USDA grants to back 3 food initiatives
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is distributing $221,053 to Arkansas organizations to promote local food production and distribution.
Little Rock-based Winrock International was awarded $99,983 to promote farmers markets and provide statewide market management and farmer training.
The Arkansas Agriculture Department, in partnership with the Natural Soybean and Grain Alliance, and University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, was awarded $53,300 to evaluate the potential of developing an aromatic rice industry in the Arkansas River Valley.
Conway-based La Lucha Space was awarded $68,770 to create a food hub, which will provide production, distribution and marketing services to area producers so they can reach larger markets.
Anne Alonzo, USDA Agriculture Marketing Service administrator, announced the grants Thursday.
-- Brian Fanney
$597,116 to help trade office aid clients
The World Trade Center Arkansas in Rogers received a nearly $600,000 grant to expand its outreach services, including accompanying business clients on sales trips and trade missions.
According to a release Monday, the $597,116 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration will be used for the foreign trips and other related costs through the Gold Key Program of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The program sets up overseas meetings with possible trade partners.
The center, part of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, is a nongovernmental organization that helps Arkansas businesses compete in the global market.
The grant money is one of seven grants totaling $7.5 million made by the Economic Development Administration.
-- John Magsam
EU takes next step in Apple tax inquiry
BRUSSELS -- The top European Union regulator is expected to take the next formal step today in an investigation into the way Ireland and other countries have helped U.S. multinationals like Apple avoid billions in taxes.
The step by the regulator, the European Commission, is being watched closely because of the attention that Apple and other major U.S. companies have drawn for the way they conduct their tax affairs.
"This investigation shows it's not just business as usual for the commission," said Andrea Biondi, director of the Center for European Law at King's College London. "It could have major repercussions outside Europe, particularly for American companies."
Apple is among the most profitable U.S. companies, but it has avoided billions in taxes through a web of subsidiaries, according to lawmakers in the United States. European authorities are concerned that countries -- including the Netherlands and Luxembourg -- may be offering improper tax breaks to global companies eager to deploy sophisticated tax-avoidance strategies.
There are no fines in European inquiries into such cases. The commission announced the inquiry in June, and investigations can take years to complete.
-- The New York Times
Macy's hiring 86,000 Christmas workers
NEW YORK -- Macy's plans to hire about 86,000 seasonal Christmas workers nationwide to bolster its stores, call centers and distribution hubs, a 3.6 percent increase from last year.
The department store chain, which also operates Bloomingdale's, said Monday that the growth is being fueled by its expanding online business. This year, about 10,000 of the total 86,000 seasonal workers will be based in eight distribution centers across the country. Last year, that figure was 7,000, the company said.
Macy's recently announced new efforts to compete with online rivals. This fall, it's testing a same-day delivery service for products purchased at macys.com, bloomingdales.com or on its mobile-enabled websites. Macy's will offer same-day delivery to customers in eight major U.S. markets -- Chicago; Houston; Los Angeles; New Jersey; San Francisco; San Jose, Calif.; Seattle; and Washington, D.C. Bloomingdale's will offer same-day delivery to customers in four major markets-- Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Jose.
The pace of hiring at a retailer can serve as an indicator of expectations for the Christmas shopping season, which accounts for 20 percent of the industry's annual sales, according to the National Retail Federation.
Hiring so far this year suggests rising optimism, and that extends to major shippers such as UPS and FedEx.
-- The Associated Press
Death toll from GM switches rises to 23
DETROIT -- At least 23 people have died and 16 people have been seriously injured in crashes involving General Motors cars with defective ignition switches.
Attorney Kenneth Feinberg, who was hired by GM to compensate victims, updated the totals in an Internet posting Monday.
Feinberg said he has received 153 death claims since August. Of those, 23 have been deemed eligible for compensation payments, up from 21 last week.
Sixteen of the 714 injury claimants have also received compensation.
GM has acknowledged that it knew about faulty ignition switches in Chevrolet Cobalts and other small cars for more than a decade. The switches can slip out of the "on" position, which causes the cars to stall and turns off the air bags.
Claims are being accepted through Dec. 31.
-- The Associated Press
Gambling industry's taxes $38B in '13
LAS VEGAS -- Gambling officials say the industry paid $38 billion in federal, state and local taxes in 2013.
It's the first time the American Gaming Association has added tribal casinos and casino game makers into the mix for its annual study of the industry's impact in the U.S. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the report's tax revenue figures before its release today.
Of that total tax revenue, $10 billion came directly from gambling. Worker income and Social Security taxes, as well as casino property taxes and more, accounted for the rest.
American Gaming Association president Geoff Freeman is expected to reveal gambling's total economic impact at a news conference today. The announcement comes as the association's annual G2E conference and trade show kicks off at the Sands Expo and Convention Center off the Las Vegas Strip.
-- The Associated Press
Business on 09/30/2014