All Posts in "Personal Finance/Consumers"

Over a dozen RV dealers will roll into the Tacoma Dome Oct. 8-11 for the 33rd annual Tacoma Fall RV Show.
The recreation vehicle sales event offers 250 models displayed by competing dealers, ranging from long-distance cruisers to models for weekend camping, fifth-wheels, toy haulers, travel trailers and campers. Admission to the show is $12 for general admission, $6 for military personnel with ID, and free to children 16 and under. Discount coupons of $2 are available at http://www.otshows.com/tfrv/.
Show hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 8-10 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 11.

srmedia by — September 29, 2015 in Personal Finance/Consumers

The 2015 Washington State Fair runs Sept. 11-27 in Puyallup, and it will spend part of the time honoring those who have served in the armed forces.
Military Appreciation Days are scheduled for Sept. 14 and Sept. 21. All active, reserve and retired military and National Guard members and their dependents, plus disabled veterans, will be admitted to the fair free upon showing military identification at the gates.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord has a strong presence inside the Gold Gate with two areas of interest. They will have an Armored Security Vehicle on site for guests to explore, along with many of the items worn in military action. Members of the U.S. Army will be present to give tours and explain the items shown. Another Joint Base Lewis McChord exhibit focuses on their veterinarians, and what they do. They will have a veterinarian office set up with a “teddy bear clinic,” using a stuffed animal to show Fair guests how they treat and care for animals.
The fair is one of the biggest in the world and the largest in the Pacific Northwest. It started in 1900 in Puyallup and annually welcomes more than 1 million guests who turn out for star-studded entertainment, product vendors, professional rodeo, rides, exhibits, food, flowers and animal exhibits during its 17-day run.
Admission costs $7.50 for seniors 62 and up. More information about gate prices and other fair details is available at www.thefair.com.

Animal exhibits are among the sights at the Washington State Fair.
Animal exhibits are among the sights at the Washington State Fair.
srmedia by — September 8, 2015 in Personal Finance/Consumers

Vendors, food concessionaires and the midway operator at the Washington State Fair in Puyallup, as well as the fair itself, are hiring temporary workers for the fair’s 17-day Sept. 11-27.
Interviews are being scheduled for select dates and times, which are listed on the fair’s web site at http://www.thefair.com/participate/employment/ .
The jobs range from ticket sellers (gate, midway and parking) to parking lot attendants, ride and game operators to barn cleanup. Food concessionaires are hiring for food preparation and cashiering. The pay range starts at $9.47. Some jobs start before the opening day of the fair.
Applicants must apply in person and be prepared to show identification and proof of citizenship, usually in the form of a current driver’s license and Social Security card; or a current U.S. passport. Phone applications will not be accepted.
More information on available jobs is available at https://fortress.wa.gov/esd/worksource and www.craigslist.com.

srmedia by — August 25, 2015 in Personal Finance/Consumers

Entrepreneurs over the age of 50 are one of the fastest-growing groups of new business owners. For age 50-plus individuals, entrepreneurship offers an opportunity to use knowledge and experience that has been gained during a lifetime and put it toward creating a new business that can be rewarding and challenging.
Considering that there are 76 million people over the age of 50 in the United States, encore entrepreneurs are becoming a powerful economic force. And this is why the SBA has teamed up with AARP state offices nationwide. This summer, SBA has launched a new Summer of Encore Mentoring initiative, which has grown from one day in 2012, to Mentor months in 2013 and 2014, to an entire summer filled with events specifically designed to help encore entrepreneurs start or grow a small business. Encore entrepreneurs will be matched with successful business mentors and experts who will lend advice and assistance.
We know this kind of coaching can be critical for the success of a small business. Because our data shows that when entrepreneurs have a long-term counseling relationship with SBA, they achieve stronger sales, higher profits and more hires than their competition.
The number of Americans age 50+ who are working or looking for work has grown significantly over the past decade. This is expected to continue to increase. In fact, 35% of the United States labor force will be age 50+ in 2022. This compares to just 25% in 2002, which makes small business ownership a good option for many baby boomers.
Throughout June, July and August, SBA district offices, state AARP offices and SBA resource partners will host events around the country. Events include speed mentoring, which allows mentors with small business experience and entrepreneurs to share information during one-on-one counseling sessions and workshops for entrepreneurs to learn best practices from successful small business owners. To find a local event near you go to www.sba.gov/encore.
Free online courses targeted at helping encore entrepreneurs start or grow their businesses are also available at www.sba.gov/encore.
In addition, SBA will be hosting a webinar series to help current and potential encore entrepreneurs. For more information and to register, visit www.aarp.org/moneywebinars.
There’s no better time to start a business than today. For Americans, especially those over age 50, why not make this summer a fresh start to the next chapter of your career?

Calvin Goings wrote this article. He is a regional administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration and a former Pierce County Council member.

Contributing Author by — August 11, 2015 in Personal Finance/Consumers