An annual event is coming around again, sponsored by GBCC member, Game Genius. The District Hunt engages the minds and imaginations of participants in a fun mystery that celebrates different forms of literacy, from linguistic and cultural to financial and digital.
 
The 2022 District Hunt offers two ways to play. Teams can join a race to solve the puzzle on October 1, or they can solve the finish the outdoor adventure on their own time from October 2-10. The hunt guides participants around Washington DC, where players learn about the community and experience the city from a new perspective. Event proceeds support Game Genius’s work with local nonprofits.
 
Back to School, Back to Business
The District Hunt offers participants the chance to work together in a unique team building activity that calls on different skills and knowledge. Every year, the game centers around an important theme such as Women’s History or Mental Health. “We love how the District Hunt makes learning fun and engages the competitive spirit in all of us,” says Peter Williamson, President of Game Genius. “This year’s theme of literacy is particularly important since the four corners of language, culture, finance, and tech are the foundations of good business.”
 
The GBCC is a thriving Chamber of Commerce and enjoys a special relationship with its member non-profits. “Business and community go hand in hand, and we always want to offer energy and support to the organizations doing good work for our members, their families and the rest of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase community,” says Allie Williams, President and CEO, The Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce.
 
Opportunities to Get Involved
This event offers so many ways to participate. People can play the hunt as individuals or teams, and thanks to sponsors, Game Genius offers discounted rates to players who qualify. Players must register by September 30th to participate on opening weekend. Sponsorship opportunities are still open, giving businesses a chance to get involved and give back to the community. In addition, Game Genius is looking for partner organizations that are non-profits doing critical literacy work in the DMV region. Game Genius will feature and celebrate relevant organizations through the hunt, which garners exposure for the organizations as well as a chance for staff to engage in the fun.
 
​For more information about District Hunt, contact Peter Williamson at peter@gamegenius.org.
To learn about non-profit membership in the GBCC, contact  Carla Young, Director of Membership & Community Engagement.
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Did you know that many business owners may qualify for the Employee Retention Credit? In fact, the IRS estimates 70-80% of small and medium businesses qualify. This credit was put into place to reward businesses that kept their employees during the pandemic.
 
Despite its ease to qualify for, many business owners are not aware of this credit, or they have been told by their CPA or Accountant that they would not qualify. We want to let you know that there have been many updates to the ERC program since it was released, and your business likely qualifies.
 
What is the Employee Retention Credit?
The Employee Retention Credit is a refundable payroll tax credit that was introduced as part of the CARES Act in March of 2020.  The credit is available to employers whose businesses have been financially OR OPERATIONALLY impacted by the pandemic. Too many businesses and those they are getting advice from are focusing on ONE qualifying area: Reduction in Gross Receipts. But there are three others that DO NOT REQUIRE a reduction in revenue:
·       Startup Recovery Business
·       Supply Chain issues
·       Full or Partial shutdown
 
Full or Partial shutdown is where most companies qualify as we were all impacted by government shutdowns in one way or another. The simplest way the IRS describes this is whether government orders around Covid affected your business's ability to deliver its goods and services in its normal course by more than 10%. That is all it takes to qualify.
 
How much time does this take?
This is the best part, you can go through the prequalification and qualification process from start to finish in about 20-30 minutes, including having a brief call with us.  We’ve had multiple clients who did not think they qualified until we had a brief 5-10 minute discussion to help identify whether it would be worth it to them to take the time to review the pre-qualification application.
 
How is the Money Delivered to the Company?
This is actual money that comes back to your bank account! It is not a loan and there is NO forgiveness needed. Furthermore, this is NOT an income tax credit.
 
How Much Will this Cost?
Payroll services and CPA mostly charge you the fee upfront. We’ve heard that the going rate is $500.00 per employee per quarter or 20% of the credit. When you work with us, we do not get paid unless you get paid and until you get paid.
 
In Closing
During the pandemic, businesses needed to make changes to typical daily operations to keep up with regulations. We’ve talked to many businesses that did not have a reduction in revenue because they were quick to adjust and innovate in their operations. But they were still affected. The Employee Retention Credit was designed to help businesses keep employees. If you think you may qualify, we encourage you to reach out to us and we can help you determine if you are eligible!
 
You can schedule a 15-minute consultation here or email us at info@think-lateral.com.
 
If you want to skip the call and see if you pre-qualify on your own, we recommend that you watch this video so you can learn about ERC and the process. Once done, you can get a no-obligation estimate on your credit by using this link. Let us know how we can help!
 
Jon Bassford, JD, MBA, CAE
CEO and Founder
Lateral Solutions