Is it Time to Hire Again?

And if not now, when?

By Mendy Rimler
Page 4

In This Issue:

Chicago Art Leasing Our Fiscal Trajectory Has Spring Jobs Available in
A novel way to deal art Is Unsustainable Arrived Yet? Your Area
By Yisroel Kamen By Moshe Klein By Jewish Business News Staff By JB2B Networking, Inc.
Page 6 Page 8 Page 10 Page 14
 CONTENT FROM THE PUBLISHER
3 BUSINESS NETWORKING
CALENDAR Dear Reader,
4 COVER STORY
A few weeks ago, I was sitting at a local not-for-profit’s
Is it Safe to Hire Again?
And if not now, when? annual fundraising dinner. My table was filled with small
By Mendy Rimler business owners and the conversation turned to how busy
things were becoming at the office. These entrepreneurs were scheduling their
6 FEATURED BUSINESS own appointments, doing their own bookkeeping, and, of course, servicing
Chicago Art Leasing their own clients. In other words, business was picking up. In this month’s
A novel way to deal art
cover story, Mendy Rimler asks, “Is it Time for Small Businesses to Hire
By Yisroel Kamen
Again?”
8 IN MY OPINION
Our Fiscal Trajectory Hiring people for your business is a risky move, but one that is certainly
Is Unsustainable important if you plan to create a sustainable model and plan for the future. I
By Moshe Klein
am quite confident that small business will be an engine for growth for the
21st century.
9 FEATURED NETWORKERS

9 BUSINESS ETHICS Do you expect your business to grow in the next few months? What plans do
Doing What Is Upright in you have in place to handle the changes?
God’s Sight
We’re looking to feature businesses that stand out in the Chicago area, so if
10 SMALL BUSINESS FORECAST
you have a suggestion please email editor@thejewishbusiness.com.
Has Spring Arrived Yet?
By Jewish Business News Staff

12 SMALL BUSINESS To Success,

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

14 JOBS BOARD Shalom Klein

On the cover:
Cover montage images from iStock Photography

Publisher: Shalom Klein

Editor: Gerald Burstyn
Contributing Editors: Moshe Klein,
Khane-Faygl Turtletaub
Contributing Writers: Blanca Campos, Yisroel
Kamen, Hilary Markow, Mendy Rimler.
Creative Director: Michael Borkovec
Advertising/Sales Coordinator: Leah Alpert
Distribution Coordinator: James Austin

Check www.thejewishbusiness.com for updates.

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 Is it Time to Hire Again?
And if not now, when?
By Mendy Rimler

Robert Smith, CEO of Champion Media Worldwide (CMW), hung out

his shingle in 2000 during a period of general prosperity and healthy
growth. The advertising agency grew at a healthy pace, and by 2008,
Smith was employing a staff of 18.

Then came the crash of September 2008 and Smith, like small
businesses across the country, starting letting people go.

The decline at CMW finally ground to a halt in spring 2009 with a

mere six employees. The debt-fueled property bubble had burst, banks
were teetering on the edge of insolvency and the United States found
itself gripped in the downward spiral of a general financial meltdown.
Small businesses were among the first to feel the sting of the recession
as they downsized and became more efficient with fewer workers.
hotel “cross-trains” employees to work in different parts of the building.
“The same worker might wash laundry yet work at the front desk too,”
Now, Smith is hiring again. Since January, Champion has hired two
Bates explained. For now, Doubletree plans on keeping that model in place.
to three people a month and this time around, it’s bigger and better.
He plans to add a total of 14 jobs in addition to the nine people he
Bates’ line of reasoning reflects the zeitgeist among small business
currently employs. While Smith partially attributes his current growth
owners in this climate, according to Daniel Kite, managing partner
to a new business model at his company, he agrees that the improving
of Sunbelt Brokers, the largest real estate brokerage firm in Chicago.
economy has certainly been a factor.
“I don’t hear despair anymore, and people have gained more
‘For the first time since the recession optimism,” Kite said. “We’re seeing stabilization in small businesses
took hold, the job market is expected in Chicago, and we are on the way up. I’ve spoken to thousands of
to show significant gains this year.’ small business owners in Illinois over the course of 2010 and the cash
flow is there.”

Today, as the economy slowly begins to recover, a light is becoming

Still, Kite said, it will be a while before he expects most small
brighter at the end of the tunnel. For the first time since the recession
businesses to start hiring again. “We are only just getting back to where
took hold, the job market is expected to show significant gains this
we were.” Some 85 percent of Americans are employed by small
year. In fact, small businesses accounted for more than half (97,000)
businesses, explained Kite, and unemployment will only significantly
of the 187,000 private sector jobs created in January, according to the
decline when they feel safe enough to hire again.
payroll services company ADP.
Indeed, for every Champion Media, there is a small business still stuck
But while many small businesses have reported that they expect to add
in the economic morass. Take Dr. Marny Turvill, owner of Evanston’s
jobs in 2011, the prevailing narrative among small business owners
Healthy Green Goods, a food store specializing in all-natural and
reflects a cautious approach in a slowly recovering economy.
organic products.

“The indicators that we have tell us that the economy is improving,”

Turvill opened her doors in 2006, and things only seemed to get better
Eric Bates, general manager at the Doubletree hotel in Skokie, said.
until early 2009. Then, when she realized that she was stranded on
“But instead of racing up to more staff and then having to lay off
an island of debt, Turvill laid off her three employees in order to stay
people, we’ll be waiting to see more improvement before we take on
afloat. Today, she said, hiring is off the agenda.
more staff.”
“By cutting out all three workers and focusing heavily on generating
The number of employees at the hotel, about 130, has remained about
sales, things have started to turn around again. But I have to be very
the same throughout the recession. Bates explains this is because the
cautious at this point – for now, I’m not hiring at all.”

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Baby Steps
At the state level, elected officials are hopeful that the winds of
change will start blowing soon. “People are getting jobs, and
unemployment is coming down,” said Illinois State Senator Ira
Silverstein, a Democrat who represents Chicago’s north side.
The national unemployment rate fell to 9.0 percent in January, a
0.4 percent improvement over December. The number of people
applying for unemployment benefits also plunged in early February
to 383,000, the lowest mark since July 2008. (Unemployment
applications hit a peak in March 2009 at 651,000.) A Feb. 14 survey
by The Wall Street Journal showed that economists expect a 3.6
percent growth rate in the current quarter, up from 3.2 percent at the
end of 2010.
In yet more evidence that the economy is improving, the National
Federation of Independent Business Index of Small Business
Optimism rose 1.5 points in January, a modest increase. Still,
small business owners remain highly skeptical about the future and
continue to hesitate on new spending and hiring.
“My advice to small business owners is to be cautiously optimistic,”
Silverstein said. “We have a long way to go, we’re hoping that we
continue to see improvement, but we need to be cautious about the
recovery.”
“I’ve noticed that there are a lot more seniors who are looking for
jobs. Also, there’s a lot more demand now for temporary jobs,” Dahl
said.
Though a wider pool means more opportunities for small business
owners, Rep. Lang says this offers a downside too: People may
move on too quickly when they find better options elsewhere. “But
small businesses will now be able to bring in experts who they
normally would never have had a chance to bring in,” Lang said.
No doubt a factor in the amount of jobs being added today, this
incentive also explains why government data shows that job
openings are rising far more sharply than hirings; employers simply
have the ability to be picky about whom they hire, and hold out for
the ideal candidate.
But they are hiring again, and the reports from small business
owners in the trenches are tentatively positive, according to Diane
Swonk, chief economist at Chicago-based Mesirow Financial.
“The actual key to hiring by small business is a change in the pace
of business startups, which remains very weak compared to pre-
recession levels, but is starting to show signs of picking up,” Swonk
said. “Small business confidence is slowly firming, and there is
some movement in hiring at the national level.”

State Representative Lou Lang, a Democrat from Skokie, pointed Mendy Rimler is a freelance writer living in Detroit. To respond to this article,
write to mr@thejewishbusiness.com.
out that while small business owners are treading carefully, the
small yet steady growth is already translating into more jobs.

“In the last year, Illinois has put on more jobs than any other state
surrounding us,” he said. In addition, he noted that he is working to
implement new bills this spring to bring business to Illinois and help
local businesses stay here. “Small businesses owners should bear in
mind that we have programs at the Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity in Illinois that are designed to infuse money
into businesses, as well as tax credits and other incentives,” he said.

Window of Opportunity
For small business owners who are adding jobs, like founder and
president of Libby and Laura Boutique Bakery in Chicago, Laura
Klibanow, there is a silver lining to these down times. Klibanow
posted an ad on Craigslist for help with pre-Chanukah orders three
months ago and almost immediately received offers from people
who were overqualified for the job.

“There are so many skilled people out there who are just waiting for
a job. It’s a great environment for me,” said Klibanow, whose baked
goods will soon be available in more area stores. “People need jobs
and will take temporary work, too.”

President of Parlay Communications Sima Dahl built Chicago-based

Marketing Job Wire, a peer-powered community of professionals
who share job leads, six years ago. Lately, Dahl has noticed that a
specific demographic has begun signing up for her weekly emails.

www.thejewishbusiness.com Jewish Business News - A publication of Jewish B2B Networking, Inc. 5

 How Much Is That Picture in the Window?
An entrepreneur creates a new model to deal art
By Yisroel Kamen
Joshua Ginsberg will be the first to admit that he is not an art consultant.
The Philadelphia native with a head for business and a penchant for
painting understands that choosing artwork can be as personal as the
search for a spouse, so he likens his role to that of a shadchan.
“I’m here to provide the type of art that people request,” he says,
confident that his blossoming venture, Chicago Art Leasing, fills
a necessary void in an industry where hype sells and quality is as
subjective as your favorite Starbucks brew. “I’m really a fine art
matchmaker.”
His business model is simple yet surprisingly effective: Whereas a
traditional art buyer would head to the gallery or work through an
agent to find the perfect piece, Ginsberg, 34, bypasses the middlemen
by presenting himself directly to clients as a reliable conduit to many
distinct, bubbling sources of art. But the genius of this enterprise lies
in the sales routine, or more precisely, lack thereof.
Ginsberg designed Chicago Art Leasing to accommodate businesses
and individuals alike who demand a high-end yet flexible solution to
their aesthetic needs. The concept of leasing artwork struck Ginsberg
as a viable alternative to outright sales during a personal struggle over
parting with his own original paintings.
“I thought, maybe there’s a way that I can maintain ownership of my
work while generating revenue,” he recalls.
Determined to find out, Ginsberg developed relationships with a
multitude of local artists while simultaneously exploring the needs of
the consumer market. It was during these early days that one of his
first clients, an accounting firm in Skokie, shared a secret that gave his
notion a license to flourish.
Since the federal tax code defines artwork as a “non-depreciable
capital asset,” Ginsberg learned that it made perfect sense for
corporate clients to lease from his company; if not owned, artwork
is deemed a liability and can thus be written off along with other
business expenses.
Two and a half years later, Chicago Art Leasing satisfies clients’ tastes
by drawing from a collage of some 90 professional artists working
in oils, acrylics, watercolors, wood and metal sculpture, ceramics,
photography, pen and ink, cut paper, mixed media, and more.
“I don’t think there is anyone in the market doing what I do,” he says,
gauging his business’ early success by its remarkable ability to swim
with the sharks in a rough economy.
“We’re now witnessing a bit of a sea change. As the market thaws,
companies recognize our stability and are starting to contact us.”
Leasing art is a particularly attractive option for small businesses
seeking to beautify typically close quarters while supporting local
artists.
“We’re constantly looking to expand and change things up,” says
acupuncturist Teri Calandra, a Chicago Art Leasing client of over two
years who switches up her paintings every three months.
6 Jewish Business News - A publication of Jewish B2B Networking, Inc.
Ginsberg understands
that people want art in
their lives for a variety
of reasons and he
works to accommodate
virtually any request.
Most of the leases he
negotiates are based
upon monthly usage Chicago Art Leasing owner Josh Ginsberg, right, and artist
but some are for Beatriz E. Ledesma install a piece for her exhibition entitled
shorter terms, such as “Not Quite There Yet” at Flourish Studios Gallery in Chicago.
when a client requires a special piece for a weekend conference or
to enliven the ambiance of a house party. And since people often
fall in love with that which constantly surrounds them, he regularly
drafts installment purchase plans and lease-to-own agreements.
Artists usually benefit more from a lease, Ginsberg maintains,
because it allows them to derive income from displayed work that
may otherwise be accruing storage fees.
In conjunction with earning a living, “one of the biggest challenges
of a living artist is visibility,” he notes. “Through leasing, an artist
understands that it’s like putting his art to work for him.”
Art consultant David Parker, who occasionally advises Chicago
Art Leasing, notes that Ginsberg’s approach meshes well with
Chicago’s deep sense of civic pride, allowing him to unite people
who in turn feel good about supporting each others’ businesses.
“Josh is pretty aggressive and quite enterprising,” he says, “I
admire his spirit and ability to speak the same language as his
clients.”
As a matchmaker, Ginsberg assesses both parties’ needs through a
patented hands-off approach, allowing customers to describe their
wishes before he attempts to satisfy them.
“The best meetings last two hours,” he says. “I ask three questions
and the client talks the rest of the time.”
Ginsberg’s metamorphosis from fledgling business consultant to
becoming the “Jerry Maguire of the art world” was no accident of
fate; the University of Michigan graduate is the son of a doctor-
turned-entrepreneur father and an artist mother. He would be
remiss, however, not to acknowledge that struggling to find his
niche during those early post-college years ripened him for the
opportunity to pursue a career within the field of his dreams.
“I knew that if I could find a way of making a sustainable living
in the fine art world, I would do it,” he recounted, offering like-
minded visionaries a method for testing their ideas.
“The first time you make a sale, it’s luck. The second time, maybe
you’re on a streak. By the third time, you may have a business on
your hands.”
Yisroel Kamen is a freelance writer in Chicago. To respond to this column,
write: yk@thejewishbusiness.com.
www.thejewishbusiness.com
www.thejewishbusiness.com Jewish Business News - A publication of Jewish B2B Networking, Inc. 7
 Our Fiscal Trajectory Is Unsustainable
Let’s change course before it’s too late
By Moshe Klein

It is very difficult for an accountant not to think about taxes at this
time of year. From January until April, taxes play a major role in our
personal and professional lives. Now, more than ever, with the federal,
state and local government debt crisis in the news each day, increasing
tax obligations are in the forefront of our minds.
Taxes are a necessary evil. They are needed to fund the government
and to provide basic services that we all could not live without.
Most of us don’t realize that taxes were at the core of the American
Revolution and in no small way played a role in the founding of this
country’s independence from Great Britain. Taxation, or limitations
on taxation, is a central pillar of our constitution. Kings and monarchs
throughout history would harshly tax the population to fund unpopular
wars or lavish personal spending. Inevitably, the citizenry rebelled
when the burden became too great. Revolution often ensued and new
governments were formed that promised a better way to tax and spend.
Is it any different today? Do you see any threads that link the past to
our current situation? The national debt in the United States stands
at $14 trillion, an amount of money that boggles the mind. We just
started getting used to debt loads in the billions and now we are forced
to accept that billions are pocket change. It is generally acknowledged
that elected officials don’t even bother to read legislation that deals
with “only” a few billion dollars. After all, who will notice a few
billion dollars added to the debt when we already owe $14 trillion?
within their means. Why do we believe that our governments at every
level don’t have to do the same?
I have been privileged over the years to become acquainted with Len
Walter, the business and financial editor for WBBM Newsradio 780.
I’m big fan. He “gets it” in my opinion. One time, shortly after the
9/11 terrorist attacks, I saw him at the Rosemont Convention Center
and asked him for some advice to share with my clients. Without
hesitation, he told me “we must live within our means and spend
below our means.” For example, Len advised that someone who earns
$50,000 annually should live and make decisions as though he earned
$40,000. Len explained that living below our means allows us to save
money for unexpected occurrences, like losing a job. In this way,
we are prepared to handle whatever might come without a dramatic
impact on lifestyle.
My advice to clients, to the people who read this column and to our
elected officials is to follow Len’s advice. The financial course we
have collectively chosen as a society is unsustainable. Let’s hope that
we can make the necessary changes before it’s too late.
Moshe Klein is an accountant and small business consultant. His firm, Moshe
Klein & Associates, Ltd. is based in Chicago and services clients throughout
the United States and Canada. To respond to his column, write to:
mk@thejewishbusiness.com.

It reminds me of the mentality of a debtor who knows that he will be

filing for bankruptcy protection soon but still has some available credit
on his charge card. Why not just buy something more? What’s the
difference when I owe so much already?

‘We must live within our means

and spend below our means.’
State and city governments around the country owe billions of dollars
to unfunded pension plans, hospitals and school districts beyond
forecasted revenue. Not only can’t they pay what is already owed,
but their spending continues unabated. Massive annual budget deficits
result in additional borrowing just to get through the short term. The
solution is obvious, at least to lawmakers: just raise taxes.

In Illinois, legislators recently decided to raise taxes to service the

debt ($15 billion and growing, making Illinois’ debt one of the
largest in the country) rather than cut spending. The result was a 66
percent increase in personal taxes and a 43 percent rise in corporate
taxes. According to the Christian Science Monitor, Gov. Pat Quinn
personally congratulated legislators for successfully raising taxes at a
time when most states were cutting spending.

In my opinion, we are making bad choices. Revolutions have resulted

from tax increases perceived by the public as abusive (Boston Tea Party
1773 comes to mind along with Sarah Palin’s Tea Party 2010). Do we
believe that history does not repeat itself? As heads of households,
business leaders, legislators and citizens of the world, we must reset
our fiscal mindsets before it is too late. We teach our children to work
hard, give a portion of their earnings to charity, save money and live

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 Seth Arkin
Copywriter, Creative Director,
Marketing Consultant
Motto: Describing “what” is rarely as essential as
conveying “why.”
My work: I help organizations shape compelling
messages that stimulate action.
What sets me apart: A passion for exploring
others’ creativity greatly enhances my own,
ideally on your behalf.
Stu Nitzkin
National Director of Israel Sport
Center for the Disabled
Motto: Live each day and help as many people
as possible.
My work: Raise awareness and fundraise for charity.
What sets me apart: I have the ability to connect
with different kinds of people.
Martha Schwartz
Catering Sales Manager,
Doubletree Hotel
Motto: Wake up curious every day and find people
who make you laugh.
My work: Selling social catering events for the
Doubletree Hotel with an expertise in the kosher market.
What sets me apart: I enjoy being my clients’
trusted advisor.
Locate these and other business networkers and create your own profile online at
www.jewishb2bnetworking.com/directory
www.thejewishbusiness.com
Doing What Is Upright in God’s Sight
In the world of work and finance, success and failure can be
measured. Money spent and money earned, money gained and
money lost are all carefully accounted for. The progress of one’s
career can be tracked by income, rank or the symbols of power and
prestige.
Jewish culture has rarely denigrated the world of work, nor has the
accumulation of wealth often been viewed with suspicion among
Jews. Rabbinic sources evaluate one’s business affairs first of all
through an ethical “filter,” as in this classic Midrash, one among
many:
“If you will heed the Lord your God diligently, and you do what is
upright in God’s sight, giving ear to God’s commandments, and you
keep all God’s laws…” (Exodus 15:26): What does “doing what
is upright” mean? It means being engaged in the give-and-take of
business. The verse implies that when people act in business with
integrity and their fellow human beings are pleased with them, it is
accounted to them as if they had fulfilled the whole entire Torah.”
[Mekhilta de-Rabbi Yishma’el, Va-Yassa’, 1.] The Midrash reads
these connected phrases as a sentence: “doing what is upright”
constitutes “keeping all of God’s laws.”
Intrinsic value is ascribed to work itself in many classical Jewish
sources. Work is valued not as the converse of an inherently evil
idleness but rather with the positive goal of self-reliance. People feel
shame not so much about being idle as about being indigent, and
it is from the latter that we ask to be spared in these passages from
the traditional Grace after Meals: “May we never find ourselves in
need of gifts or loans from flesh and blood [but may we rely only on
Your helping hand]…” and “May the Merciful One provide us with
an honorable livelihood.” From this outlook, Jewish law derives a
parental obligation to provide children with an education in some
skill from which they may earn a living.
Protection for the rights of employees is grounded in biblical law,
beginning with a prohibition against delaying payment to a day
laborer (Leviticus 19:13). Rabbinic civil law underscored that point,
claiming that one who delays payment violates not one but four
biblical injunctions, and added the provision that wages must be
paid in money and not in goods. Workers’ rights are also protected
in rabbinic law by granting them an exemption to the general rule
that financial claims must be based on more than just a statement
under oath. An employee denied wages could establish such a claim
merely by making a statement in court.
The individual encounters the world of business as a consumer
as well. Biblical and later Jewish law provide for a number of
forms of consumer protection. As early as the laws of the Torah,
fraudulent pricing and inaccurate weights and measures are
outlawed. The biblical prophets railed against unfair market
practices as much as they did against such other moral failings as
idolatry and licentiousness, and the rabbis of the Talmudic era did
the same. Going beyond mere sermonizing, Jewish law specifically
recognizes a consumer’s right to abrogate a sale made under
deliberately falsified conditions or at an exorbitantly high price.
Excerpted with permission from MyJewishLearning.com
Jewish Business News - A publication of Jewish B2B Networking, Inc. 9
 Has Spring Arrived Yet?
By The Staff of Jewish Business News
We enter March looking for signs of spring and warmer weather. As
small business owners, we hope the first fiscal quarter of 2011 will
show a “warm” net profit and comparable improvement over the
“blizzard” of the same quarter a year ago.
How should we plan for the coming months properly? Should
we invest in inventories? Contract for more advertising to drive
business? Or perhaps we should lay low and wait out the storm
another quarter and hope for the best?
and small businesses will invest in both inventory and workers.
On the surface, things seem to be stabilizing: unemployment is
declining, GDP is slightly higher than forecasted and the stock
market is roaring back. To balance those indicators, however, it’s
our opinion that inflation is becoming problematic and the housing
market has not yet hit bottom. Personal debt levels also remain quite
high and the cost of commodities and consumer goods continues on
a steady climb.

Telling Economic Indicators
We’ve compiled a handful of economic indicators to help the small
business owner better assess the future direction of the economy.
Gold – Closing out February 2010, gold was hovering in the range
of $1,100 per troy ounce. In February 2011, we see gold in the
range of $1,350 to $1,400 per ounce. Traditionally, the demand for
gold will increase when the dollar is weak. For small businesses, a
weak dollar means that it will cost more to purchase products and
materials.
Dollar Index – In February 2011, the dollar fell to a 12-week low
against a basket of currencies, driven lower primarily on the strength
of the pound sterling, which hit a 10-week high amid growing fears
of U.S. inflation. According to Reuters, the markets expect the
Euro Zone to raise interest rates sooner than the United States, so
investors have gravitated toward the Euro. That flight had a negative
impact on the value of the dollar.
Our forecast, therefore, is that the “recovery” has not taken hold
fully and the benefits of the recovery have not trickled down to our
level yet. While Wall Street might be seeing the sunshine and feeling
the first rays of spring warmth, it’s still winter in our small business
neighborhood. We would not recommend putting away the shovel or
the winter coat just yet.
Budget carefully, market and advertise for new business
aggressively, but keep costs down. Inventories should remain low
to moderate, but always be on the lookout for bargains. Without a
doubt, micro-manage your profit margins and try to find just the
right balance between aggressive advertising, sales increases and
margin improvement.
Hang in there: manage your business smartly and spring will be right
around the corner!

Oil – In January 2010, oil was selling for $69 per barrel. By February
2010, it had hit $74. One year later, in February 2011, the price of a
barrel is approaching $100. Naturally, the cost of gasoline, heating
fuel and other products made from oil have risen as well.

DJIA – The stock market rally over the past year has been truly
amazing. Looking only at stocks, one might believe that the impact
and ill effects of the great recession have been wiped away and the
average American has been made “whole” again. January 2010
saw the market firmly rooted at the 10,000 level with growing
momentum. December 2010 saw the Dow reaching for 12,000. In
February 2011, despite some minor adjustments, it appears that
12,000 is the new reality.

National Debt – The government continues to spend more money

than it collects. The national debt has increased from $10.6 trillion
in January 2010 to over $14 trillion in February 2011. Worse, there
does not appear to be an end in sight for the spending, despite bi-
partisan agreement in Congress that it’s out of control.

The Budget Deficit – According to the president’s Office of

Management & Budget (OMB), the economy is on “an unsustainable
path.” The OMB is forecasting improvement in the economy over
a 10-year period, but stresses that further policy changes must be
made now to keep the country on track.

Unemployment – Over the past year, the national unemployment

rate has wobbled between 9.8 and 9 percent. It’s expected this will
not change dramatically until consumer spending accelerates. At
that point, more cash for business operations will become available

10 Jewish Business News - A publication of Jewish B2B Networking, Inc. www.thejewishbusiness.com

www.thejewishbusiness.com Jewish Business News - A publication of Jewish B2B Networking, Inc. 11

A New Program Pays Small Businesses to Hire
By Blanca Campos
State Update: Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit
Expansion
On Jan. 17, Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation to expand the Illinois
Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit (HB 4599). The credit was
enacted in 2010 as a means to jumpstart job creation in the wake of the
national financial crisis. Its recent expansion is aimed at reversing the
trend of high unemployment in Illinois and to help spur the recovery
by assisting small businesses in the creation of local, sustainable new
jobs.
Under the new law, the tax credit eligibility is expanded to qualified
businesses that hire employees who participated as worker-trainees
in Governor Quinn’s “Put Illinois to Work” program (PITW) during
2010. PITW creates jobs throughout the state by linking low-income
parents and young adults with worksites in local communities.
Business and Tax Credit Eligibility
There are two categories of businesses eligible for the tax credit. The
first are small businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees. These
businesses would receive a credit of $2,500 when they hire new, full-
time PITW employees during the 12-month period that began on
July 1, 2010. The employer is entitled to one credit ($2,500) if the
position is sustained for one year. It does not require that a particular
individual employee be retained for a year. For small businesses,
someone previously employed by the company between Jan. 1, 2010
and June 30, 2010 cannot fill the position.
The Small Business Advocacy Council is a non-partisan group with over 160 members, including law firms, real estate brokers, accounting firms and others.
12 Jewish Business News - A publication of Jewish B2B Networking, Inc.
Provided by the Small Business Advocacy Council
The second category includes businesses of any size that hire a PITW
worker-trainee. Employers in this category are entitled to one-half
of the credit ($1,250) as long as that new worker is employed for
at least 6 months after the date of hire. The employer is entitled to
the other half of the credit if that same employee is employed for
at least 12 months. For these businesses, someone who previously
worked for the applicant’s business under the PITW program can fill
the position.
Businesses must be located within the state of Illinois to qualify for
the credit and must engage in interstate or intrastate commerce. New
businesses hiring their first Illinois employee(s) may qualify for the
credit. The credit can be taken against the company’s withholding
tax liability.
All new positions require that employees receive no less than $10
hourly, with a minimum of $18,200 annually. The credit may be
claimed for an hourly employee working an average of at least 35
hours per week or for a full-time salaried employee, but not for a
partner or an independent contractor.
How to Apply
Online registration for the credit may be made as soon as a new, full-
time employee is hired. Eligible companies should register online
at JobsTaxCredit.illinois.gov. For more information, call 1-800-252-
2923. Illinois has capped the credits at $50 million.
www.thejewishbusiness.com
www.thejewishbusiness.com Jewish Business News - A publication of Jewish B2B Networking, Inc. 13
 Find out more about these jobs and over 100 more online at
www.jewishb2bnetworking.com/jobs
Social Media Manager, Chicago, Ill.
We are currently seeking a social media guru to join our team.
Our ideal candidate will be analytical, Internet-savvy and have a
background in generating business through social media.
See complete listing @ www.jewishb2bnetworking.com/jobs.
Account Manager, Chicago, Ill.
Responsibilities include researching our clients’ businesses and
their marketing objectives, creating presentations, proposals and
other materials to communicate our marketing solutions.
See complete listing @ www.jewishb2bnetworking.com/jobs.
Marketing Coordinator, Chicago, Ill.
The excellent candidate is an enthusiastic, motivated, hands-on
marketing coordinator with a solid track record in coordinating
the activities of the marketing department.
See complete listing @ www.jewishb2bnetworking.com/jobs.
Security Services Manager, Homewood, Ill.
This position is responsible for proactively managing the service
business within the security products group.
See complete listing @ www.jewishb2bnetworking.com/jobs.
14 Jewish Business News - A publication of Jewish B2B Networking, Inc.
Payroll Manger, Chicago, Ill.
This position will oversee 3-4 payroll clerks and have
responsibility for the accounting and processing associated with
a 1,000 + employee multi-state payroll.
See complete listing @ www.jewishb2bnetworking.com/jobs.
Outside Sales Specialist, Chicago, Ill.
We are currently looking for an outside sales specialist to join our
team. This person will cover the metro Chicago area.
See complete listing @ www.jewishb2bnetworking.com/jobs.
Creative Technical Producer, Chicago, Ill.
As a technical producer, you work closely with sales account
executives, agencies, clients and sales engineers to create and
operate branded advertising programs.
See complete listing @ www.jewishb2bnetworking.com/jobs.
Administrative Assistant, Deerfield, Ill.
We are seeking an experienced administrative assistant to assist
a member of our senior staff, as well as be an integral part of our
office team and the larger community.
See complete listing @ www.jewishb2bnetworking.com/jobs.
www.thejewishbusiness.com
 CLASSIFIED
Business Services
SEO-TV Communications
Search Engine Optimization. We Train
Your Staff. Simple. Become Experts
in Months. Video Marketing, Email
Marketing Solutions for Entrepreneurs.
Website Backoffice Solutions-Manage
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CONTACT: Mike Fisher, SEO-TV
Communications, Inc., 3660 West
Irving Park Road, Chicago, mfisher@
seo-tv.net, 312-725-0107
Phillip Gelman
If you are not satisfied with your sales
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marketing puzzle solved!
CONTACT: Phillip Gelman, 847-436-
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Integrity Estate Sales
We are a full service liquidation
company. Whether you are moving,
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to assisted living, handling an estate
of a loved one, divorcing, or facing
foreclosure, we can help you get the most
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Please call for a free no obligation
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9489. www.integrityestatesales.net.
We work STRICTLY on commission!
E-mail: integrity1998@sbcglobal.net
708-253-9489
Lindemann LLC
Lindemann LLC is an insurance
coverage and defense boutique firm
founded in June 2008 to handle disputed
high severity casualty claims and also
has a team of compliance, corporate
and transactional practice and domestic
insurance coverage and defense
practices.
CONTACT: 312-259-4285
DAC@lindemann-law.com
Merchant-Email.com
Email marketing for business. Email
250,000 Potential Clients Monthly. As
Low as $.001 Per Email. Automatic
Unsubscribe/Subscribe. Opt-In Multiple
Lists & Newsletters. ICANN Compliant.
CONTACT: 312-725-0107, mfisher@
seo-tv.net
NY Life
We help families/biz owners plan for their
future, using tax-advantaged planning.
Includes Long Term Care insurance,
Life insurance and Guaranteed Lifetime
Income annuities. Sweet spot: folks
from 45 to 60. Also brings access to
technology to underserved communities.
CONTACT: 847 -909-7500, ajvass@
ft.nyl.com
24/7/365 telephone answering service.
We tailor our plans to suit your special
business needs. Weekend and after
5 p.m. plans are also available. Our
features are high quality, accurate
information, live operators, sms text
messaging, paging, email, order taking,
order dispatching, appointment setting,
fax to email. Reasonable rates, quality
service. Call for a free quote: 630-
956-7400. Or email for a free quote:
aosiincorporated@yahoo.com
Place your classified ad for as little as $25!
Contact us at www.thejewishbusiness.com/advertise
www.thejewishbusiness.com Jewish Business News - A publication of Jewish B2B Networking, Inc.
ADVERTISING
Chicago Planet Towing Company
24-Hour Towing, Lockout, Winch
Service, Tire Change, Fuel Delivery,
Jump Start Company. 773-617-2597.
Business For Sale
Car Wash for Sale in Chicago, Tunnel
& Self Serve Bays.
Asking Price: $581,000 plus inventory
Gross annual sales (approximately):
$496,143 (last 12 months)
Cash flow (approximately): $216,267
(last 12 months)
Seller Financing: Owner will consider
financing up to 25% of purchase price to
a qualified/experienced buyer.
Contact: Tony info@abausa.com or
847-722-1877
Beauty Salon/Spa - Free parking for All
(currently operating) $225,000.00 plus
inventory
Gross annual sales (approximately):
$480,282.00
Cash flow or net (approximately):
$123,204.00
Contact: Dennis, dennis@abausa.com
or 312-360-1953
Office Space
DEVON BANK
Devon bank building, 6445 N. Western
Ave., Chicago. Available 4800 square
feet of office space. Rent includes
heating, air conditioning & maintenance.
For more information, CALL IRV
LOUNDY, 773-423-2424, iloundy@
devonbank.com
Help Wanted
Rodan + Fields Dermatologists
Victoria Skincare
High Caliber Independent Sales
Consultants Wanted - Men and Women. I
am the Founding Executive Leader with
the top producing team based in Chicago
for Rodan + Fields Dermatologists.
We’ve partnered with the creators of
Proactiv to launch a new opportunity
that allows you to earn a piece of the
$2.5 billion anti-age market. I am now
recruiting a high-caliber executive team
of men and women to expand across the
U.S. and preparing for global expansion.
Create an asset for your future, not simply
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with trip, car and bonus incentives. PT
or FT work at home. Read more at http://
victoriaskincare.net and send a cover
letter and resume to rodanfieldsleader@
gmail.com to be considered for an
interview.
CONTACT: 847-855-5600,
rodanfieldsleader@gmail.com
Miscellaneous
Philip Hendel
STAMP COLLECTOR looking for
stamp collector to trade/exchange
duplicates from their collection. I am
not a dealer--just a collector who has
accumulated lots of foreign stamps that
I would like to trade.
CONTACT: Philip Hendel, 773-213-
3614, philhendel@gmail.com
15