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September 23, 2009 Sign up Forward Archive News updates for Greater Washington's business leaders   Top News    Metro would get $150 million under Senate-passed bill A $122 billion transportation, housing and urban development funding bill that cleared the Senate last week designates $150 million for Metro. The bill asks Metro to make safety-improvement projects a priority, including the installation of guardrails at curves and the purchase of warning equipment and new rail cars to replace aging ones such as those in this summer's fatal crash. The Washington Post (9/22) Va.'s Loudoun, Arlington counties are home to young, affluent A Nielsen Claritas study indicates Greater Washington has one of the largest concentrations of affluent young people in the country. The study found that the area has the top two counties in the nation with a concentrated population of 25- to 34-year-olds earning more than $100,000 annually. WTOP-FM (Washington, D.C.) (9/17) Swine flu vaccine will be available in October The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working out the logistics of distributing swine flu vaccine on a wide scale in October. A nasal spray, only for those ages 2 to 49, should be available the first week of the month, while an injection-delivery vaccine will be available later in the month, when officials believe cases of the flu will have spiked. The Washington Post (9/19) Regional software firms escape recession's woes Technology professionals in Greater Washington say they have fared well through the recession and may have seen the beginning of the recovery before the broader market. For example, business-to-business software company Clarabridge tripled its revenue in 2008, buoyed by deals with Wal-Mart, Walgreen and Choice Hotels International. American City Business Journals/Washington, D.C. (subscription required) (9/19)   Economic Stimulus and Financial Reform  Compensation plan will try to keep big banks sound The Federal Reserve's goal of reining in banker-compensation packages aims to avert the kind of incentives that would hurt the soundness of companies in crisis, according to this article. "What the Fed is going to focus on, which is appropriate, is to make sure that the plans themselves do not encourage risk and that there's not pay for risk as opposed to pay for real value created for shareholders," said Ralph Schlosstein, CEO of Evercore Partners. Bloomberg (9/18) Little stimulus fraud has been reported so far Few cases of stimulus fund fraud have been investigated so far, and most of them involved the alleged fleecing of gullible people looking to make a profit. Obama administration officials say the reason that little evidence of fraud has been uncovered is because so much of the stimulus is tied to tax cuts and expanded unemployment funds. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (9/17)   Deals and Development  Home builders feel more confident this month The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index indicated an increase in builder confidence in September, the third increase in a row. "Builders are seeing some improvement in buyer demand as a result of the first-time home-buyer tax credit, and low mortgage rates and strong housing affordability have also helped to revive some optimism," said the association's chairman, Joe Robson. American City Business Journals/Washington, D.C. (9/18) Poll: McDonnell still leads but Deeds gains ground in Va. race A Washington Post poll shows Republican Bob McDonnell holds a lead in the Virginia governor's race, although his Democratic opponent, R. Creigh Deeds, has gained some ground. The poll showed McDonnell leading 51% to 47% now, compared with a month ago when he led 54% to 39%. WTOP-FM (Washington, D.C.)/The Associated Press (9/20)   Going Green  City will use $2.8 million to create DC Green Corps The District of Columbia's Urban Forestry Administration has been awarded $2.8 million in stimulus funds to create up to 400 part- and full-time jobs. Most of the money will be applied to a create DC Green Corps -- intended as a gateway to 50 different green-career tracks in urban and community forestry. American City Business Journals/Washington, D.C. (9/18) Energy Department begins retrofitting program focusing on efficiency The Energy Department has launched a $450 million program aimed at helping businesses and households become more energy efficient. The agency hopes $100 million a year in energy costs can be saved through the retrofits funded by the federal stimulus. GreenBiz.com (9/17)   Board of Trade Opportunities and Benefits  Last Chance to Register: 800 Business Leaders to Enjoy the National Museum of American History, TONIGHT After being closed for renovations for two years, the National Museum of American History has reopened. The Greater Washington Board of Trade is celebrating its Fall Business Classic on Sept. 23 at this very special location. Spend the evening with hundreds of business executives, elected officials and civic leaders among the nation's treasures. See the Star-Spangled Banner, Julia Child's kitchen, the lunch counter from the Greensboro, N.C., sit-ins and much, much more! Join us and experience the grandeur of the National Museum of American History. Register. Special Program: Assess the Implications for H1N1 on Your Business, Sept. 29 With the H1N1 virus outbreak expected to intensify this fall, there is significant potential for the virus to spread to Greater Washington, causing difficult business conditions. On Sept. 29, the Greater Washington Board of Trade will convene the leaders in H1N1 virus preparedness to provide business executives with practical guidance for preparing for a business disruption because of a virus outbreak. "Swine Flu: Assessing the Implications for Your Business" will also provide the resources necessary to create and execute a custom preparedness plan, address legal liabilities and obligations, discuss the potential economic impact on specific industry sectors and the greater business community, and identify best practices. The program is co-hosted by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Northern Virginia Technology Council and Human Resource Association of the National Capital Area. Register and see featured speakers. Unique Opportunity to Hear Justice Kennedy, the Swing Vote on the Supreme Court, Oct. 8 On Oct. 8, the Northern Virginia Technology Council and co-host the Greater Washington Board of Trade present the kickoff of NVTC's Public Policy Series with Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy. Kennedy was appointed to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in 1975. In 1988, he was nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court by President Ronald Reagan, and he has served on the court for 21 years. Kennedy has become the swing vote on the court on business and other critical issues. Board of Trade members register at the member rate of $65. Register here. Protecting and Restoring Global Reputation in the Internet Age, Sept. 24 With more than 1.46 billion people worldwide using the Internet, businesses and individuals, particularly in emerging markets, may find themselves the victims of leaked private and confidential information, or false or inaccurate stories and allegations that are credited and repeated because they are "published." The damage from a reputational attack can spread like a virus -- often with grave commercial and personal consequences. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, K2 Global Partners LLC, Schillings, Weber Shandwick and Powell Tate invite you to join our panel of experts discussing the Internet's reputation-building and reputation-busting possibilities. Register. News  |  Events and Programs  |  Become a Member  |  About Us     Subscriber Tools       Print friendly format | Web version | Search past news | Archive | Privacy policy   Contact the Board of Trade info@bot.org   About the Board of Trade The Greater Washington Board of Trade is the leading regional business network. Founded in 1889, the Board of Trade enjoys a long history of helping its members' businesses grow by providing content-rich programs, connecting business leaders and marketing Greater Washington's economic opportunities. The Board of Trade also addresses business concerns, including transportation, emergency preparedness, green as a competitive advantage and workforce issues. Learn more at www.boardoftrade.org.     Recent Board of Trade SmartBrief Issues: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 Wednesday, September 09, 2009 Wednesday, September 02, 2009 Wednesday, August 26, 2009 Wednesday, August 19, 2009     Lead Editor:  Devlyn Ray       Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 1100 H ST NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005     © 1999-2011 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information