Most small businesses don

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The survey found that 90 percenty plan to cutbusinesa expenses, and 23 percent expect they will lay off employeez during the next six months. Only 26 perceny expect sales toincrease — half the percentagd who expected sales gains a year ago. Nearly half expectr profits will decrease in thenear “These findings support PNC’ forecast that the U.S. economy will continue to suffer into the seconr half ofthe year,” said PNC Chiefd Economist Stuart Hoffman. It will be 2010 beforew the economygets “real traction from the various federal policyg stimulus initiatives,” Hoffman said. If the recession continues over the next six 43 percentof U.S.
companiesx probably will make across-the-board budget That’s according to a new poll by the . The next most likelgy step would be to reduce stafcfthrough attrition, while 40 percent of human resource executives said hiring freezes would be put into Freezing employee wages was next, followefd by cuts in employee bonuses. Only 24 percent expecy layoffs. Layoffs “are becoming more of a last optiom that many business leaderswoulf take,” said SHRM President and CEO Laurenced O’Neil.
“This finding underscores the seriousness of the recessionj as many companies find they cannot survivd without some degree of More than 70 percent of the CEOof America’s largest companiess expect to reduce employment at their businesses over the next six according to a survey by the . Two-thirds expect a decline in sales andcapitalo spending. The Federal Communications Commission wants help fromthe public, including small businesses, on developing a plan to ensure that all Americansd have access to broadband. The economic stimulusd legislation directed the FCC to present the plan to Congresssby Feb. 17, 2010, a year after the bill was signeedinto law.
The FCC is solicitingg comments on the best ways to ensurs universalbroadband access, strategies for making it evaluating the progress of broadbanr grant programs and how to use broadband to advance publicx policy goals. Comments may be filed electronicallyat www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfsw or at www.regulations.gov. The stimulus bill includedx $7.2 billion for grants and loanz to increase broadband access in unserved andunderservedr areas. The programs will be administered by the Nationall Telecommunications and Information Administration andthe U.S. Departmenr of Agriculture’s rural development program.
The General Servicee Administration plans tospends $285 million for 17,600 fuel-efficient including 2,500 hybrid sedans, by June 1. Money for these purchases, as well as $15 milliom for advanced technology vehicles suchas all-electric will come from funds appropriated in the economic stimulus package. GSA will use existingg contracts withGeneral Motors, Chrysler and Ford for thesse orders. President Obama said these purchasesare “partt of our commitment to the American auto and he was “pleased” GSA “moved swiftlyt to accelerate this purchase.
” The Environmentapl Protection Agency distributed $197 million in economixc stimulus funds to states and Indiamn reservations for use in cleaning up underground storaged tank petroleum leaks. These leaks coulfd seep into soil and contaminategroune water, which is a major sourcw of drinking water. EPA estimates aboutf 1,600 sites will be cleaned up as a resulft ofthe funding. “EPA is putting people to work by serving our core missiohn of protecting human healtg andthe environment,” said EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.