Category: Financial Content

Employee Handbooks Are Giving HR Departments A Headache, Survey Shows 

More than six in 10 employers struggle to get employees to read the employee handbook 

New York City (May 5, 2022) – A new survey published by XpertHR suggests HR departments have an employee handbook headache. When it comes to handbook-related challenges, getting employees to read it, keeping it compliant with state law and training managers for its enforcement are the top three challenges HR managers face. As reported in XpertHR’s 2022 Employee Handbook survey, over three-fifths of employers rated the following issues as “somewhat” or “very” challenging:

• Getting employees to read the handbook (68%),  
• Keeping their employee handbooks compliant with state law (66%), and 
• Providing training for managers so they can enforce the handbook (64%). 

According to XpertHR Senior Legal Editor, Policy Solutions, Melissa Silver, JD, the challenge of training opens a window of opportunity for employers. The survey found that nearly one-half (47%) of employers do not provide any employee handbook training.  

“Employee handbooks don’t just cover company values and culture, benefits and compliance, but they also inform employees of work rules and expectations. If managers do not enforce work rules uniformly, this could expose a company to litigation,” Silver said. “Our data suggests a real need for HR teams to train managers on the role of the employee handbook and how to properly enforce the policies within the handbook.”  

The survey also revealed the methods HR departments use for both distributing the employee handbook and encouraging employees to read the handbook.  

• Employee intranet, hard copy and email comprise the top three ways organizations distribute their handbooks and revisions.  
• The top two ways organizations encourage employees to read the handbook are: requiring them to acknowledge receipt of the handbook (91%) and encouraging them to read it during onboarding (70%).  

XpertHR’s Employee Handbooks Survey 2022 was conducted from February 22 to March 18, 2022. The survey included responses from 366 U.S. employers of various industries and workforce sizes, representing over 460,000 workers. The survey report explores the critical subject of employee handbooks, such as preparation, distribution, approaches to multi-jurisdictional compliance, challenges, resources and more. 

Editor’s Note:
Melissa Silver, JD, Senior Legal Editor, Policy Solutions at XpertHR, is available for interview. If you use any of this material, please include this link. 

 

Image caption: Almost half (47%) of employers do not train employees on handbook content, according to recent XpertHR research.    

About XpertHR:
XpertHR has been providing HR solutions since 2002, empowering organizations across the globe to build successful workforces and create a purposeful workplace for all. The platform delivers expert insight, trusted resources, data analysis and practical tools to help achieve greater efficiency, reduce risk, and increase employee engagement. XpertHR is developing smarter data analysis tools and cutting-edge technology to support future demands on HR in an increasingly digital world. To learn more, visit xperthr.com. 

Media Contact:
Lauren Doyle
ldoyle@wordsworthweb.com
937.241.8378 

 

 

 

• Inspectors add four new One MICHELIN Star eateries in Washington
• 24 restaurants achieve MICHELIN Star status
• Four new Bib Gourmand restaurants make the list

WASHINGTON, May 4, 2022 — The MICHELIN Guide Washington DC has added four One MICHELIN Star restaurants to the district’s constellation of Stars. Altogether, 24 restaurants made the list.

“The MICHELIN Guide inspectors found that Washington’s culinary scene has risen to the challenges of the past year,” said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the MICHELIN Guides. “The chefs and restaurant teams in the district continue to show off their meticulous creativity. We are pleased to celebrate four new One MICHELIN Star restaurants and offer continued praise to the returning Starred restaurants in the city.”

Here are the new One MICHELIN Star restaurants, with inspector notes from each (inspector comments in full on the MICHELIN Guide website and mobile app):

Albi (Middle Eastern cuisine)

Located in the pulsating Navy Yard, this dining room is hip and lively. Arranged around a roaring hearth, the space features an inviting bar at one end and chef’s counter at the other. À la carte is the way to go, but guests may just do better with the hyper-seasonal prix-fixe. Regardless, Chef/owner Michael Rafidi’s dishes are full of surprises as he weaves in the flavors of the eastern Mediterranean with myriad local ingredients.

Imperfecto: The Chef’s Table (Latin American cuisine)

Boasting all the buzz of a hornet’s nest, this soaring box of glass and marble virtually reaches for the sky. Inside, it’s decked out with brass accents, terra-cotta and a tight counter positioned directly under Chef Enrique Limardo’s perch. Here, he prepares an elaborate tasting, which is a far cry from the main, more casual menu; it’s a celebration of Latin flavors, ace ingredients and exacting technique. Meals, served by the chef himself, take on an intimate if long form.

Oyster Oyster (Vegetarian cuisine)

It is highly rare for a tasting menu to leave one feeling, well, energized, but so goes the imaginative cooking at this vegetable-focused gem. Who knew that turnip juice makes for good bread or that oysters can turn into a creamy and yet entirely creamless sauce? Chef Rob Rubba did, and his creations are delicious insights into what is possible with vegetables.

Reverie (Contemporary cuisine)

Tucked off a quiet Georgetown alley, it almost feels like this secret gem is perfectly content with not being found. Accoutred with smooth wood and clean lines, this unusual delight flaunts a contemporary Nordic vibe; enveloped by melodic tunes, the dining room is attended to by a disarmingly warm staff. Nab a seat at the counter to witness Chef Johnny Spero’s artistry. His cooking skews Mid-Atlantic, with a laser-focus on seasonality and inspired flavors.

Bib Gourmands

The MICHELIN Guide inspectors added four restaurants to the Bib Gourmand list, which recognizes eateries for great food at a great value: Daru, Dauphine’s, Honeymoon Chicken and Menya Hosaki.

Special Awards

In addition to the highly anticipated Bib Gourmand and Star awards, the Guide announced two special awards. Sommelier of the Year, presented by Wine Access, was awarded to Nicole Ramée, Alisa Watts and the team at Xiquet. The Exceptional Cocktails Award was awarded to Will Patton and the teams at Bresca and Jônt.

The MICHELIN Guide Washington Selection:

The MICHELIN Guide Star Revelation event is presented with the support of Capital One.
The 2022 Washington restaurant selection will join the MICHELIN Guide selection of hotels, which features the most unique and exciting places to stay in Washington and around the world. Visit the MICHELIN Guide website, or download the free app for iOS and Android, to book unforgettable hotels and make restaurant reservations through partners OpenTable, Resy and SevenRooms.

Washington’s 2022 Starred Establishments

 

About Michelin North America, Inc.

Michelin, the leading mobility company, is working with tires, around tires and beyond tires to enable Motion for Life. Dedicated to enhancing its clients’ mobility and sustainability, Michelin designs and distributes the most suitable tires, services and solutions for its customers’ needs. Michelin provides digital services, maps and guides to help enrich trips and travels and make them unique experiences. Bringing its expertise to new markets, the company is investing in high-technology materials, 3D printing and hydrogen, to serve a wide a variety of industries — from aerospace to biotech. Headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, Michelin North America has approximately 22,500 employees and operates 34 production facilities in the United States and Canada. (michelinman.com)

About Capital One
At Capital One we’re on a mission for our customers – bringing them best-in-class products, rewards, service, and experiences. Capital One is a diversified bank that offers products and services to individuals, small businesses and commercial clients. We use technology, innovation, and interaction to provide consumers with products and services to meet their needs. Through Capital One Dining and Capital One Entertainment, we provide our rewards cardholders with access to unforgettable experiences in the areas they’re passionate about, including dining, music and sports. Learn more at capitalone.com/dining and capitalone.com/entertainment.

In March 2020, the world stopped due to a global pandemic that took over every aspect of life. Businesses and schools shut down. Workforces laid off or moved to work from home. Everything known as ‘normal’ came into question. Then six weeks later, plans were underway to return from isolation and begin interacting again. But the COVID pandemic was not over, not even close, and there were more questions than answers in the daily news.

“In a conversation with a fellow colleague, the question, ‘What do businesses and business owners need to know right now?’ came up,” remarks Owens. “I wanted to know what businesses need to know about reopening their doors, working with partners they also live and share a life with, bringing the workforce back or continuing to work from home.” Owens also wondered what businesses needed to know about technology, leadership, crisis communications and more. She wasn’t looking for answers that required deep research and advanced study, but more about what was needed at that exact moment.

“I set out to interview experts in their fields who had something to say beyond the Business 101 level and could speak to the challenges currently being faced,” says Owens.” What followed were daily, live broadcast, videos inspiring her first book, What Businesses Need to Know Right Now – Lessons Learned From Interviewing Businesses During a Pandemic. Now Owens has a second volume, What Do Businesses Need to Know Right Now: How To Flourish in Uncertainty. “I am excited to provide Volume 2 to help businesses move forward.”

“When you need advice for what is happening in the world as it impacts your business, you don’t have time to take a course and become the expert,” comments Owens. “You need to tap into the knowledge of those who have already figured out the next steps.” Owens has created and structured her book for entrepreneurs who need information quickly and has also kept those with chronic disorganization and ADHD in mind. “I specialize in helping those who struggle with organization and productivity and I know exactly what they need to be more successful. This was a priority for me.”

The interviews for the second book took place between October 2020 to June 2021. “Decision making was still difficult and there was a collective fog of emotion that clouded the question of, ‘How do we keep going?’, “says Owens. The book covers everything from Money and Law to Wellness and Marketing. Current data shows the need to support new entrepreneurs. In fact, nearly 5.4 million new businesses were started in the US in 2021. (Census, 2022)

The takeaways from Owens’ second book include:

• When there is uncertainty, look at all the tools you have available and learn to use them differently.
• When there is uncertainty, invest in people whom you can connect with to support you.
• When there is uncertainty, pause to regain clarity.

 “My hope for this book is to provide a clear resource that connects people and creates community,” said Owens. “The experts included in this book are real people who would be happy to engage with the readers. Maybe one day this series will sit on business owners’ desks as a companion to the work they are doing.”

Nettie Owens is a certified, internationally recognized, and award-winning expert and speaker in the field of accountability, and productivity. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University with a degree in Computer Science and a minor in Entrepreneurship and Management, Owens’ methodologies are brain-based, researched, and backed by science. She received the designation of Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization from the Institute for Challenging Disorganization.

“Click here to buy now”

Through training, speaking, coaching, blogging, and 100+ video interviews on “What Businesses Need To Know Right Now,” Owens brings over 18 years of experience to her clients, communities, and beyond. Owens has been featured on TLC, ABC, CNN, eHow FOX, YAHOO, World Economic Forum, and such publications as Bloomberg, Thrive Global, Authority Magazine, Parents, Entrepreneur, Tatler Hong Kong, and the Pittsburgh Gazette. Check out the interviews included in her books and connect with Nettie Owens at www.whatbusinessesneedtoknow.com and nettieowens.com

According to the research report, the global aircraft manufacturing market size & share was valued at USD 413.51 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 626.25 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 3.7% during the forecast period.

The growth of the emerging economies development of the tour & travel industry, coupled with the growing number of passengers for overseas and nationwide travel, are the prime factors for the industry growth across the globe. In addition, increasing investment in technological developments and the growing need to swap outdated airplanes with new & more fuel-efficient and advanced airplanes is also bolstering the airplane manufacturing industry growth. Moreover, rising disposable income in the middle-class population and rising inclination towards reducing airplane weight by the adoption of lightweight parts in order to enhance energy efficiency also create the productive industry demand in the near future.

Based on the application, the commercial (freight) segment dominates the global airplanes manufacturing industry with the highest revenue shares due to the growing demand for cargo services and the increasing number of import & export activities of goods & services. Also, growing freight traffic and the emergence of the LCC (low-cost carriers) further led the segment to dominance globally.

Request Sample Copy of Research Report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/aircraft-manufacturing-market/request-for-sample

Whereas the military & defense segment is showing the highest CAGR rate that leads the airplane manufacturing industry demand. The increasing investment in defense aircraft, along with the rising territorial wars and political welfare, are the prime factors that are fueling the segment demand in the foreseen period.

Growing demand for aircraft for commercial and civil services is the major driving factor for airplane manufacturing industry growth across the globe. The introduction of novel and advanced products for airplane manufacturing is also bolstering the demand. The growing demand for lightweight materials offers several benefits like improved fuel efficiency and lightweight insulation materials in airplanes that offer high strength, flexibility, and corrosion resistance.

Moreover, the increasing air passenger traffic further propels the demand for new airplane fleets across various countries. Hence, these factors are gaining huge traction among the manufacturers, thus, in turn, accelerating the airplane manufacturing market growth worldwide.

Directly Purchase a copy of the report with TOC @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/checkouts/12621

Aircraft Manufacturing Market: Report Scope

Report Attribute	Details
Market Size 2021 Value	USD 413.51 billion
Market Outlook for 2030	USD 626.25 billion
Expected CAGR Growth	3.7% from 2022 – 2030
Base year	2021
Forecast period	2022 – 2030
Segments covered	By Product, By Application, By Region
Key Companies	Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Cessna Aircraft Company, COMAC, Dassault Falcon, Embraer, Gulfstream Aerospace, Hawker Beechcraft Corp., Honeywell, Piaggio America Inc., Pilatus Business Aircraft Ltd, Safran Group, and United Aircraft Corporation.
Regional scope	North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East & Africa
Customization Options	Customized purchase options are available to meet your research needs.

 

Top Market Players

Market participants such as Embraer, Gulfstream Aerospace, Boeing, Bombardier, Cessna Aircraft Company, COMAC, Dassault Falcon, Airbus, United Aircraft Corporation, Hawker Honeywell, Piaggio America Inc., Pilatus Business Aircraft Ltd, Safran Group, and Beechcraft Corp. are some of the key players operating in the global market.

The frequent tactical movements such as mergers & acquisitions, product developments & launches, and others by the prominent market players are supporting the global market development. For instance, in May 2021, Dassault Aviation declares the launch of its new Falcon jet featuring the industry’s largest cabin and most advanced technology on a business jet. The product offers a high level of comfort, versatility, and technology unmatched by any purpose-built business jet.

Browse detailed report with in-depth TOC @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/aircraft-manufacturing-market

About Us:
Polaris Market Research is a worldwide market research and consulting organization. We give unmatched nature of offering to our customers present all around the globe across industry verticals. Polaris Market Research has expertise in giving deep-dive market insight along with market intelligence to our customers spread crosswise over various undertakings. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our different client base present over the enterprises of medicinal services, healthcare, innovation, next-gen technologies, semiconductors, chemicals, automotive, and aerospace & defense, among different ventures, present globally.

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Unforgettable moments, laughter, discovery, and joy.
The Lyric Stage 2022/23 Season is a season to share.

The Lyric Stage Company of Boston has created a season of plays that will inspire audiences to share in one-of-a-kind experiences that only live theater can create.  It’s a season to gather together and connect with the friends we come with and the ones we make in the seat next to us. That spark of inspiration, delight, and joy awaits you as the lights go down and the spotlight comes up on stories that are at the core of what it means to be in this world together.

“For as long as I’ve been a part of Lyric Stage I’ve always enjoyed and trusted their selection of plays, writers, artists, musicians, directors, designers, and everyone that it takes to put on a show. And over the years of enjoying Lyric Stage, I have gotten to know the people involved and to thank them personally for the joy, smiles and all of the other emotions I experience while they stand on the stage or behind the stage, telling the story. I love every season that I can remember, and I thought it was time to make my statement.,” says Season Sponsor, Paul Kastner.

Artistic Director Courtney O’Connor says, “When thinking of what stories we all need moving forward, the word that kept rising to the surface was ‘joy.’ Whether it’s a group of people coming together to create art, rediscovering who you are—or discovering it for the first time, or making a surprising connection, our 2022/23 season is filled with moments of joy and delight featuring some of your favorite Lyric Stage artists (some in new roles) and new artists we can’t wait to introduce to you.”

Executive Director Matt Chapuran says, “After two years of physical distancing, it’s moving to have opportunities to draw us close once again. These six plays are all distinct from one another, each one offering a different opportunity to share an evening of theater with a close friend or family member. But regardless of what emotional or intellectual response we achieve, we hope that all our guests in the coming year experience joy at Lyric Stage. That’s especially true for the residents of 140 Clarendon Street, with whom we are proud to call this historic building home.”

FABULATION OR, THE RE-EDUCATION OF UNDINE
By Lynn Nottage
Directed by Dawn M. Simmons
September 16-October 9, 2022

From the penthouse to mom’s house. A riches-to-rags story asking “can you ever really go home again?”

Success. Love. Fabulous wardrobe. Undine has it all. Until her husband steals her hard-earned fortune, sending her tumbling down the social ladder. Pregnant and penniless, with life unraveling at every turn, Undine is forced to return home to Brooklyn and the family she left behind, in a crude new reality. In this satirical comedy by two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynn Nottage (Intimate Apparel, Meet Vera Stark, Sweat) while life unravels, hope can be found in small victories and in the discovery of finding happiness within.

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG
By Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer & Henry Shields
Directed by Fred Sullivan Jr.
November 11-December 4, 2022

It’s so bad, it’s good.

“Break a leg!” takes on a whole new meaning for a woefully misguided troupe of players at the Cornley University Society’s opening night performance of The Murder at Haversham Manor. An unconscious leading lady, a corpse who can’t play dead, a ruffled detective, and a word-mangling butler (among others) must battle against technical gaffes, forgotten lines, and sabotaging scenery in a quest to arrive all in one piece at the final curtain call. Part Monty Python, part Sherlock Holmes, all mayhem, this 1920s whodunit is disastrously delightful.

PRELUDES
By Dave Malloy
Directed by Courtney O’Connor
Music Director Dan Rodriguez
January 6-29, 2023

“I just want to be remembered.”

A musical fantasia, Preludes unfolds in the hypnotized mind of composer and virtuoso pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff as he attempts to overcome his writer’s block following a disastrous premiere of his Symphony No. 1 in D minor. In an array of hypnotic reveries, he is invigorated by some of the most influential artists of the time including Tolstoy, Chekhov, and Tchaikovsky. Creativity is unlocked and ignited through Dave Malloy’s (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) bewitching mashup of original compositions and Rachmaninoff’s own work that takes us on a glorious journey on an artist’s quest to secure a legacy and reclaim a voice.

THE GREAT LEAP
By Lauren Yee
Directed by Michael Hisamoto
February 24-March 19, 2023

Every game is a second chance.

It’s 1989 San Francisco and Manford Lum, a gifted, fast-talking teenager, dominates the high school basketball courts. Facing an uncertain future, he convinces Saul, a cynical and crusty coach, to let him travel to Beijing for a “friendship” game in China. Waiting there is a Chinese national coach with unfinished business, both with Saul and with Manford. On the eve of historic demonstrations, all three men are challenged to define their pasts and their futures.

SISTER ACT
Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Glenn Slater
Book by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner with additional material by Douglas Carter Beane
Directed by Leigh Barrett
April 7-30, 2023

And then there were nuns. A divine, feel-good musical comedy.

After witnessing a murder, free spirited, disco diva Deloris Van Cartier finds herself in protective custody at a convent. At odds with a rigid Mother Superior, and a strict lifestyle, Deloris finds divine intervention bringing the choir from dour to dazzling with her signature style. While Deloris busy raising the roof, her cover is blown and her new found sisterhood rallies around her with a lot of love (and maybe a few sequins) in a tribute to the power of friendship.

ROOTED
By Deborah Zoe Laufer
Directed by Courtney O’Connor
June 2-25, 2023

When you find yourself  up a tree, something is bound to take root.  An offbeat comedy about connecting in a chaotic world.

In the claustrophobic town of Millerville, Emery Harris lives alone in a treehouse named Mabel surrounded by a dozen or so plants she researches, names, and talks to. Her overbearing sister Hazel is Emery’s only connection to reality along with her YouTube channel where she documents her studies that have garnered several thousand followers. When her calm and quiet is disrupted by an entourage of devotees chanting and singing to her – their botanical, new-age messiah –-she is forced to look down from the branches and face the outside world.

Season Sponsor: Paul Kastner

History of the Lyric Stage Company of Boston

Founded in 1974 and in residence at 140 Clarendon Street since 1991, the Lyric Stage Company is Boston’s oldest resident theater company. Its mission is to produce and present live theater in Greater Boston with an intimate approach that promotes inclusivity and connection. The Lyric Stage leads an effort to integrate live theater and theater education into the lives of all residents of greater Boston. In 2021, the Lyric Stage signed a new long-term lease with Beacon Communities, the new owners of 140 Clarendon Street. www.lyricstage.com

Bozeman, April 25, 2022 – Alercell, announced today that it will begin distributing a Leukemia Fusion Gene Screening and Genotyping Kit created and manufactured by Zeesan, a longtime partner of Alercell.

Leukemia, commonly known as blood cancer, is a malignant disease of the blood system. The innovative approach of the Leukemia Fusion Gene Kit is to target the gene mutations, the clonogenic gene rearrangements and abnormal gene expression. Fusion genes are one of the most common biomarkers in Leukemia and are caused by chromosome breakage and recombination. More than 200 types of fusion genes have been identified, and about 50% of leukemia patients have fusion gene biomarkers, and different disease subtypes have different fusion gene profiles.

The Zeesan approach allows the screening of up to 55 types of leukemia fusion genes. The screening allows a more precise medication, precisely targeting the relevant genes.  This allows a timely adjustment of treatment schedule and signals potential relapse warnings.

“One valuable aspect is the unique combination of accuracy and speed” said Dr. Alexandre Scheer MD Chief Medical Officer of Alercell. “The approach is not only innovative but could mean tremendous savings in terms of time and money for treating Leukemia. The traditional approach is done through blood tests and bone marrow biopsy, while the Zeesan Leukemia Fusion Gene Screening and Genotyping Kit is a kit that is analyzed through a standard PCR machine”. Results can be obtained in a few hours at a fraction of the costs of the traditional approach.

“Using a genetic approach and using our knowledge of the genome is definitively the medicine of the 21^st century,” said Frederic Scheer, Alercell CEO. “It is important to give practitioners and patients a fast and affordable solution to all the life-threatening conditions that are ravaging the lives of so many.”

The Leukemia Fusion Gene Screening and Genotyping Kit will start as a “RUO” Research Use Only while waiting for the final FDA certification to expand the distribution around the country.

ABOUT ALERCELL

Alercell is a Biotechnology company specialized in infectious diseases, and in-vitro diagnostics tests for cancer, based in Bozeman, Montana with a satellite office in New York City. Created by a group of veterans of medical research, Alercell’s core business is in the discovery, development, distribution, manufacture, and sale of efficient treatment for infectious diseases including the Coronavirus and cancer prevention diagnostic testing. For more information, please visit: www.alercell.com

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this release are “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words “estimates,” “projected,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “future,” “propose” and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside Alercell ‘s control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors, among others, that may affect actual results or outcomes include the inability to complete the proposed business combination or the Extension; the inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed business combination; costs related to any business combination; Alercell’s ability to manage growth; Alercell’s ability to execute its business plan; the timing of revenues from existing customers, including uncertainties related to the ability of Alercell’s customers to commercialize their products and the ultimate market acceptance of these products; the uncertain impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Alercell’s and its customers’ businesses; uncertainties related to Alercell’s estimates of the size of the markets for its products; the rate and degree of market acceptance of Alercell ‘s products; the success of other competing products and services that exist or may become available; Alercell’s ability to identify and integrate acquisitions; rising costs adversely affecting Alercell’s profitability; uncertainties related to Alercell’s potential litigation involving Alercell or the validity or enforceability of Alercell’s intellectual property; and general economic and market conditions impacting demand for Alercell’s products and services. Other factors include the possibility that any proposed business combination does not close, including due to the failure to receive required security holder approvals, or the failure of other closing conditions. Alercell does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Disclaimer

This release shall neither constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which the offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

(Brawley, CA) April 22, 2022 — California Ethanol and Power (CE+P) today announced it has advanced through Part I of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (“DOE”) Loan Programs Office Title XVII Innovative Energy Loan Guarantee Program and Renewable Energy Projects and Efficient Energy Projects Solicitation, a rigorous first stage of consideration to qualify projects eligible for the program. As a result, CE+P has been invited to submit a Part II Application for a Federal Loan Guarantee, according to Ron Blake, California Ethanol + Power’s Chief Financial Officer.

“This important milestone demonstrates that Sugar Valley Energy meets the rigorous initial evaluation standards set by the Department of Energy for innovation in renewable energy, as an invitation to Part II is not something the Loan Programs Office extends lightly,” said Ron Blake. “Advanced biofuels represent a critical part of our nation’s energy future, and domestically produced sugarcane ethanol will provide a quality renewable resource to meet our energy needs with much lower carbon intensity than imported sources.”

If awarded, the DOE loan would be used for construction of Sugar Valley Energy, California Ethanol + Power’s planned and permitted 160-acre campus, combining an advanced ethanol biorefinery, bioelectric and biogas generation along with wastewater treatment facilities in Imperial County, CA.

CE+P is currently in the process of securing equity and bond financing for Sugar Valley Energy, with construction expected to begin this year.

The sugarcane ethanol to be produced at Sugar Valley Energy is expected to have a Carbon Intensity (CI) score considerably lower than today’s domestically produced corn ethanol, and the planned biorefinery will incorporate next-generation measures to reduce emissions throughout its operation.

A significant part of California Ethanol + Power’s vision for Sugar Valley Energy is to contract with local agricultural producers to establish an estimated 48,000 acres of sugarcane production in the Imperial Valley. The sugarcane feedstock will produce more than 70 million gallons of low-carbon ethanol each year along with up to 49 Megawatts of electrical power, helping meet California’s established emissions reduction, renewable energy, and low-carbon energy goals.

CE+P has obtained all the major necessary permits and environmental certifications for the development of the Sugar Valley Energy project and has entered into a long-term purchase and marketing agreement with agribusiness leader CHS, Inc. to sell the ethanol produced at the new energy campus.

According to a third-party economic analysis, Sugar Valley Energy is projected to have a $1.7 billion positive economic impact through construction and year one of operations, and support more than 15,000 direct and indirect jobs in the surrounding region over the same period. The development of Sugar Valley Energy will also establish critical infrastructure for future growth in Imperial Valley by delivering access to a critical water treatment plant and energy capacity nearby.

PLEXUS Solutions is advising Sugar Valley Energy on its loan guarantee application with the DOE. PLEXUS provides Advisory and Investment Management services to clients in the Sustainability Infrastructure industry. The core focus is evaluating and implementing capital solutions for Sustainable Asset Developers, Manufacturers, Institutional Investors, Family Offices and Service Providers. PLEXUS is based in New York and San Francisco. More information is available at www.plexussolutions.services.

DOE Loan Programs Office Disclaimer

The DOE Loan Programs Office (LPO) invitation to California Ethanol +Power to submit a Part II application for a loan guarantee reflects LPO’s determination that the project satisfies the technical eligibility requirements set forth in the applicable LPO solicitation, based on the materials submitted to DOE as of the date of its determination. DOE’s invitation to submit a Part II application is not, however, an assurance that DOE will invite CE+P into the due diligence and term sheet negotiations process, that DOE will offer a term sheet or that the terms and conditions of a term sheet will be consistent with terms proposed by the applicant. The foregoing matters are wholly dependent on the results of the DOE review and evaluation of a Part II application and DOE’s determination whether to proceed.

About California Ethanol + Power (CE+P)

CE+P is a development company that intends to develop, construct, operate and own numerous facilities that will convert locally grown sugarcane into Essential Ethanol ^™ sustainable, renewable, and extremely low carbon transportation fuel that will assist California in meeting its groundbreaking AB32 requirements. CE+P is committed to employing processes and equipment that are both commercially proven and financeable, while also meeting California’s stringent environmental regulations.

Florida Museum of Photographic Arts announces a call for entries for the 2022 International Photography Competition

• All entries must be received by May 9, 2022
• Best in Competition winner will receive $1,000 and consideration for a solo exhibition at FMoPA
• The winning images will be on view at FMoPA from June 10 through July 17, 2022

Florida Museum of Photographic Arts (FMoPA) is announcing a call for entries to its annual 2022 International Photography Competition.

The winners will be selected in seven categories: Conceptual; Abstract; Still Life; Documentary/Photojournalism; Nature/Science/ Animals; Places/Landscapes/Drone; People/Portraits. A flagship project of the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, the International Photography Competition has been running for two decades commemorating the museum’s commitment to positioning photographic art as central to everyday life and culture. The competition is sponsored by Hahnemühle FineArt GmbH and Blick Art Materials.

To submit entries to the competition, please visit bit.ly/3tggQOM

Photo entries will be judged based on originality, technical excellence, composition, overall impact, artistic merit, and otherwise determined by the judges. Every 2022 International Photography Competition (IPC 2022) winner will have their images printed and displayed as part of a group exhibition in the FMoPA Community Gallery. In addition, this year’s Best in Competition winner will receive $1,000 and consideration for a solo exhibition at FMoPA. All winning entries will be considered for featuring in FMoPA’s promotional materials.

Last year, the panel of jurors selected 21 winning images from over 1,200 submissions. Los Angeles-based artist Austin Irving was named Best in Competition for her dramatic depiction of the Dau Go cave in Halong Bay, Vietnam, which explores the humans-first approach of modern tourism.

About FMoPA

Florida Museum of Photographic Arts (FMoPA)is a museum dedicated to exhibiting important photographic art as central to contemporary life and culture. FMoPA also enriches the community by operating outreach programs to educate children and adults. Founded in 2001, FMoPA occupies the atrium of the architecturally-significant Cube building in Tampa’s Waterfront Arts District. FMoPA is one of fewer than ten museums in the United States dedicated exclusively to photography and one of two such museums in Florida. The museum is home to high-impact community programs, such as the Children’s Literacy through Photography program for at-risk children, as well as adult photography classes, workshops, and children’s summer camps. For more information, please visit  www.fmopa.org