"Shovel-Ready" Nonprofit Projects Will Create Jobs, Enrich Communities  A just-released national survey has revealed that $160 billion worth of nonprofit infrastructure projects are in the works, rich with the potential to create jobs and meet community needs. That eye-popping number doesn’t even include projects by nonprofit hospitals or higher education. The National Council of Nonprofits is working with the survey’s creators to get the word out about these abundant opportunities to boost employment and improve the quality of life. As a founding Council member, CAN encourages you to share the survey results with your local media and to identify examples of infrastructure projects in your community. Click here for more information.

The COBRA Subsidy Program On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (aka: the Economic Stimulus Package). As part of this package, there are significant changes to COBRA.   While many of these provisions go into affect beginning with the first plan period after the signing of the law (generally this means March 1, 2009), further guidance and clarification is still needed from the Department of Labor, Department of the Treasury and/or Health and Human Services.   You can be sure that the California Association of Nonprofits is working diligently to help our members comply with this new regulation. Click here for an overview of the program, as well as a list of items still requiring further guidance and/or review.

Stay current on state budget, federal stimulus, and other policy news impacting nonprofits. Sign up for the next CAN monthly Legislative Briefing teleconference, Monday, March 3 from 2 - 3:00 p.m. RSVP no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 27 to receive call-in information and background materials. Click here to RSVP. Please note: The Legislative Briefing teleconference is available to CAN members only. In addition to teleconferences, legislative updates will be posted regularly on CAN’s website to help you be on top of the latest developments in Sacramento and Washington. Not just budget news, but everything legislative that’s related to nonprofits, including fundraising, volunteerism and service, governance, accountability, and much more. Already in the hopper, with hundreds of more bills expected to be introduced soon, is legislation on charity bingo, nonprofit utility rates, and nonprofit emergency services, plus proposals for ballot measures that would cap state spending and divert First Five and the Mental Health Services Act funds.