As America continues to recover from the worst economic recession in nearly a century, many landscape architecture firms are working to develop and grow their businesses. Implementing policies that allow landscape architecture firms and other small businesses to thrive is paramount to achieving a sound economic recovery. The American Society of Landscape Architects works with policy makers on economic issues that will allow landscape architects to continue to plan and design communities that create jobs, foster sustainable economic development and create healthier lifestyles.
Federal Advocacy
Small Business Protection Act: The American Society of Landscape
Architects supports legislation that helps small landscape architecture firms
thrive and compete fairly in the marketplace. The Small Business Protection Act
is designed to ensure that the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) size
standards accurately and legitimately represent small businesses.
Additionally, this legislation enhances small businesses’ awareness of the size
standard process and ensures transparency by requiring that all information
regarding size standards analysis and rational be made publicly available. Learn more.
SBA’s Proposed National Rulemaking to Increase Size Standards for Professional, Scientific and Technical Services:
As part of a comprehensive review, the Small Business Administration
(SBA) proposed to increase size standards for small businesses in the
professional, scientific and technical services professions, including
landscape architecture. The American Society of Landscape Architects
(ASLA) opposed the proposed increase in size standards for small
landscape architecture firms and, as a result, SBA has issued a final
rule that will maintain the current size standards for landscape
architectural services. Learn more.
Repeal of the Mandatory 3 Percent Tax Withholding: After an aggressive advocacy campaign by ASLA and other members of the Government Withholding Relief Coalition, President Barack Obama signed into law H.R. 674, legislation to repeal a federal law that would have required federal, state, and local governments to withhold 3 percent of most payments to contractors and vendors. The American Society of Landscape Architects is pleased that this 3 percent tax burden was repealed before it severely impacted many businesses, including landscape architecture firms.
Learn more.
Advocacy Partners
American Institute of Architects
American Planning Association
Resources
Opportunities:
ASLA Opportunities
ASLA Guide to Economic Recovery Opportunities
Developing New Skills in the Economic Downturn
Recovery.gov
U.S. News & World Report - Best Careers 2009
Research:
“Green Cities: How Urban Sustainability Efforts Can and Must Drive America’s Climate Change Policies,” Living Cities, May, 2009
“U.S. Metro Economies: Current and Potential Green Jobs in the U.S. Economy,” The United States Conference of Mayors, October, 2008
General Resources:
Code of Federal Regulations
Federal Courts
Federal Government Web Portal – FirstGov
Federal Register
The Official Daily Publication of Federal Rules, Notices of
Rule Making Procedures, and Agency Announcements
Government Printing Office
Small Business Administration
Thomas - House/Senate Bills & Resolutions
The White House
The Supreme Court
U.S. Code – Federal Statutes
U.S. House
U.S. House Legislative Calendar
U.S Senate
U.S. Senate Legislative Calendar
US Army Corps Of Engineers Contracting Page
