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April is Financial Literacy Month
CHARTING VIRGINIA’S BUSINESS FUTURE
It’s time to celebrate financial literacy in Virginia! The VSCPA and citizens from across Virginia will focus on financial literacy throughout the month of April during the annual Virginia Financial Literacy Month, as proclaimed by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam.
Ensuring the Commonwealth has a strong, vibrant and competitive economy is a priority for the state’s businesses. In its Blueprint Virginia 2025, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce recommends action items new Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam can take to face Virginia’s economic challenges. The document updates the Chamber’s first Blueprint, released in 2013.
The award-winning Financial Fitness initiative is just one of the ways the VSCPA helps Virginia taxpayers increase their financial acumen. The VSCPA helps encourage wise money management during Financial Literacy Month through the Ask a CPA Email Program, media relations around the state and a social media campaign. To volunteer for the Ask a CPA Email Program, contact VSCPA Public Affairs & Communications Director David Bass at dbass@vscpa.com or (804) 612-9440.
Recommendations are given in a variety of categories: workforce and education, business climate, transportation, health care, energy, technology, manufacturing, environment and military and veterans affairs.
Creating the blueprint was a year-long effort and involved more than 6,000 businesses around the state. Some specific actions include: • Create connections to jobs and business, like enhancing work-based learning opportunities, internships and apprenticeships. According to a Chamber survey, businesses cite maintaining a skilled workforce as their No. 1 issue. • Grow target industries, such as information technology, transportation and logistics, high-growth manufacturing and business services and operations. • Comprehensively review Virginia’s tax system. • Focus on current and emerging technology sectors where Virginia regions have competitive advantages. Continue to focus on opportunities in cybersecurity. • Promote policies that help Virginia create a culture of entrepreneurship.
Testing: 1, 2 3 CPA Exam gets enhancements Beginning in April, CPA Exam candidates will have an even more high-tech test-taking experience. New Exam software will have a modernized format, functionality and design. There are also enhanced, high-definition monitors at the Prometric testing sites. Larger screens allow test takers to have a bigger, separate workspace opposite the response areas. In addition, users will be able to use Microsoft Excel through the Exam. In other hot Exam news: >> CPA candidates will be tested on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — just not until Jan. 1, 2019. >> The 2018 CPA Exam blueprints are now available for those planning to sit for the Exam prior to July 1, 2018. New blueprints will become effective July 1 for those planning to take the test after that date. All Exam candidates can find out the latest news at aicpa.org/becomeacpa/cpaexam.html.
To read Blueprint Virginia 2025 in full, visit vachamber.com.
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DISCLOSURES
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MARCH/APRIL 2018
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DISCLOSURES.VSCPA.COM
