Virginia Business Blog Roll http://www.virginiabusiness.com/index.php/news/index The blog to read in Virginia for business commentary, insight and analysis. en washingtonpost@washingtonpost.com Copyright 2010 2010-03-13T14:31:54-05:00 Forming a nonprofit http://www.virginiabusiness.com/index.php/guides/article/forming-a-nonprofit/227/ 2008 Guide to Doing Business in Virginia Guides, Doing business in Virginia Forming a nonprofit

Forming a nonprofit organization can be perfect for people who want to be their own boss and devote their work to charitable causes. A nonprofit is established just like a for-profit enterprise, with the additional step of applying for tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service.

In Virginia, nonprofits must:

- Be registered as either a non-stock corporation or a limited liability company (LLC).

- Register with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for the ability to raise funds.

- Obtain a local business license, and, if required, register with the Virginia Department of Taxation.

A nonprofit organization becomes tax-exempt (allowing individuals and businesses who donate to the organization to deduct their gifts on their federal tax returns) by filing an application to become classified as a 501(c)(3) organization.

Necessary forms include IRS Form 8718 and IRS Package 1023. For instructions on filling out these forms, read IRS publication 557, Tax-Exempt Status for Your Organization.
All IRS forms can be obtained by calling (800) TAX FORM or downloading them from http://www.irs.gov.

The Business Information Center of the VDBA can e-mail you a step-by-step explanation with live links to numerous resources and all required forms and instructions. Call (866) 248-8814 to request nonprofit instructions or e-mail your request to vbic@vbda.virginia.gov.



Business One-Stop to be unveiled in 2008

Starting a business in Virginia will become easier in early 2008 when the online “Business One-Stop” is introduced.  Entrepreneurs accessing the one-stop site will need to answer only a few simple questions to receive detailed information on the registrations, licenses and permits required.

Debut date of the new “Business One-Stop” will be announced on the Virginia Department of Business Assistance Web site, http://www.vdba.virginia.gov and the Virginia Business

Portal, http://www.business.virginia.gov.

 

]]> 2008-02-01T04:01:00-05:00 Virginia House agrees to forfeit overtime pay; Senate to accept pay http://www.virginiabusiness.com/index.php/blog/article/Virginia-House-agrees-to-forfeit-overtime-pay-Senate-to-accept-pay/203619/ House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith (R) decided that now is not the time to be paid for overtime. So, as the General Assembly prepares to go a day more than its regularly scheduled 60-day session, Griffith proposed -- and the Republican-led House unanimously passed -- HJ40 stating that members would not receive per diem for the extra day. Left unsaid was the obvious: When lawmakers were whacking $4 billion from state spending, forcing the layoffs of teachers and other public employees, it would not look good to have the state pick up the tab for legislators' meals and hotel rooms in Richmond because they failed to meet a deadline. But Griffith also hinted that senators in the Democratic-controlled chamber at the other end of the state Capitol did want per diems -- a revelation that elicited whistles among the delegates. And now, over to the Senate ... -- Fredrick Kunkle <!-- foo --> 2010-03-13T13:31:54-05:00 Virginia session heads to one-day overtime http://www.virginiabusiness.com/index.php/blog/article/Virginia-session-heads-to-one-day-overtime/203618/ It's official: The Virginia General Assembly is headed into overtime and will not adjourn today, which is the session's 60th day. But it doesn't look like we're headed for an an endless budget stalemate as the legislature experienced in 2004 and 2006. Instead, Senate Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax) just announced on the floor of the session that he will shortly ask the body to approve a resolution extending the session. He said budget negotiators have largely come to terms and should complete their work this afternoon. Then, it will take 12 to 14 hours to compile the budget and print copies for members. Senators probably will gather tomorrow at 3 p.m. for a briefing on the budget and then gavel into session for the final time this year at 5 p.m., to take up action on the budget. It costs the taxpayers more than $20,000 a day to <!-- foo --> 2010-03-13T11:46:40-05:00 Virginia in a Hurry, 3-13-10 http://www.virginiabusiness.com/index.php/blog/article/Virginia-in-a-Hurry-3-13-10/203616/ Cuccinelli Not Giving In On Gay Bias Policy McDonnell Rejects Calls for More Anti-Bias Rules Budget Stalls Lawmakers Face Overtime Bolling Says Senate Anti-Gun Panel Creation Broke Senate Rules McDonnell Visits Budget Negotiators on Their Own Turf McDonnell Turns Down Clemency Bid Assembly Goes Slow on Tough Ethics Reform Ethics Reform Moves to McDonnell Marsh Stood in Way of Pro-Gun Legislation Armstrong Upbraids Lawmakers [...] 2010-03-12T21:54:05-05:00 House and Senate negotiators say budget deal is close http://www.virginiabusiness.com/index.php/blog/article/House-and-Senate-negotiators-say-budget-deal-is-close/203617/ House and Senate negotiators inched closer late Friday to reaching a deal on Virginia's two-year budget, which will likely allow the General Assembly to pass the spending plan this weekend. They say they have come to general terms on which proposed fees to eliminate and how much to spend on key areas, including K-12 education and public safety. But legislators did not release details of the deal, saying they were still in flux. Much of the negotiations took place privately in a small meeting room in the General Assembly Building. State law requires budget conferees to meet in public if more than six (three from each chamber) are present, but Sen. Ed Houck, a conferee and vice chairman of the FOIA advisory council, said they left the door ajar for anyone to come in. They will continue to work Friday night and Saturday. They are racing to finish before Saturday, <!-- foo --> 2010-03-12T21:43:11-05:00 Bolling: subcommittees can’t take final action http://www.virginiabusiness.com/index.php/blog/article/Bolling-subcommittees-cant-take-final-action/203611/ 2010-03-12T18:56:26-05:00 Galax receives grant for Vaughan-Bassett http://www.virginiabusiness.com/index.php/news/article/galax-receives-grant-for-vaughan-bassett/203609/ Galax has received a $300,000 grant for infrastructure improvements needed for Vaughan-Bassett Furniture Co.’s 50,000-square-foot expansion. News, latest news Galax has received a $300,000 grant for infrastructure improvements needed for Vaughan-Bassett Furniture Co.’s 50,000-square-foot expansion.

The grant will allow the city to improve infrastructure and install high-speed broadband connections.

“With the expansion of Vaughan-Bassett Furniture Company by the funds provided through this block grant, 30 new jobs will be created in addition to the 631 jobs already in place,” Gov. Bob McDonnell said in a statement. 

The Community Development Block Grant is a federal fund that is administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. 

]]> 2010-03-12T19:46:21-05:00 Bon Secours receives international workplace award http://www.virginiabusiness.com/index.php/news/article/bon-secours-receives-international-workplace-award/203607/ Gallup Great Workplace Award recognizes companies that have productive and engaged work forces. News, latest news Bon Secours Richmond Health System has been named one of 25 companies from around the world to receive the 2010 Gallup Great Workplace Award.

The awards program, which is in its fourth year, recognizes companies that have productive and engaged work forces.

The winners were selected following a survey involving at least 1,000 employees, with at least 80 percent responding, and the submission of a detailed best practices portfolio.

Bon Secours is one of 10 health-care related companies on the Gallup list. It is part of Bon Secours Virginia, the state’s fourth largest health-care system. The Richmond-area Bon Secours health facilities include St. Mary’s Hospital, Memorial Regional Medical Center, Richmond Community Hospital and St. Francis Medical Center.

]]> 2010-03-12T17:24:02-05:00 Lt. Gov. Bolling: Anti-gun bill panel creation broke Senate rules http://www.virginiabusiness.com/index.php/blog/article/Lt.-Gov.-Bolling-Anti-gun-bill-panel-creation-broke-Senate-rules/203615/ Yes, Democratic leaders in Virginia's Senate broke the rules when they killed a bunch of gun rights bills in a specially formed subcommittee. And, no, there's not a thing anybody can do about it. That's the upshot of a ruling that came down Friday from Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R), who is president of the Senate. The controversy began when Senate Majority Leader Richard Saslaw (D-Fairfax) and Courts of Justice Chairman Henry Marsh (D-Richmond) created a special subcommittee to consider several gun bills passed by the Republican-controlled House, including an attempt to repeal Virginia's ban on buying more than one handgun a month. Almost all of the gun bills, except those that were similar to measures adopted by the Senate, died there last week on party-line votes. Among the dead was Del. Scott Lingamfelter's (R-Prince William) closely watched attempt to repeal the gun-a-month law. Some gun-control advocates praised the end 2010-03-12T15:33:36-05:00 Baliles v. Cuccinelli http://www.virginiabusiness.com/index.php/blog/article/Baliles-v.-Cuccinelli/203614/ The written statement of former Governor Baliles: STATEMENT OF GERALD L. BALILES, FORMER GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA, FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL OF VIRGINIA              The Attorney General’s recent opinion to presidents, rectors and visitors of Virginia’s public colleges and universities has, unfortunately, created something of a political “firestorm” in the Commonwealth and generated unflattering impressions across the country about [...] 2010-03-12T15:15:57-05:00