State’s appliance rebate money going fast
Retail stores that sell Energy Star appliances should be getting a boost as the Kentucky Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program pumps $4 million into sales.
Governor Steve Beshear kicked off the state’s program on Earth Day, and it will run until the money is all reserved. These are federal stimulus funds earmarked for creating jobs and saving energy.
Consumers can go online and apply for their rebates ranging from $40 to $400. They can get rebates for washers and dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, room and central air conditioners, water heaters, heat pumps and gas furnaces and boilers.
Quite a number of stores are adding their own discounts to sweeten the deal.
Sears, which now has 30 percent off Energy Star products, is calling its promotion a “Cash for Clunker Appliance Sale.”
Dart Polymers awarding community grants
Dart Polymers, which manufactures polystyrene and ships it to the facilities of parent company Dart Container Corporation, will be giving two, $5,000 community grants this summer.
The awards are part of Dart Container Corp.’s 50th anniversary celebration. The company will give away a total of $250,000 in communities where it has plants and offices.
Get more information in Tuesday’s Messenger-Inquirer.
Vinyl is final
Saturday marks the third annual national Record Store Day. It’s the day the country’s 700 or so independently owned record stores take the spotlight ahead of digital music.
Look for special vinyl releases including Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen tracks.
For those of us who recall the thrill of buying a new 45 or LP, it’s heartening to know that teens are tuning to vinyl again, according to a report today on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Last year, 2 1/2 million LPs were sold – up 33 percent from last year.
Rainmakers coming to Owensboro
Rainmakers, a business to business networking organization which recently organized in Evansville, will hold a kick-off meeting from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at Johnny B’s, 4820 Frederica St.
No reservations or fees are required to attend.
Sal Aliotta, area director for Rainmakers and president of Winning Sales Strategies, will lead the event.
For more information, contact Jeff Boston at 270-688-8100 or Suzy Hayden at 270-748-1520.
Construction jobs up in March
Federal employment figures for March show 15,000 more construction industry jobs – the first gain since June 2007.
It’s good news, but it may or may not be an economic indicator, the Associated General Contractors of America said in a news release last week.
Some of the boost may be attributable to a short-term recovery from February’s severe weather, according to AGC’s chief economist. The construction industry’s March unemployment rate is at 24.9 percent – more than double the all-industry level.
Federal government initiates short sales incentives
The federal government launched a new “short sale” program today as another way to help homeowners struggling to get out from under a mortgage they can’t afford.
NPR reported Monday that nearly 5 million Americans are seriously behind on their house payments, and for many of them, a short sale is better than foreclosure.
The Obama administration is trying to make it easier for borrowers who owe more on their mortgages than their properties are worth to sell their homes.
The government also has provided mortgage relief for homeowners who want to keep their homes. But some families either can’t qualify or they just want to move on.
In this new program also described in Saturday’s Washington Post, if the lender agrees, qualifying homeowners can sell the house for less than what is still owed – and not have to pay the lender the rest of the debt.
The homeowners may also get $3,000 to help pay for relocation costs.
They will still lose their homes, but a “short sale” won’t impact a borrower’s credit score for as much time as a foreclosure.
Some analysts are saying short sales are win-win-win options for sellers, lenders and buyers. Others say the government should force banks to provide more help on payments so that families can stay in their homes.
Allegiant’s overall air traffic jumped in March
Allegiant Air which added Owensboro to its schedule of flights a year ago in February reported its overall traffic jumped 16.4 percent in March.
Allegiant operates two flights per week of its jet service out of the Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport traveling nonstop to Orlando. It will add a third flight to the weekly scheduled in June.
Business Week is reporting in today’s online issue that for the first quarter, Allegiant reported an 18.6 boost in air traffic, 17.4 percent increase in capacity, with occupancy at 91.7 percent from 90.8 percent .
