Wells, Eddy residents eligible for DUA

Job Service North Dakota has issued eligibility re-quirements for Disaster Unemployment Assistance for the presidential amended declared disaster for individuals in Eddy and Wells counties as a result of the severe storms and flooding in North Dakota, beginning March 13 and continuing.

DUA is available to individuals who:

• worked or were self-employed in or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment,

• can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of the disaster,

• establish that work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income,

• do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits from any state,

• cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster,

• became the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death of the head of household, or

• cannot reach their place of employment as a direct result of the disaster.

For individuals affected in the additional areas listed above, claims filed after June 17 will be denied, unless the individual provides good cause for the late filing.

The first possible week of compensation is the week ending March 21 and up to Sept. 26, as long as the unemployment continues to be a result of the disaster. The Disaster Unemployment Benefit amount is determined based on past income earned during calendar year 2008 and ranges from $43 to $406 per week.

To file a claim, individuals will need their Social Security number, a copy of their 2008 federal income tax forms, business financial statements, pay stubs/ vouchers, trip tickets, crop elevator receipts/credits, bank receipts, a statement from their last employer affirming they were working at the time of the disaster, or a copy of a letter of hire. Self-employed individuals and farmers need to include a copy of Schedule C, F, SE or K with Form 1040.

An initial application for DUA can be filed either by completing the form(s) under the Disaster Unemployment link on www.jobsnd.com and returning the form(s) to Job Service by mail or fax. Or file claims by calling Job Service North Dakota at 701-328-1630.

, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For local reemployment services, job seekers and employers should contact their local Job Service North Dakota office, listed at www.jobsnd.com.

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Lindsey Larson, communications coordinator for the Jamestown/Stutsman Development completed the Business Retention and Expansion course offered through the International Economic Development Council.

In this course, Larson learned the “red flags” that may indicate a company is looking to move elsewhere, and how to structure an effective system to respond to business concerns. Other course highlights were establishing and organizing a Business Retention and Expansion program, creating effective models for business visitations and surveys, tracking feedback and response, and fostering and strengthening business alliances.

“A good business retention and expansion program will help retain jobs and tax revenues within our community, it will also foster growth and development that will enhance Jamestown and Stutsman County’s reputation as a good place in which to do business,” Larson said.

The JSDC implemented a business retention and expansion program beginning in 2005 through the use of e-Synchronist software. The IEDC course provided Larson with new techniques and best practices used by other developers for their retention and expansion programs

The International Economic Development Council is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to helping economic developers do their job more effectively and raising the profile of the profession. JSDC has been a member of IEDC since 2003.

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Sara Schuchard recently joined AgCountry Farm Credit Services as a customer service representative for the Jamestown office.

Schuchard graduated from Jamestown College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with concentrations in management and marketing. Schuchard worked as a customer service representative and cashier at Hugo’s in Jamestown for six years. She continues in a part-time position with Hugo’s.

Schuchard lives in the Jamestown area and is the daughter of Jeff Schuchard.

AgCountry Farm Credit Services is an independently owned and locally governed lending institution that provides credit and financial services to farmers and ranchers in eastern North Dakota and west central Minnesota. AgCountry also provides agribusiness loans and leases in 35 states. The company is headquartered in Fargo.

Photo: page photos

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The North Dakota Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for its statewide awards program.

The award categories include Business Development, Entrepreneurial Spirit and the prestigious Greater North Dakotan award.

The Greater North Dakotan Award will be presented during a North Dakota Chamber event. The other awards will be presented at events in the recipients’ communities this fall.

“Hundreds of North Dakotans distinguish themselves with community, state or national activities that qualify them for award consideration,” said North Dakota Chamber Board Chair Keith Hovland, Jamestown. “We are asking North Dakotans to help us identify these outstanding leaders.”

Nomination forms, additional nomination criteria and a list of past recipients can be obtained by contacting the North Dakota Chamber at 701-222-0929 or 800-382-1405. Forms can also be downloaded from the North Dakota chamber’s Web site at www.ndchamber.com. Nominations can also be submitted online at the same address. The deadline to submit nominations is July 31.

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Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, a full-service brokerage and investment

banking firm, has announced that its research analysts have won a total of 14 awards in the eighth annual

FT/StarMine World’s Top Analysts Survey, ranking the firm tied for seventh out of 192 firms. This marks the third consecutive year that Stifel has finished in the top 10.

The survey recognizes analysts who have turned in exemplary performances either as stock pickers or as earnings estimators during calendar year 2008. In determining the winners, StarMine identified the top ten stock pickers and earnings estimators overall and the top three stock pickers and earnings estimators in 63 industries.

Founded in 1890, Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated is the principal subsidiary of Stifel Financial Corp., a financial services holding company headquartered in St. Louis. Stifel Nicolaus is a full-service

retail and institutional brokerage and investment banking firm with 236 offices in 36 states and the District of Columbia, and three European offices through Stifel Nicolaus Limited. To learn more about Stifel, visit the company’s Web site at www.stifel.com.

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The North Dakota Department of Human Services recognized counties and state agency staff for meeting performance measures. The following area counties were recognized from among North Dakota’s 53 counties for completing required case file reviews: Eddy, Foster, Kidder, Ransom, and Wells. The reviews are used to determine training needs and to affirm the accurate work being done in the counties.

County social service offices were also evaluated against like-type counties and recognized for achieving the most improved error rates from the 2007 to 2008 fiscal year. The state recognized Griggs County (counties with 51-100 SNAP cases/year).

Lowest Error Rates

State Human Services officials also recognized seven counties for achieving the lowest error rates. These awards were grouped by caseload size, percentage of the statewide SNAP caseload, and 2006 – 2008 fiscal years quality control data. Award recipients in order from smallest caseload to largest included: Kidder County.

In North Dakota, people apply for the nutrition assistance benefits at county social service offices, and the state’s human services department is responsible for administering the program, contracting for electronic transaction services, providing training and technical assistance to counties, and performing quality control services.

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Three North Dakota employers have been selected as semi-finalists for the 2009 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The award is the U.S. Government’s highest recognition given to employers for exceptional support of their employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve.

Only members of the Guard and Reserve or their family members are eligible to nominate their employers for the award.

The semi-finalists from North Dakota are Floor to Ceiling Store, Microsoft and the City of West Fargo.

The three employers are among 131 semi-finalists from across the nation, selected from more than 3,200 nominations submitted by Guard and Reserve members or their families for outstanding employer support. From this field, a national review board will select 35 finalists for the award. A national selection board comprised of senior defense officials and business leaders will then select the award’s 15 recipients. The Department of Defense will announce the 2009 finalists in June and the award recipients in July. The 2009 SDESFAs will be presented Sept. 17 at a ceremony in Washington at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Center.

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Tags: local business, business, wells, eddy