NEWS BRIEFS FOR THE WEEK OF NOV. 30, 2006

NEWS BRIEFS FOR THE WEEK OF 
NOV. 30, 2006Yahoo! Helps Consumers Find Eco-Friendly Cars WASHINGTON (Nov. 1, 2006) - U.S. car buyers can now compare the "greenness" of their automotive choices online. Environmental Defense has partnered with Yahoo! Autos to make Green Ratings available to consumers - right next to vehicle prices and other common car specs anyone can access on the Internet.  "The Yahoo! Green Rating covers all of the major environmental impacts associated with a motor vehicle, from health-harming tailpipe pollution to greenhouse gases that cause global warming," says John DeCicco, senior fellow for Automotive Strategies at Environmental Defense.  Rated on a scale of one to 100, the Yahoo! Green Rating reflects a vehicle's total environmental impact: The higher the rating, the greener the car and thus the lower its harm to humans and the planet.  To access the Green Ratings and see the Yahoo! Autos new Green Center, go to autos.yahoo.com/green_center/. (Sources: Environmental Defense, Yahoo! Autos)SBA Grants to Fund 
19 New Women's Business Centers WASHINGTON - The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced $12 million in grant funding for 19 new Women's Business Centers (WBCs); the grants will also continue funding for 80 existing WBCs. The centers are designed to provide business training and counseling to women who are starting or expanding a small business. WBCs are community-based and they are in nearly every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and American Samoa. Each WBC tailors its services to meet the needs of the local area and works to provide women business owners with long-term training, counseling and mentoring, as well as access to all of the SBA's programs and services. The new WBCs are located in Wiscasset, ME; Kenosha, WI; Seattle, WA; New York City; Durant, OK; Philadelphia, PA; Greensburg, PA; Los Angeles; Wilmington, DE; San Antonio, TX; San Luis Obispo, CA; Syracuse, NY; Forest, MS; Newark, NJ; Santa Ana, CA; Huntsville, AL; Mobile, AL; San Bernardino, CA; and Albuquerque, NM. For a complete list of all centers and for additional information, visit www.onlinewbc.gov/wbc.pdf.(Source: SBA)Hydrogen Fuel Cells Database Launched WASHINGTON (Nov. 14, 2006) - Fuel Cells 2000 and the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Hydrogen, Fuel Cells & Infrastructure Technologies Program have launched a new searchable database that documents fuel cell and hydrogen activity in the United States, including stationary installations, vehicle demonstrations, fueling stations, and policies, initiatives and legislation designed to advance the development and use of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.  The database builds on the recent Breakthrough Technologies Institute report, "State Activities That Promote Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Infrastructure Development," with additional information about demonstrations and installations in a searchable format that provides more utility.  "We had such a great response to our comprehensive state report that we wanted to make it even easier for users to learn more about what's going on in their area or around the country," says Jennifer Gangi, program director for Fuel Cells 2000.  Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia have some sort of fuel cell or hydrogen legislation, demonstration or activity taking place today, including 15 with hydrogen fueling stations. Users can search for relevant information and activity within the entire United States, an individual state or a cluster of states. Advanced search options include fuel cell size/power range, fuel source, fuel cell type, fuel cell manufacturer and vehicle manufacturer. A text search is also available. Images and links for further information are included with most entries. (Source: Fuel Cells 2000) 2007 IAC Awards Call for EntriesThe Web Marketing Association announces the launched of its fifth annual Internet Advertising Competition (IAC) Awards. The IAC Awards are an industry-based advertising award competition dedicated exclusively to online advertising. The deadline for entries is Jan. 31, 2007. The competition is open to all organizations and individuals (advertising and interactive agencies, corporate marketing departments, etc.) involved in the process of developing Internet advertising. Entries can be submitted online at www.iacaward.org. Entries are judged on creativity, innovation, impact, design, copywriting and use of the medium. Awards will be presented within each of the industry categories and advertising formats, such as online ad (including banner, pop-up or interstitial), rich media online ad, e-mail message, online newsletter campaign, microsite/landing page and integrated ad campaign and ads the client did not choose.  A Best of Show award for each medium will be selected from among the industry winners. Ads eligible for entry in the competition must have run during the period from Jan. 1, 2006 through Jan. 31, 2007. Judging will take place in February 2007, and winners will be notified by e-mail one week prior to the general announcement of winners in March 2007. (Source: Web Marketing Association)First Wheelchair-Accessible Odyssey Minivan Conversion Available PHOENIX, AZ (Nov. 16, 2006) - Valley Mobility Plus Inc. (VMI) has begun sales of the first wheelchair-accessible Honda Odyssey with its Northstar conversion. VMI purchases the vehicles from Honda, and then modifies them on its new assembly line in Phoenix. The company has completed all design, engineering and validation processes with the Honda Odyssey, which is the company's latest lowered-floor, side-entry minivan conversion.