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NMTC Coalition Opens Sign-on Letter to Congress Urging Members to Make the NMTC Permanent

NMTC

The NMTC Coalition is circulating an organization sign-on letter to Congress urging members to make the NMTC permanent. Organizations committed to community and economic development, adding jobs and increasing wages, and supporting healthcare, education, manufacturing, infrastructure, telecom, energy, the arts, and recreation are encouraged to add their name to this letter in support of a bipartisan program with a 20-year track record of success. The sign-on letter, available at NMTCCoalition.org, closes on August 31, 2023. Any organization (businesses, trade groups, city governments, Mayors, nonprofits, investors, CDEs) can sign the letter using the form on the NMTC Coalition website. “As we continue our efforts to make the NMTC program permanent, it is critical for our elected officials in Congress to hear from the businesses and organizations who bring these programs to life across our country and are charged with making communities stronger and more economically sound,” said NMTC Coalition spokesperson Bob Rapoza. “This is an opportunity to make your voice heard and to make a real difference in communities that need help the most.” Authorized by Congress in 2000, the NMTC Program incentivizes community development and economic growth through the use of tax credits (given as allocations) that then attract private investment to distressed communities. The unique beauty of the NMTC program is that it is used effectively in both rural and urban areas to support good jobs and strong wages and has historically held bipartisan support. In addition to creating high-quality jobs, NMTCs create and expand access to health care, early childcare and schools, job training, groceries, telecommunications, energy, arts, recreation, and infrastructure in ways that traditional private sector financing cannot effectively meet. Since 2003, the NMTC has provided much-needed investment and advancement opportunities for underserved communities across the country. In just two decades, NMTCs have spurred an unprecedented level of investment in rural and urban low-income communities, generating nearly $130 billion in capital investment through public-private partnerships and creating more than one million jobs nationwide. The NMTC has an outstanding track record of revitalizing communities outside of the economic mainstream as a targeted, cost-efficient financial tool — and it has the potential to achieve an even greater impact. Currently, the NMTC program is set to expire in 2025. By adding their name to the sign-on letter, organizations will lend their support for making the NMTC permanent by passing the bipartisan NMTC Extension Act of 2023 (S. 234 and H.R. 2539). In addition to extending the program at $5 billion in allocation per year, the legislation would provide an inflation adjustment for future years. It also includes reforms to ensure the NMTC program maintains its efficiency during an economic downturn when it is needed the most. “Organizations, especially CDEs and investors on the frontlines of community revitalization efforts using NMTCs, are encouraged to join this effort to ensure no community is left behind and to preserve one of the federal government’s most successful community development programs,” said Aisha Benson, President and CEO of Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) and President of the NMTC Coalition. The New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) was enacted in 2000 to stimulate private investment and economic growth in low-income urban neighborhoods and rural communities lacking the patient capital to support and grow businesses, create jobs, and sustain healthy local economies. Since its inception, the NMTC has generated more than one million jobs. Due to the NMTC, nearly $130 billion is hard at work in underserved communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information, visit www.NMTCCoalition.org. Contact Details New Markets Tax Credit Coalition Greg Wilson +1 571-239-7474 gregwilsonpr@gmail.com Company Website https://nmtccoalition.org/

July 25, 2023 09:41 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Novel Chinese medicine for constipation developed by HKBU authorised by U.S. FDA for clinical trial

Hong Kong Baptist University

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 25 July 2023 - The Centre for Chinese Herbal Medicine Drug Development (CDD) of Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has made significant progress in developing novel Chinese medicine for treating chronic constipation. With its success in the Investigational New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), CDD has been authorised to conduct a phase I clinical trial of the new drug. This is the first time that a new botanical drug developed in Hong Kong was authorised to conduct a clinical trial in the US. The clinical trial will be launched later this year to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics profile of the new drug on healthy individuals. Research based on traditional Chinese herbal formulation Chronic constipation is a common gastrointestinal disorder affecting approximately 14% of the global population. Currently, many patients with chronic constipation are not completely satisfied with their current treatments due to side effects and/or limited efficacy. In response to the patients' needs for better therapeutics, CDD has been eyeing the international market and has developed a new drug called CDD-2101, which is based on previous pilot clinical studies and basic research on the traditional Chinese herbal formulation "MaZiRenWan". The main ingredients of CDD-2101 include hemp seed, rhubarb, officinal magnolia bark, bitter apricot seed, bran stir-fried immature orange fruit, and white peony root. The HKBU research team collaborated with partners including the University of Chicago and the University of Macau to submit an Investigational New Drug Application for CDD-2101 according to the requirements for botanical drug development of the U.S. FDA and was authorised to conduct a phase I clinical trial. Milestone of standardisation and internationalisation of Chinese medicine Professor Alexander Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU, said: "HKBU is committed to promoting the development of Chinese medicine, and conducting cutting-edge scientific and translational research in this area. The University received funding from the Innovation and Technology Commission's InnoHK initiative to establish the CDD in 2020, which significantly boosted our comprehensive capabilities in the research and development of Chinese medicine. The clinical trial in the US will provide us with invaluable experience in conducting clinical trials at Hong Kong's first Chinese Medicine Hospital in future." Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, Associate Vice-President (Chinese Medicine Development), Director of the Clinical Division of the School of Chinese Medicine, and Director of the CDD at HKBU, said: "CDD-2101 is a novel drug developed by combining a traditional Chinese herbal formulation and advanced technologies, with research and manufacturing conducted in compliance with international standards. Obtaining U.S. FDA's authorisation to conduct a clinical trial for this new drug is an important milestone in the development of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong, and it reflects HKBU's capabilities in and dedication to promoting the standardisation and internationalisation of Chinese medicine." Authorisation from the U.S. FDA was secured in April this year to conduct a phase I clinical trial of CDD-2101 in the US. The trial will start later this year and will recruit 20 healthy participants in the US. It will be a randomised, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics profile of the drug. Participants will take a single dose of CDD-2101 or a placebo and be monitored for 24 hours. The study will be conducted at a phase I clinical research centre in the US. Phase I trial focuses on safety The phase I clinical trial is expected to be completed in 2024, followed by a phase II study to collect the safety and efficacy data from patients with chronic constipation. A large-scale phase III study will then be launched to further evaluate the treatment efficacy of CDD-2101 in patients with chronic constipation, and monitor any unforeseeable side effects. Professor Bian said: "The ultimate goal of the drug development programme is to collect sufficient safety and efficacy data, so that CDD-2101 can be evaluated and approved by the U.S. FDA as a new pharmaceutical for sale and marketing in the US. This is essential in establishing CDD-2101 as an internationally recognised, safe and effective drug for the treatment of chronic constipation. It is anticipated that another three to five years are needed to complete the phase II and III clinical trials, after which the data gathered during the animal studies and human clinical trials, together with details of the manufacturing of the drug, will be included in a New Drug Application to be submitted to the U.S. FDA for review." The CDD, funded by the Innovation and Technology Commission's InnoHK initiative, is the first integrated Chinese medicine research and development centre at a local university. Located in the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks and equipped with advanced facilities, the CDD aims to gather world-class partners to translate the wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine wisdom into pharmaceutical products that meet international standards. Since its establishment in 2020, the CDD has been focusing on innovative Chinese medicine research for gastrointestinal and immune-related diseases such as chronic constipation and ulcerative colitis. Contact Details Wong Suk-ling +852 3411 2119 hkbunews@hkbu.edu.hk

July 25, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Research led by HKBU constructs model to predict frequency of heat wave and air pollution co-occurrence in China

Hong Kong Baptist University

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 24 July 2023 - A research led by Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has developed a statistical model which uses patterns of springtime warming in the western Pacific Ocean, western Indian Ocean and Ross Sea to predict the frequency of summertime co-occurrence of heat wave and air pollution in China. The model provides useful information for the Government authorities and the general public to take actions in advance to mitigate damage from the joint hazards. Professor Gao Meng, Professor of the Department of Geography at HKBU, hopes the statistical model which predicts summertime co-occurrence of heat wave and air pollution in China can help mitigate damage from the joint hazards. The research findings have been published in the international academic journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ( PNAS ). Heat wave and air pollution co-occurrence becomes more frequent The issue of global warming attracted grave attention again recently as the world registered its hottest day to date for the third time in the first week of July this year, with the daily average temperature reaching a record-breaking 17.23 °C. Heat waves were widely reported in the northern atmosphere covering countries and regions in Asia, Africa, Europe and North America. Hot sunny days may co-occur with air pollution as ozone formation accelerates with increased temperature. Exposure to co-occurrence of heat and air pollution extremes is likely to induce amplified damages to both human health and the ecosystem. Yet, the understanding of their joint occurrence has received less attention. A research team led by Professor Gao Meng, Professor of the Department of Geography at HKBU, and Dr Wang Zifa, Researcher of the Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, analysed the spatial distribution and temporal variation of the joint heat wave and ozone pollution events in China in the summers between 2005 to 2021. "We observed that ozone pollution and heat waves had become increasingly intense and frequent in the North China Plain. This area covers some of China's most densely populated cities and provinces such as Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Anhui and Jiangsu. More than 80% of co-occurrence during the period from 2005 to 2021 happened predominately on heat wave days," said Dr Gao. Impact of ocean warming on heat wave and ozone pollution Using empirical orthogonal function analysis, a tool commonly employed in climate studies, the researchers discovered that the warming patterns in the western Pacific Ocean, western Indian Ocean and Ross Sea (a deep bay of the Southern Ocean in Antarctica) in springtime are associated with the frequency of co-occurrence of heat wave and ozone pollution events. The research team concluded that sea surface temperature anomalies in the three oceans concerned in spring affect air pressure, wind movement, precipitation and radiation on the ground, which are key factors determining the occurrence of heat and air pollution extremes in the North China Plain in summer. Statistical model enables early prediction Based on these findings, the research team developed a regression-based statistical model using springtime sea surface temperature in the western Pacific Ocean, western Indian Ocean and Ross Sea to predict potential co-occurrence of heat wave and ozone pollution in China in summer. This allows a season or several months in advance for the Government authorities and the public to take action. "If predictions suggest more heat wave and ozone pollution extremes in the coming summer months, the relevant Government authorities could issue warnings and take relief measures so that the agriculture or other related sectors, as well as communities that are sensitive to these extremes, can take actions to mitigate the adverse effects. Authorities can also optimise their management plans for air pollutants and greenhouse gases by setting more stringent control targets, or coordinating sources of electricity generation," said Dr Gao. Going forward, the research team hopes to further develop a statistical model that can predict co-occurrence of heat wave and air pollution events up to several years in advance. This can further enhance the nation's capability in the management of related hazards. Contact Details Communication and Public Relations Office Christina Wu christinawu@hkbu.edu.hk

July 24, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Paul Newman Summer Camps Mean Fun for All

YourUpdateTV

Going to summer camp can be the highlight of any kid’s summer. Camp is where kids learn many life skills that they will take into adulthood, including learning how to be independent, how to make friends, and how to embrace new experiences. In addition to fun in the sun, summer camp is also a time to learn about kindness, belonging, diversity, inclusion, and compassion. All those positive traits are fostered at the camps that are part of SeriousFun Children’s Network, a global community of camps founded by actor and philanthropist Paul Newman. Recently, CEO of SeriousFun Children’s Network, Blake Maher, and Executive Director of Rite Aid Healthy Futures, Matt DeCamara, teamed up for a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss how SeriousFun camps are spreading kindness, belonging, diversity, inclusion and hope to kids and families all around the U.S. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/1ckiqe7mcp0 Thirty-five years ago, Paul Newman, the Hollywood icon, philanthropist, and car racing champion envisioned a camp where kids living with serious and life-limiting medical conditions could break away from the everyday challenges of their illness to, in his words, “raise a little hell.” Today, Serious Fun Children’s Network, the leading network of medical specialty camps in the world, boasts 30 camps and programs which have delivered more than 1.7 million life-changing camp experiences to kids living with more than 130medical conditions and their families, totally free of charge. But the SeriousFun camp experience is more than just a week of fun and adventure. Over 80% of SeriousFun alumni campers surveyed said the SeriousFun camp experience was a major influence in the development of skills they use daily in their adult lives including the willingness to try new things, appreciation of diversity, self-identity, empathy and compassion, self-confidence, perseverance, and friendship skills. For Rite Aid Healthy Futures, partnering with SeriousFun to support kids and families was a natural fit. Healthy Futures strives to empower children and strengthen communities every day by advancing equity and opportunity for children facing daunting challenges. The partnership with SeriousFun Children’s Network places a caring community around children with serious medical conditions and provides a needed sense of belonging for kids who spend too much time isolated in hospitals. SeriousFun camps also bring together children from a rich variety of backgrounds, experiences and locations, creating opportunities for campers, families, caregivers, and volunteers to get to know others from within or outside of their own community. For more information, visit seriousfun.org and riteaidhealthyfutures.org Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

July 20, 2023 03:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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University of Virginia School of Continuing and Professional Studies Empowers Students with National Contract Management Association's Contract Management Standard

National Contract Management Association

The University of Virginia School of Continuing and Professional Studies (UVA SCPS) and the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) have forged a partnership to enhance student success and drive excellence in contract management education. UVA SCPS is proud to announce the adoption of the ANSI-Approved Contract Management Standard™ (CMS™) as the foundation of its graduate Procurement and Contracts Management Certificate online program and course curricula. “Our alignment with the CMS™ and the Contract Management Body of Knowledge ® enables us to prepare our students for NCMA certifications which serve as a as a strong steppingstone into the contract management profession," said Jimm Rich, MPA, Ph.D., Faculty Program Coordinator at UVA SCPS. “UVA SCPS and NCMA have a shared commitment to student success, built on the understanding that we must equip our students with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in the contract management profession,” stated Melissa M. Lubin, Ph.D., Dean of the University of Virginia’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies. “By aligning our curriculum with the CMS™, UVA SCPS will ensure that our students are well-prepared for the demands of the industry.” "We couldn’t be happier to have University of Virginia’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies as an official Contract Management Standard adopter," stated Kraig Conrad, Chief Executive Officer of NCMA. "This collaboration not only prepares students for success but also positions UVA SCPS as a champion of the contract management workforce." The adoption of the Contract Management Standard™ ensures that UVA SCPS students are exposed to the industry's best practices, fostering their professional growth, and preparing them for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. By integrating the CMS™ into their program, UVA SCPS offers a comprehensive and robust educational experience that empowers students to excel in the field of contract management; all while continuing to set a new standard in contract management instruction. For more information about the Higher Education Institutions that have adopted the Contract Management Standard™ of the Contract Management Body of Knowledge into their curriculum, please visit www.ncmahq.org/adopters. The National Contract Management Association (NCMA), a nonprofit professional society founded in 1959, is an important resource in the field of contract management. With nearly 20,000 members, NCMA is dedicated to promoting excellence in the practice and profession through education, certification, and networking opportunities. NCMA serves through an open exchange of ideas in neutral forums of buyers and sellers. Visit www.ncmahq.org to learn more. About University of Virginia School of Continuing and Professional Studies The University of Virginia’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies provides transformative educational experiences for lifelong learners who seek to complete degrees, certificates or professional programs to advance their careers, enrich their lives, and impact their communities. More information is available at scps.virginia.edu. Contact Details NCMA Holly DeHesa +1 281-865-3296 holly.dehesa@ncmahq.org Company Website https://www.ncmahq.org/

July 20, 2023 07:55 AM Eastern Daylight Time

‘AI Can’t Replace Creativity’ finds Freelancer.com’s latest job trends report

FREELANCER.COM

Freelancer.com (ASX: FLN) (OTCQX: FLNCF), the world’s largest freelancing marketplace by number of users and jobs posted, today released new figures revealing a surge in freelance creative writing jobs, growth in business marketing activities, and an increase in on-site photography and videography gigs. The Fast 50 Q2 2023 report, a quarterly dataset ranking the fastest growing and falling jobs on the platform, analyzed over 280,000 jobs posted to Freelancer.com between April and June 2023. According to the data, the fastest growing freelance jobs by percentage growth in Q2 2023 were: 1. Creative Writing - up 58% (from 1,868 to 2,961 jobs) 2. User Interface Design - up 52% (from 2,017 to 3,075 jobs) 3. Twitter Marketing - up 41% from (1,650 to 2,334 jobs) 4. Photography - up 40% from (2,101 to 2,945 jobs) 5. Writing (Microsoft Word) - up 38% (from 3,175 to 4,401 jobs) While the world debates whether AI will take human jobs or not, and therefore dramatically hit the labor indexes, the latest figures reviewed by Freelancer.com’s data science team revealed interest for freelance writing jobs are increasing on the platform over the last quarter. Other writing related skills also saw growth across the quarter, including Copy Typing (up 31.2%, 4,867 to 6,389 jobs) and Ghostwriting (up 22.8%, 5,212 to 6,404 jobs). Other jobs which have been deemed as ‘at risk’ of being automated by AI, such as data entry, have also seen an increase over the quarter. Projects for Data Processing were up 21% (from 9,076 to 11,024 jobs) and projects requiring Excel as a skill also saw a 15% increase (from 13,246 to 15,301 total job postings). “AI can’t replace creativity yet. While workers and businesses are benefiting from productivity gains offered by generative AI, the data suggests that the technology in its current form isn’t able to replace creative work. We saw a similar trend occur in the first quarter of the year, as creative design jobs were flourishing despite interest for generative AI tripling,” said Matt Barrie, Chief Executive at Freelancer.com. The Fast 50 Q2 2023 report also reveals an increase in businesses investing heavily in freelance marketing support. This trend comes off the back of an unprecedented rise in jobs usually associated with the creation of new businesses and new ventures as found in the Fast 50 Q1 2023 report. In addition to Twitter Marketing ranking as the third fastest growing job, growth also surged for the following marketing skills: ● Search Engine Marketing (SEO) - up 26% (from 1,840 to 2,328 jobs) ● Sales - up 23% (from 2,614 to 3,233 jobs) ● Marketing - up 19% (from 8,269 to 9,867 jobs) ● Social Media Marketing - up 16% (from 6,524 to 7,574 jobs) ● Facebook Marketing - up 14% (from 5,602 to 6,410 jobs) Marketing jobs are some of the highest earning on the platform per project. Projects seeking SEO experts typically pay US$2,231 per project. General marketing jobs on average pay US$1,422 per project, while Social Media Marketing pays $584 per project. Local jobs, which is where employers hiring freelancers in their local area to do service or physical-based jobs, are growing across the platform by 37%, from 2,122 to 2,905 total projects. The two key drivers for growth for these types of jobs relate to Photography and Videography which are up by 40% (from 2,101 to 2,945) and 32% (from 3,095 to 4,097), respectively. On average, projects for Videography attract US$70 per hour. Fastest Falling Jobs of Q2 2023 The most significant declining trend observed in the Q2 2023 report shows that employers are easing their interest for tech and IT related skills. The Fast 50 report for Q3 2022 highlighted significant growth in a number of highly specialized and niche tech skills, such as software development, android app development, programming, and others. The catalyst for demand being global mass layoffs and hiring freezes across the tech sector towards the end of 2022. The latest Fast 50 Q2 2023 data shows interest for niche tech skills is beginning to slow down, with software development (down 28%, from 1,308 to 942), API (down 26%, from 1,516 to 1,109), iOS Development (down 26%, from 1,220 to 894) and Microsoft SQL Server (down 25%, from 1,309 to 975) all decreasing over the last quarter. Easing of these types of skills also aligns with Layoff.fyi’s tech layoff tracker also showing a reduction in the number of layoffs occurring globally. Fast 50 Q1 2023 - Data Analysis Relief For Writers As Data Suggests AI Can’t Replace Creativity The main trend from the Freelancer.com Fast 50 Q2 2023 report shows freelance writing jobs, specifically those seeking journalists and editors, increasing on the platform over the last quarter. Despite having access to freely available generative AI tools, employers are turning to on-demand freelancers to help write creative content for their websites and blogs. Creative Writing jobs were the number one fastest growing job on Freelancer.com in Q2, growing 58% from 1,868 to 2,961 jobs posted. Other writing related skills, such as Writing (Microsoft Word) (up 38.6%, 3,175 to 4,401 jobs), Copy Typing (up 31.2%, 4,867 to 6,389 jobs) and Ghostwriting (up 22.8%, 5,212 to 6,404 jobs), also saw an increase over the quarter. Interestingly, other skills which experts predict will be overtaken by AI are also increasing on the freelancing platform. Data processing grew by 21%, from 9,076 to 11,024 in Q2. Jobs with Excel as a key skill also increased by 15.5%, from 13,246 to 15,301 jobs. Data entry recently ranked as the World’s Most Boring Job in Freelancer.com ’s global survey measuring attitudes towards work. Data entry is also one of the most popular jobs that employers tend to delegate to on-demand freelancers. Businesses Focus On Growth, Following Startup Boom, By Investing In Marketing Jobs seeking Sales experts grew 23.6% and Business Analysis increased by 21.4% over the last quarter. This is another indication that businesses are focusing heavily on growth and strategy alongside promotion. In Q1 2023, Freelancer.com observed an unprecedented rise in jobs usually associated with the creation of new businesses and new ventures. This was apparent with projects for logo design, corporate identity design and eCommerce all growing simultaneously and aligning with new business formation statistics released by the US Census. While there isn’t data supporting another rise in new businesses in Q2 2023, what Freelancer.com is seeing is businesses now doubling down on marketing, sales and social media efforts to increase business. This aligns with global trends of big consumer brands, such as ones reported in Australia, slashing their marketing spend and look towards more self-driven or low budget or organic marketing efforts. Twitter Marketing, which ranks third in the most in-demand skills for Q2 2023 after growing 41% over the quarter, is growing to become a popular option for businesses looking for social media support. Social Media Marketing as a skill increased by 16% and Facebook Marketing increased by 14%. Marketing, as a skill generally, is up 19.3%, growing from 8,269 to 9,867 total jobs in Q2. Classic marketing tactics such as Search Engine Marketing (SEO) and Web Search grew by 26% and 21%, respectively. SEO and Web Search are both budget friendly ways for businesses to maintain a competitive advantage in search engines results. A similar trend was observed in the Q3 2022 as many tech companies began mass layoffs and cut Search Engine Marketing spend as a way to reduce marketing spend. As a result, Freelancer.com observed growth in SEO related projects or social media marketing as both are cost effective marketing strategies. Jobs seeking Sales experts grew 23.6% and Business Analysis increased by 21.4% over the last quarter. This is another indication that businesses are focusing heavily on growth and strategy alongside promotion. Demand For Tech Jobs Slows Down As Layoffs Reduce Worldwide Freelancer.com is beginning to see interest for niche tech and IT related skills reduce on the platform. A sudden surge in technology related skills was observed all throughout 2022, however, was largely apparent in the Fast 50 report for Q3 2022 which saw a significant increase in jobs relating to niche IT-related projects all being driven by a surge in tech layoffs. The latest figures from the Fast 50 report for Q2 2023 shows interest is beginning to slow down as 16 of the top 25 fastest falling jobs are related to tech, which are the same jobs which climbed heavily towards the end of last year. Software Development, which had sustained growth quarter-on-quarter throughout 2022, saw a decline of 28% from 1,308 to 942 jobs. Projects requiring API as a skill are down 26% (from 1,516 to 1,109) and iOS Development jobs are also down 26% (from 1,220 to 894). Location-Based Photography & Videography Jobs Are Booming Local Jobs are a specific type of job which are location based and are specific to a location. These jobs are typically service or physical jobs, such as local pick up, delivery, photography, gardening or cleaning services. This quarter saw Local Jobs grow by 37%, from 2,122 to 2,905. The two key drivers for growth for these types of jobs relate to Photography and Videography which are up by 40% (from 2,101 to 2,945) and 32% (from 3,095 to 4,097), respectively. Visual content will always be in-demand for any business, regardless of size. Whether it’s capturing an event or shooting footage to use for ads, real-life imagery will always be an important part of promoting businesses. ##### Freelancer Fast 50 The Freelancer Fast 50 report is the world’s largest forward indicator of trends in online jobs related to industries, technologies, products, and companies. The data is based on 280,000 jobs posted to the Freelancer platform between April 1 to June 30 2023. Fast 50 Q2 2023 Data About Freelancer Freelancer.com is the world’s largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace by total number of users and projects posted. More than 67 million registered users have posted over 22.7 million projects and contests to date in over 2,000 areas as diverse as website development, logo design, marketing, copywriting, aerospace engineering and manufacturing. Freelancer also owns Escrow.com and Loadshift. Freelancer Limited is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange under the ticker ASX:FLN and is quoted on OTCQX Best Market under the ticker FLNCF. Contact Details Freelancer.com Marko Zitko +61 404 574 830 marko@freelancer.com

July 19, 2023 12:53 PM Eastern Daylight Time

US Department of Agriculture Has Launched Youth Program to Help “Defend the Flock”

YourUpdateTV

Young people are the future of our poultry farming industry and more people have embraced raising chickens at home. That’s why the US Department of Agriculture has launched its Flock Defender Youth Program that includes online interactive games and educational materials to help people keep their birds healthy. The web site is also a great resource if you are new to poultry or already own birds. a video accomplaying the news release can be found here: https://youtu.be/tIrCkgswQGM Protecting the health and safety of our nation’s poultry must be a top priority for flock owners of all ages. The Flock Defender Youth Program is an extension of the Defend the Flock biosecurity awareness campaign and includes resources and activities for the next generation of poultry-keepers. Flock Defender is Biosecurity Outreach Effort Aimed at Youth and Student Audiences Youth are the future of our nation’s poultry farming and industry. The Flock Defender outreach program shares the agency’s existing Defend the Flock message that encourages and prepares all poultry owners to implement diligent biosecurity practices with future and aspiring growers. APHIS provides youth, students and their leaders parents, and teachers with many digital resources they can use during meetings, classes and when caring for their flocks. Biosecurity Education Kit Help future and aspiring poultry growers learn about biosecurity with the Biosecurity Education Kit. Youth leaders and teachers can use this guide which includes puzzles and worksheets to use at classes and club meetings. Online Biosecurity Game “Flock Facts: Test Your Knowledge” is an interactive game from USDA/APHIS that uses a simple format to help students become familiar with the basics of biosecurity. In this game, students will travel around a poultry farm and answer true or false questions related to biosecurity principles laid out by the National Poultry Improvement Plan. This game is recommended for grades 4-8. Biosecurity Workbook Whether you are new to poultry or already own birds, make poultry biosecurity an “every day, every time” practice. The Defend the Flock Biosecurity Workbook features seasonal tips and worksheets to create and record your personal biosecurity plan. The Defend the Flock Resource Center brings together biosecurity information and free resources from USDA and other experts, including growers, veterinarians, state agencies, scientists, and industry professionals, including checklists, resource guides, videos, and other tools. Contact Laura Febbi Diversity Marketing and Communications laura.febbi@diversitymc.com 973-377-0300 x15 Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

July 17, 2023 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Minuteman Press Franchise in Cranberry Township, PA Moves to New Location

Minuteman Press International Inc

The Minuteman Press franchise in Cranberry Township has moved to a brand new facility located at 1185 Freedom Road, Cranberry Twp, PA 16066. Rich Coyner has owned the business for six years, while the shop itself has been operating for over 20 years. Rich shares, “Our original location was initially setup to accommodate offset presses and a backroom operation with little retail-facing space. We moved away from the offset press business five years ago and needed a fresh look that allows our customers to see how technology has changed the way we deliver printed services to them.” He continues, “We moved into a larger space that is wide open and enables our clients to see more of our operation and capabilities. Our digital presses are near the front of the store and clients can see how we move a job from print to completion. We also added a larger lobby area with display racks for logo apparel and a display case for our promotional products lines. Our lobby is also wide open and accessible for customers in accordance with ADA guidelines.” Growing the Business When asked how he’s grown Minuteman Press in Cranberry Township since purchasing the business six years ago, Rich highlights the following: “ Diversification / Expansion of Products – When I purchased the business, the focus was only on printing paper products. We have expanded into promotional products, logo apparel, EDDM and direct mail, wide format printing, and more. I eliminated our offset presses, purchased a Xante Envelope Press, added 2 new digital presses and upgraded all of our equipment by purchasing a new challenge cutter, Baumfolder Folding Machine and Graphic Whizard Perf & Scoring machine to ensure we could provide quality products in a timely manner. We also expanded our marketing efforts to pursue promotional products and apparel opportunities from our existing customer base. Acquisition – I acquired an independent print shop that was a few miles north of me and rolled his business into our existing operation. Networking – I am a Board Member on the largest Chamber of Commerce group in the Greater Pittsburgh area – The Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber – and I leverage these networking opportunities and relationships to market my business. Community Welcome Wagon – I’ve also partnered with the local Welcome Wagon business – North Pittsburgh Greeting Co. – who welcomes all new businesses to the area and provides them a list of local businesses and goodies to help them get their business off the ground. We offer 500 Free Business cards and 500 Envelopes as a way of welcoming them to the area and letting them know we can support their printing and marketing needs.” Rich adds, “We have a great team that enjoys meeting the needs of our customers. I know that if I continue to invest in good people, new technology and keep things moving forward, the customers will stay with us. At Minuteman Press, we continue to evolve and strive to get better at everything we do to make sure our customers are happy and satisfied with our work. If we can provide a solution, we do it! And if for some reason we can’t, we’ll point them in the right direction.” Career Change & Franchise Support Prior to buying the business, Rich shares, “I spent over 30 years in the transportation & logistics industry, 20-plus years working in Corporate America for three Fortune 500 companies and the last 12 years running a privately held third-party logistics organization. I knew how to run a company but was not sure what I wanted to do so I became involved in franchise consulting as a Certified Franchise Consultant. I came across Minuteman Press in Cranberry Twp and decided to purchase it. I knew how to run a company but knew nothing about the printing industry, so I did some research and worked with the local SBDC to better understand the industry and its future potential.” Over the past six years, Rich has continued to receive ongoing franchise support from Minuteman Press International. He explains, “Minuteman Press provides a great platform to run your business along with a diverse vendor base to meet just about any needs a customer may have. Their FLEX software is a great tool for managing day-to-day operations and my central facility work is about 35%-40% of my business because we have such great vendors in the Minuteman Press program. I can do more sales with less staff using the central facility model.” Advice for Others As for what advice he would give to other business owners, Rich says, “The best advice I can give is run your business – don’t let it run you. It’s important to not let the business run you as you need to let your employees run the day-to-day and you need to be thinking big picture. Know what you want to be today, tomorrow and the next day – the world does not stand still so if you slow down it will pass you by.” Rich adds, “Also, treat your employees well! Without your team, you cannot meet the challenges of being a successful business owner.” For more information on Minuteman Press in Cranberry Township, PA, visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/pa/cranberry-township/ Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

July 17, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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The Department Of Education Issues Recommendations For How Educators Should Approach The Use Of AI – Benzinga Dives Deeper With EdTech CEO

Amesite Inc.

By David Willey, Benzinga Follow the latest news from Amesite, Inc. Dr. Ann Marie Sastry, CEO of Amesite, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMST), recently appeared on Benzinga’s All Access Live, a live show where Benzinga highlights companies and leaders who are transforming their industry. Amesite is an eLearning platform and content provider powered by artificial intelligence (AI). The company is looking to revolutionize the traditional educational experience and harness the power of AI for the next generation of learners. Amesite has had an AI-first approach from its inception, and Dr. Sastry spoke about how this “build-to-integrate” approach has given the company both philosophical and technical advantages in the market. The company sees that the world is moving rapidly toward the integration of AI across all sectors, and it believes that this is creating a need for services that make AI readily available and part of daily life. Also, on a very practical level, Dr. Sastry believes companies that don’t adopt AI will quickly become obsolete and be left behind in the fast-changing economic environment. Amesite is addressing this need both by integrating AI technology into its platform and by educating its users in AI competence. One way it is doing this is by offering a free course on the fundamentals of ChatGPT. Amesite’s AI-First Framework In fact, Amesite moved early to integrate language learning model (LLM) technology, and it recently announced the launch of its Version 6.3 (V6) platform, which incorporates GPT4 technology. This means that courses hosted on Amesite’s platform take advantage of cutting-edge AI features to provide a premium Learning Management System (LMS). Dr. Sastry explained how with Amesite, people can harness AI to answer questions and create content, enabling the delivery of mass customized, deeply engaging learning experiences. Dr. Sastry credits their provision of AI solutions as one of the reasons why Amesite delivers a high retention rate of 99% for learners on its platform. Dr. Sastry highlighted Amesite’s GPT-4 powered AI bot, which is available 24/7 to provide learners with support and answers to their questions. The platform also has a feature that allows for contextualized information. That means courses on popular topics will include a sidebar populated with current news stories to complement the course material with up-to-date sources. These features, and Amesite’s approach, make it an increasingly popular choice for organizations looking to leverage AI. “The world is moving very fast,” said Dr. Sastry. “You have to have the infrastructure and the mindset. We are an AI-first company, we have been thinking about this for a long time, and we’re integrating it very rapidly.” Amesite recently published a free integration white paper that can be downloaded by the public here. The Need For An AI-Powered Learning System The interview occurred following the Department of Education issuing recommendations for how educators should approach the use of AI in a learning environment. A survey of 1,000 college students found that more than 60% had used ChatGPT for help with homework, and a third had used it on a written assignment. This means that it is important to integrate ChatGPT and other AI tools into the classroom, not only to provide learning benefits but because it is crucial for helping students approach technology in a controlled and supportive environment. This is what Amesite is looking to do through its premium platform and eLearning service. Amesite has already worked with numerous institutions, including universities, museums, and corporations, to deliver important educational and upskilling training. Read more about Amesite’s position as a cutting-edge adopter of AI in education. Amesite Inc., an artificial intelligence driven platform and course designer, provides online products in the United States. The company uses machine learning to offer a mass customized experience to learners. Its customers include businesses, universities and colleges, K-12 schools, and non-profit organizations. The company was incorporated in 2017 and is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Amesite, Inc. +1 734-876-8141 info@amesite.com Company Website http://www.amesite.io

July 14, 2023 09:25 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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