Business News
SACRAMENTO – The state of California is currently accepting proposals for the California State Trade Expansion Program, or STEP, a federally funded grant program of the U.S. Small Business Administration to increase exports activities among small businesses.
Funding associated with this program will support trade development and enhancement activities that help small businesses enter or expand their exporting activity to foreign markets.
As the program administrator, the California Department of Food and Agriculture is seeking project proposals from qualified entities to conduct export development activities in foreign markets to assist California businesses in trade expansion.
Activities may include foreign trade missions and trade show exhibitions. Suitable promoted product categories include, but are not limited to: aircraft /automotive parts; construction; manufacturing equipment/technology; medical devices; pharmaceuticals; health and beauty; food and agricultural products; and green/sustainable technologies.
Grant funds will not be awarded for projects that directly benefit or provide profit to a single organization, institution or individual.
Federal funding is dependent on a competitive grant award by the U.S. Small Business Administration to the State of California.
Total available federal funding for California activities is estimated at $900,000.
Applications must be submitted online at https://californiaexport.org/californiastepconcepts-2019-2021/ , no later than May 3, 2019, 5 p.m. (PST).
Further information on the grant program, including timeline and application criteria, are available at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/grants/ .
The California State Trade Export Promotion Program is a partnership between the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development and CDFA.
The program brings together state, federal, private and non-profit trade promotion organizations to promote export activities among targeted industries. California STEP is funded in part by a U.S. Small Business Administration Grant.
Funding associated with this program will support trade development and enhancement activities that help small businesses enter or expand their exporting activity to foreign markets.
As the program administrator, the California Department of Food and Agriculture is seeking project proposals from qualified entities to conduct export development activities in foreign markets to assist California businesses in trade expansion.
Activities may include foreign trade missions and trade show exhibitions. Suitable promoted product categories include, but are not limited to: aircraft /automotive parts; construction; manufacturing equipment/technology; medical devices; pharmaceuticals; health and beauty; food and agricultural products; and green/sustainable technologies.
Grant funds will not be awarded for projects that directly benefit or provide profit to a single organization, institution or individual.
Federal funding is dependent on a competitive grant award by the U.S. Small Business Administration to the State of California.
Total available federal funding for California activities is estimated at $900,000.
Applications must be submitted online at https://californiaexport.org/californiastepconcepts-2019-2021/ , no later than May 3, 2019, 5 p.m. (PST).
Further information on the grant program, including timeline and application criteria, are available at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/grants/ .
The California State Trade Export Promotion Program is a partnership between the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development and CDFA.
The program brings together state, federal, private and non-profit trade promotion organizations to promote export activities among targeted industries. California STEP is funded in part by a U.S. Small Business Administration Grant.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
WASHINGTON, DC – On Wednesday, Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA) and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced the bicameral Cabin Air Safety Act (H.R.2208) to protect commercial airline passengers and crew from toxic cabin air.
Congressman Garamendi is a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Senator Blumenthal is a senior member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
“All Americans have the right to expect safe, clean air when travelling or reporting to work. I am deeply concerned by the documented cases where pilots, flight attendants, and other airline crewmembers have become sick and even hospitalized from toxic cabin air,” said Congressman Garamendi. “The Cabin Air Safety Act takes commonsense steps to protect airline passengers and crew, including installing carbon monoxide detectors in commercial aircraft. I thank Senator Blumenthal for leading this bill last Congress and look forward to working with him to advance this critical legislation.”
“This legislation would protect the flying public and airline crews by ensuring the cabin air they breathe during flights is safe – free from any hidden and toxic fumes. Our bill would require the FAA and aircraft manufacturers to stop ignoring this horrific issue – mandating thorough investigation of dangerous cabin air quality reports, proper training and resources for pilots and flight attendants, and the installation of carbon monoxide sensors on commercial flights,” said Blumenthal.
“Toxic fume” events occur when air contaminated by engine exhaust, fuel fumes, de-icing fluids, and ozone enters the aircraft cabin through the jet engine intake. Exposure to even low levels of these contaminants can incapacitate passengers and crew, and long-term exposure could lead to serious, debilitating health issues.
The Cabin Air Safety Act (H.R.2208) would better protect airline passengers and crew members by:
· Mandating training regarding toxic fumes on aircraft: Require that flight attendants, pilots, aircraft technicians, and first responders receive training on identifying toxic fumes. The training materials will include education on sources and types of fumes, symptoms, appropriate responses, and how to report incidents.
· Requiring FAA to record and monitor reports of fume events: Directs the FAA to develop a standardized form/system to record airline crew reports of toxic fumes. The FAA is required to publish these reports at least quarterly on a public website, so that they can be searched, reviewed, and analyzed.
· Ensuring investigations occur: Requires the FAA to conduct investigations, in cooperation with the airlines and labor unions, after a toxic fume event to study the cause and prevent future events.
· Installing carbon monoxide sensors on aircraft: Directs airline manufacturers and air carriers to install and operate carbon monoxide detectors situated in the air supply system to best enable pilots and maintenance technicians to locate the sources of air supply contamination. These detectors will alert the crew if carbon monoxide levels exceed national air quality standards. Aircraft manufacturers must develop procedures that inform the crew on how to respond to alarms.
The Cabin Air Safety Act (H.R.2208) is endorsed by the Air Line Pilots Association International, Association of Flight Attendants, Allied Pilots Association, Association of Professional Flight Attendants, International Union of Teamsters, National Consumers League, Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
Congressman Garamendi is a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Senator Blumenthal is a senior member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
“All Americans have the right to expect safe, clean air when travelling or reporting to work. I am deeply concerned by the documented cases where pilots, flight attendants, and other airline crewmembers have become sick and even hospitalized from toxic cabin air,” said Congressman Garamendi. “The Cabin Air Safety Act takes commonsense steps to protect airline passengers and crew, including installing carbon monoxide detectors in commercial aircraft. I thank Senator Blumenthal for leading this bill last Congress and look forward to working with him to advance this critical legislation.”
“This legislation would protect the flying public and airline crews by ensuring the cabin air they breathe during flights is safe – free from any hidden and toxic fumes. Our bill would require the FAA and aircraft manufacturers to stop ignoring this horrific issue – mandating thorough investigation of dangerous cabin air quality reports, proper training and resources for pilots and flight attendants, and the installation of carbon monoxide sensors on commercial flights,” said Blumenthal.
“Toxic fume” events occur when air contaminated by engine exhaust, fuel fumes, de-icing fluids, and ozone enters the aircraft cabin through the jet engine intake. Exposure to even low levels of these contaminants can incapacitate passengers and crew, and long-term exposure could lead to serious, debilitating health issues.
The Cabin Air Safety Act (H.R.2208) would better protect airline passengers and crew members by:
· Mandating training regarding toxic fumes on aircraft: Require that flight attendants, pilots, aircraft technicians, and first responders receive training on identifying toxic fumes. The training materials will include education on sources and types of fumes, symptoms, appropriate responses, and how to report incidents.
· Requiring FAA to record and monitor reports of fume events: Directs the FAA to develop a standardized form/system to record airline crew reports of toxic fumes. The FAA is required to publish these reports at least quarterly on a public website, so that they can be searched, reviewed, and analyzed.
· Ensuring investigations occur: Requires the FAA to conduct investigations, in cooperation with the airlines and labor unions, after a toxic fume event to study the cause and prevent future events.
· Installing carbon monoxide sensors on aircraft: Directs airline manufacturers and air carriers to install and operate carbon monoxide detectors situated in the air supply system to best enable pilots and maintenance technicians to locate the sources of air supply contamination. These detectors will alert the crew if carbon monoxide levels exceed national air quality standards. Aircraft manufacturers must develop procedures that inform the crew on how to respond to alarms.
The Cabin Air Safety Act (H.R.2208) is endorsed by the Air Line Pilots Association International, Association of Flight Attendants, Allied Pilots Association, Association of Professional Flight Attendants, International Union of Teamsters, National Consumers League, Southwest Airlines Pilots’ Association and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
How to resolve AdBlock issue?