Weekly 5: Online ‘Obamacare’ exchanges for small biz kick off this week
The BI Weekly 5 is a collection of tips, news and data affecting the boating industry this week. Be sure to look for the BI Weekly 5 every Tuesday on BoatingIndustry.com.
1. Online ‘Obamacare’ exchanges for small biz kick off this week
Starting Saturday, small businesses will be able to have their employees use the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Marketplace purchase insurance for 2015.
The fines for businesses that don’t offer health insurance also start in 2015 for companies with more than 100 employees and in 2016 for those with 50 to 99 employees.
2. Keys fishing group loses allies in election
The Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association lost two of its biggest advocates in last week’s elections, the group’s director told the Key West Citizen.
U.S. Reps. Joe Garcia, D-Key West, and Steve Southerland, R-Panama City, both lost their reelection bids last week. They were big supporters of the Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association and helped the group on many fishing issues, Executive Director Bill Kelly told the paper.
3. Boating school accused of illegally selling sailboats
A Maine man is alleging in a lawsuit that Atlantic Challenge, a nonprofit sailing school in Maine, sold two of his boats without his knowledge, the Bangor Daily News reported.
The man had been storing the boats at the school in exchange, he says, for use of his equipment. The school says he had owed them money for storage
4. South Carolina voters approve tax to fund port dredging
In last week’s election, voters in Georgetown County, S.C., approved a 1-cent sales tax for four years to fund a variety of projects, including restoration of the Georgetown shipping channel to 27 feet, the Post and Courier reported.
5. How to build a powerful LinkedIn network
LinkedIn isn’t just for job seekers. Building a powerful network can also help reach potential buyers of your boats or other products. Social Media Examiner has some tips on how to make the most of the oft-overlooked networking tool.
