Business Loans

Zero borrowing arrangement makes cocoa sector more sustainable COCOBOD CEO [Video]
►
Categories
Productitivity Small Business Funding Small Business Growth Small Business Ideas

Zero borrowing arrangement makes cocoa sector more sustainable COCOBOD CEO [Video]

Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Joseph Boahen Aidoo, says the decision to finance cocoa purchase for the 2024/2025 crop season through zero borrowing arrangement formed part of governments plan to make the sector…

Students protest Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit to UWM [Video]
►
Categories
Small Business Funding

Students protest Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit to UWM [Video]

Dozens of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee students gathered to protest Thursday, as Vice President Kamala Harris and billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban spoke to a business class during a campaign visit.The VP’s motorcade arrived just before noon to a fired-up crowd of students.”It was a chance to voice our opinion. That’s why we’re here today. We are the voices for the people who are not here today in Palestine,” said UWM freshman Ahmed Hussein.He is one of many students outraged over the Biden-Harris administration’s involvement in the war between Israel and Hamas.”I do not believe the U.S. should be funding Israel. That is one of our main points,” he said.This comes about six months after students camped out for weeks at UWM, protesting the same cause.Junior Amir Daher had some strong words for the vice president.”I believe by supporting Israel, by supporting what’s going on in Gaza, she’s not a human. She’s a human with a black heart,” Daher said.With less than three weeks till election day, Daher says he cannot vote, as this war continues.”None of them are worthy of my vote, to be honest. They’re supporting the same thing,” Daher said. Daher said he does not plan to vote.Hussein is looking at other options.”I’m not going to vote for the two main political parties, but I will vote for an opposing political party,” Hussein said.He says he hopes their message is clear.”Kamala Harris, we tell you, the people in Palestine are suffering,” Hussein said.

New infrastructure fee required for electric vehicle owners in Vermont [Video]
►
Categories
Small Business Funding

New infrastructure fee required for electric vehicle owners in Vermont [Video]

The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles will be implementing a new infrastructure fee at the start of the new year for electric vehicle owners.Starting in January 2025, all owners of electric vehicles that are registered in Vermont will have to pay an additional $89 for a one-year registration and $163 for two years. Plug-in electric hybrid vehicles will have to pay up too. They will need to pay $44.50 for a one-year registration and $81.50 for two years.These fees are in addition to the current annual vehicle registration fee.Michael DeLuca of Rutland used to drive a Subaru but opted for a Tesla EV in February to save money. He told NBC5 that he did not put in the miles that were worth the price.”We just got this letter saying this is it. You have to pay $89 starting this January, and that is that. It’s just frustrating,” DeLuca said.DeLuca said despite the fee, he is sticking with his new set of wheels.”I still like the car for what it is. It has saved me money. I figure compared to using gasoline, I am spending a third of what I would normally spend,” DeLuca said.Democratic state Sen. Thomas Chittenden is on the Transportation Committee in the legislature. He said he believes the user fee is fair given the fact that the state does not collect gas revenue from EV owners.”Electric vehicles need our roads to be maintained, and we need to have them contribute, similarly to how gas users pay for the roads,” Chittenden said. “This is one of the very few fees I know of that the governor did not veto, and I think that is because the rationale is that this is justifiable.” The senator said the temporary funding measure will stay in effect until the legislature can approve a mileage-based fee.”It’s similar to how the gas tax currently works. The more you use roads, the more you pay at the pumps, which means more money gets redirected into our roadways,” Chittenden said.NBC5 also reached out to the Vermont Agency of Transportation to comment but they would not give us a statement for this report.Chittenden said he hopes this fee does not turn off buyers, and urges folks to check out electric vehicles to help build a greener future for Vermonters.”I think we should all be proud of what we are doing to reduce our emissions through our transportation sector,” Chittenden said.The temporary fee will go into effect on Jan. 1 for EV owners across the state.

Blush Bootcamp CEO facing scrutiny in new lawsuits alleging corporate ‘shell game’ [Video]
►
Categories
Small Business Funding

Blush Bootcamp CEO facing scrutiny in new lawsuits alleging corporate ‘shell game’ [Video]

Franchise owners of multiple Blush Bootcamps are now involved in lawsuits against Blush Bootcamp CEO Maxwell Gellert.The lawsuits allege Gellert is playing a corporate shell game with the business, leaving the franchisees with much less money than promised.The popular gyms, located in 10 states, promise women results-driven workouts, free nutritional support, free babysitting, and a sense of sisterhood.But those running the franchises allege in court documents that they are struggling to keep up with finances.What you see in there is that most of his clubs are losing money or just barely making any money, said attorney Keith Williston, who is representing multiple Blush franchise owners suing Gellert and entities he controls.Williston said the franchisees want their locations to remain open but are asking the court for help to nullify franchise agreements with Gellert to allow them to reorganize their debt and obligations.Court documents say Gellert promoted and sold franchise opportunities for Blush Bootcamps, but suppressed information about the true nature of the financial viability of his business.The court documents allege Gellert told investors each gym was profitable, while knowing the business model was not successful.They further claim Gellerts operation was predatory, built on false information, and that he tried to get rich at the expense of others.If I walked into a business and I find out that your corporate headquarters controls your financial information and hides it from you and you can’t see it, you don’t want to be in that relationship, Williston said.On June 24, Gellert filed for bankruptcy protection for Blush Bootcamp LLC, one of the entities he controls.The bankruptcy court found multiple problems with Blushs operations under Gellerts control, including loans to several franchisees from Regent Bank.An email to Regent Bank was not immediately returned Thursday.Gellerts attorney declined to comment on the litigation or bankruptcy filings regarding Blush Bootcamps.If you have a tip about this situation, KMBC 9 Investigates needs to know. Email investigates@kmbc.com.