three times as many people as the fossil fuel industry.

National Park Express Premiers UVC-LED Light Technology

National Park Express, a tour and transportation company offering shuttle services from Las Vegas to regional National Parks, has announced the use of UVC-LED Light Technology to help sanitize its vehicles and provide a safer environment for its guests.
 
“We are proud to announce the use of UVC‐LED Light Technology to sanitize our vehicles and provide a safer environment for our guests.” Says David Huang, President of National Park Express. “The UVC‐LED Light Technology has been installed throughout the interior cabin of our coaches and the cabin bathrooms.”
 
How We Do It
This technology is also installed in the HVAC Air System to have a continual flow of sanitized air throughout the coach cabin as airlines and hospitals do. Our travelers can enjoy the comfortable, ambient temperature during their trip. The light panels have been installed on the interior posts within the vehicles, as well as the bathroom ceiling and air flow system. The lights on the interior posts can be turned on by the driver and will remain on for one minute each time the button is pushed. This can be activated throughout the day, according to the itinerary and loading and unloading of the vehicle. The lights in the bathroom will turn on with a motion sensor, and the lights within the air flow system will remain on while the vehicle is turned on.
 
Additional Measures
In addition to the UVC Light, today’s latest technology, National Park Express will also be installing Ultra Violet and Thermal Cameras on the vehicles as well as in the office. The office offers the UVC-LED lights at the entrance, as well as within the office air flow system. “We want to make sure our staff stays safe and well, and we want to make sure our interactions with our guests are as healthy as possible. The combination of these products and procedures will help to maintain a safe and healthy environment for passengers, drivers and office staff,” says Belinda Bishop, Director of Operations & Products. 
 
Healthy Travels
Guests are asked to bring their own masks on the tours. Drivers will also carry a Travel Safety Kit which includes additional masks, scanning thermometer, latex gloves, disinfectant, microfiber cloths and trash bags. 
 
David Huang, President of National Park Express said, “We want to offer Las Vegas visitors a safer and healthier way to travel to the National Parks and enjoy the region. We have researched and implemented the best, and newest technologies we could find to provide this service.”
 
Tours & Charters
Canyon Coach Lines, the sister company of National Park Express, offers charter motor coach service with the same UVC-LED Light Technology.
 
National Park Express offers daily Tours as well as Shuttles from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, Grand Canyon West, Hoover Dam, Boulder City and other areas in the Southwest United States.  
 
Tours and shuttles can be booked at www.NationalParkExpress.com. Travelers will also be able to book accommodations as well as attractions and tours in the local areas. 
This unique network affords the travelers with options of multi-day trips to visit these beautiful areas at their own pace. Las Vegas has become a hub, or starting point for many travelers who want to visit the beauty and nature of the American Southwest. With excellent air service, and a vast array of accommodation options, Las Vegas is the perfect beginning for an outdoor adventure.
 

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Recognizes Susie Lee

Representative Susie Lee (NV-3) along with Rep. Mark Amodei (NV-2) were both awarded the Nevada Spirit of Enterprise Awards for their support of pro-jobs and pro-growth policies in the first of the 116th Congress (2019). You can also access the How They Voted scorecard for more information about the process and how they voted. Thank you Susie Lee for your support of small business and the communities they support! 

SBA & Treasury Announce Revised Applications for the PPP

On June 17, 2020, the U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, posted a revised, borrower-friendly Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness application implementing the PPP Flexibility Act of 2020, signed into law by President Trump on June 5, 2020.  In addition to revising the full forgiveness application, SBA also published a new EZ version of the forgiveness application that applies to borrowers that:
 
  • Are self-employed and have no employees; OR
  • Did not reduce the salaries or wages of their employees by more than 25%, and did not reduce the number or hours of their employees; OR
  • Experienced reductions in business activity as a result of health directives related to COVID-19, and did not reduce the salaries or wages of their employees by more than 25%.
 
The EZ application requires fewer calculations and less documentation for eligible borrowers.  Details regarding the applicability of these provisions are available in the instructions to the new EZ application form. 
Both applications give borrowers the option of using the original 8-week covered period (if their loan was made before June 5, 2020) or an extended 24-week covered period.  These changes will result in a more efficient process and make it easier for businesses to realize full forgiveness of their PPP loan. 
 
Click here to view the EZ Forgiveness Application.
Click here for Instructions - EZ Forgiveness Application
 
Click here to view the Full Forgiveness Application.
Click here for instructions – Full Forgiveness Application  
 
 

State Trade Expansion Program Grant is Back

The State Trade Expansion Program application process is resumed, qualifying businesses can fill in the application and apply for a grant in the amount of up to $10,000. 
 
Nevada is taking steps to reopen the economy which involves assisting small, export ready businesses fund activities that will prepare them for when trade normalizes. U.S. Small Business Administration has adapted their regulations to encourage virtual tools in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while also allowing businesses to resume some international trade initiatives. This includes, but is not limited to: virtual service offerings, virtual trade shows, export research tools, online export trainings, etc.
 
Here's the link to more information on our website. The application can be downloaded on this link. 
https://www.diversifynevada.com/programs-incentives/international-trade/step-grant/
 

Tsunami Productions Offering Advertising Special

Tsunami Productions, creators of Artisan Magazine, is offering special rates on advertising space through the rest of 2020 to help in the recovery from COVID-19 impacts to business. Artisan has high-end readership of over 400,000 books distributed via mobile flipbook, through the web. Their readership has an annual income of $180,000 and up with ages averaging 30-65. Contact Tsunami Productions for ARTISAN at gruuvyone@gmail.com or call 702-308-3467. 
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