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Licenses, Neighborhoods, Nonprofit Training, Procurement, Veterans, & Taxes
1. Status of Master Business License Program On June 3, 2003, the DC Council took a step toward passage of the Master Business License Repeal Act of 2003. The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) is awaiting the final vote on the Repeal Act. In the meantime, DCRA will continue to issue Master Business Licenses, as required under the current and valid law. Additionally, the DC Council has passed emergency legislation that extends the deadline for obtaining a Master Business License until the second vote is taken and the outcome of that vote becomes effective, which will include a 30-day Congressional review period. This means that the deadline has been extended to at least some time in August 2003. For information on the MBLR program, visit MBLR or contact the MBLR Info Center at (202) 442-4311. Send emails to mbl.infocenter@dc.gov. Read the press release.
2. DC Main Streets Expands to 12 Neighborhood Business Districts Mayor Williams recently designated seven new neighborhoods as DC Main Streets. The designees, comprised of neighborhood business districts organized by local volunteers, retail merchants, and community development professionals, were competitively selected to receive financial and technical assistance to support enhancement efforts in older, traditional neighborhood business districts. The 2003 DC Main Streets include:
Business districts selected in April 2002 include:
DC Main Streets consists of a comprehensive package of technical and financial assistance for neighborhood business districts. The goal is to establish and implement a continuous and comprehensive revitalization program in a range of local neighborhood business districts. The National Main Street Center is a partner with the District of Columbia. A broad base of volunteers is encouraged to participate in each local Main Street program, which is organized as a community-based, nonprofit corporation with professional staff and an office in the commercial area. Read the press release or access more information about DC Main Streets.
3. Applications Available for Nonprofit Training The Office of Partnerships and Grants Development (OPGD) announced that applications are now available for the 2003-2004 Strengthening Partners Initiative (SPI) Class. SPI is a training opportunity for emerging nonprofit and faith-based organizations. The one-year program will help nonprofit professionals move their organizations to the next level of operations and service-delivery. Executive Directors (or equivalent positions) from organizations located and providing direct services in the District may apply if the following conditions are met:
Applications must be picked up from OPGD, 441 4th Street, NW, Suite 200 South. A pre-application workshop is scheduled for Thursday, June 26, from 10:00 am to noon in the Old Council Chambers on the 1st floor of 441 4th Street, NW. (Metro stop: Red Line-Judiciary Square). For additional information, call (202) 727-8900. Visit OPGD for information about starting or operating a nonprofit organization in the District.
4. Procurement Conference Scheduled for LSDBEs The Office of Local Business Development (OLBD), Office of Contracting and Procurement (OCP), and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) will sponsor the third annual LSDBE Marketplace from 9 am to 1 pm on July 23, 2003 at the new Washington Convention Center. Certified local, small, and disadvantaged business enterprises (LSDBEs) will have the opportunity to exhibit and market their products and services to local government, federal government, and private sector entities. The District's procurement officers/specialists and the Industrial Revenue Bond partners will exhibit and provide procurement opportunities for certified LSDBEs. Also, the Certification Division will hold a workshop regarding the LSDBE application process. Only 100 exhibit booths are available. However, all LSDBEs are invited to meet with District and private sector procurement officials. For conference registration information contact Nicole Copeland at nicole.copeland@dc.gov or (202) 727-1000. For information about OLBD programs or to learn how to become a certified LSDBE, visit OLBD.
5. Veterans One-Stop Career Center Opens The Department of Employment Services (DOES), in partnership with the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Washington Regional Office, opened a Veterans Affairs One-Stop Career Center on June 5, 2003. This is the first one-stop center in the nation to provide full-time collaborative veterans benefits with comprehensive job search and training assistance in a VA facility. Veterans who have served on active duty, at least 180 days, and have been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions will have immediate access to direct staff assistance and supportive resources from both DOES and VA. Eligible dependents may also receive services. The new Veterans' One-Stop Career Center is located at 1722 I Street, NW, Room 335. For more information, call (202) 530-9371. View all of the One-Stop Career Center locations in the District or visit DOES.
6. Reminder: Electronic Filing Required After June 1, 2003 On May 14, 2003, the Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) announced that effective June 1, 2003, all business taxpayers filing monthly employer withholding tax returns are required to file and pay their taxes electronically, if the amount of the payment due for a period exceeds $25,000. This requirement also applies to third-party bulk filers that file withholding tax returns for businesses that must report withholding taxes for District resident employees, regardless of whether the third-party filer is located in the District. Read the press release for additional information and useful links related to electronic filing. For questions regarding this requirement or electronic access, please contact Lucy Murray, deputy director in the OTR Information Systems Administration, at (202) 442-6391, (202) 442-6366, or Lucy.Murray@dc.gov. Businesses with a legal question regarding this requirement should contact William Bowie, attorney-advisor in the OTR General Counsel's Office, at (202) 442-6512 or William.Bowie@dc.gov.
7. Reminder: Final Warning Issued Prior to Property Tax Sale The Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) will hold its annual, public Tax Sale July 14-18, 2003. This year approximately 8,900 properties will be auctioned, representing $53 million in commercial and residential real property tax liens for which property taxes were in arrears on October 1. Property owners with unpaid taxes have until the date of the auction to pay any taxes due and avoid having their properties sold. OTR will conduct four free public seminars from June 10-12 to explain Tax Sale procedures to prospective bidders. The Tax Sale is required by DC statute and will be held at 941 North Capitol Street, NE, Washington, DC, on the 4th floor. The Tax Sale will continue each day during the hours of 10 am to 12 noon and 2 pm to 4 pm until all properties are sold. Prospective bidders must register to participate. A list of all delinquent properties to be auctioned will be advertised during the last week of June in The Washington Post and The Washington Times. Advertised properties will be listed by parcel, square, suffix and lot number, name of the owner of record, and unpaid tax amount. Seminars for prospective Tax Sale bidders will be held at 941 North Capitol Street, NE, Washington, DC, on the 4th floor, on the following dates:
Pre-registration is required since seating capacity is limited to 250 attendees per seminar. To register for a seminar or the Tax Sale auction, or to inquire about the status of a delinquent property, please call the OTR Customer Service Center at (202) 727-4TAX (727-4829) or visit the Customer Service walk-in center at 941 North Capitol Street, NE. Read the press release.
8. Tax Sale Begins July 14 for District Properties with Unpaid Taxes Last month, the Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) mailed final notices to real property owners who are delinquent in paying their property taxes. This is an effort to collect outstanding taxes before the properties are sold at the annual Tax Sale auction. The notices list real property tax delinquencies from tax year 2002 and as far back as 1993. Under District law, old liens must be satisfied before payment is accepted for the current real property tax bill. Property owners have until July 14, the date of the Tax Sale, to pay their taxes in full, including penalties and interest, to prevent their property from being auctioned. If a property is ultimately sold at Tax Sale, the owner has until the time of a court-ordered deed to pay their back taxes and redeem their property. If the original owner redeems the property, the Tax Sale buyer will be reimbursed the purchase amount plus any additional costs. Read more information about the tax sale. Individuals with questions about the delinquent tax notices or the upcoming Tax Sale should contact OTR's Customer Service Center at (202) 727-4TAX (727-4829) or visit the walk-in center at 941 North Capitol Street, NE.
9. DC Business Tools Available
Submit Feedback to brc.alert@dc.gov
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