Inside Long Island Business
Get the latest news and trends on Long Island companies and the people behind them.
Poll: Do you choose generic or name-brand drugs?
Photo credit: iStock
When you fill a prescription at the pharmacy, do you ask for the generic version or the name brand? While generics can cost less, some consumers prefer name brands.
In certain cases, doctors may specify that only the name brand will do. They can even write a prescription requesting a specific generic, if they think one is more effective.
How do you decide? Is your decision based...
Read more »Officials visit LI communities to help Sandy victims
State officials will be in three local communities this week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on most days, to help homeowners and business people harmed by superstorm Sandy. The officials work out of a mobile command center.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's administration won approval for its plan to use federal Community Block Grants to aid Sandy victims. Those seeking assistance must apply to the state.
Representatives...
Read more »Lower gas costs help slow metro area inflation
Photo credit: Newsday / John Paraskevas
Prices in the metropolitan area rose 1.4 percent last month compared with a year ago, identical to April’s growth rate.
The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics Tuesday reported its consumer price index for the 31-county region that includes Long Island was higher in May compared with the same period in 2012 due to the lower cost of gasoline, clothes and education.
Martin Kohli, the...
Read more »Bill would allow IDA aid to Sandy-damaged retailers
State senators Monday unanimously approved a bill altering a prohibition against industrial development agencies aiding retailers.
The legislation, which still must be taken up by the Assembly, would create an exception for businesses damaged by disasters such as superstorm Sandy.
After the Oct. 29 storm, some IDAs on Long Island gave sales-tax exemptions for businesses to purchase construction...
Read more »Two winnners at monthly start-up pitch contest
A company that recycles wooden barrels in creative ways and a business offering a handy garment bag were the winners of the monthly start-up pitch contest at co-working space LaunchPad Long Island.
The contest, held Monday night at LaunchPad's space in Mineola, featured four early-stage companies pitching themselves for prospective investments from audience members. Attendees are also asked...
Read more »3 job fairs this week for up to 125 open posts
Three jobs fairs and recruitment events on Long Island this week are hiring for potentially 125 jobs locally, according to Kirk Cronk, the director of business services at the Suffolk County labor department.
- Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Macy's will hold an on-site recruitment event at the Suffolk County One-Stop Employment Center in Hauppauge, the department store chain is hoping to hire...
Read more »2 Suffolk events for job seekers
Photo credit: Bloomberg News
The Suffolk County One-Stop Employment Center in Hauppauge plans two events for job seekers.
Macy’s will recruit for sales associates on Tuesday at the center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, including the address, click here.
On Thursday, the One-Stop takes its latest on-the-road job fair to the Brentwood Public Library from 1 to 4 p.m. Nineteen employers have signed up...
Read more »Rick Perry won't come to LI to poach businesses
Photo credit: AP
Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s five-day trip to New York State and Connecticut to recruit businesses won’t include Long Island, a gubernatorial spokeswoman said Thursday.
Perry wants to lure companies from the firearm, financial services and pharmaceuticals industries to Texas with promises of lower taxes and fewer regulations. The industries have players in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Perry’s...
Read more »Accelerate LI reaches more than 100 local start-ups
Photo credit: Howard Schnapp
Accelerate Long Island, the nearly year-old effort to nurture the growth of high-tech companies here, has more than 100 local start-ups in its network of contacts, the organization said.
Mark Lesko, the executive director of Accelerate, said he included a business as part of the "ecosystem" of start-ups on Long Island if Accelerate had made contact with the company or vice versa.
Accelerate,...
Read more »Poll: When did you refinance your mortgage?
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Did you refinance at the right time?
After hitting a record low of 3.31 percent in November, the average rate on a 30-year fixed loan has begun creeping back up, this week approaching 4 percent.
Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said the rate on the 30-year loan jumped to 3.91 percent from 3.81 percent last week. That's the highest since March 2012.
When did you refinance? Vote and leave...
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