By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released a study that concludes the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) should receive nearly $300 million annually, rather than the $84 million currently allocated from its portion of federal gas tax receipts. The amount is based on an analysis of fuel used for non-highway recreation from the $.18-per-gallon federal taxes collected at the pump.

The U.S. Congress directed the FHWA to conduct the study so that the revenues can be adjusted. RTP funds are used to construct and maintain trails for all types of activities, including motorized, non-motorized and mixed-use trails (off-roading, snowmobiling, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, etc.).

SEMA is urging Congress to adjust RTP revenues as it considers legislation to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure. SEMA also supports a stand-alone bill, H.R. 1864, Recreational Trails Full Funding Act of 2021, that would increase RTP funding to the FHWA study amount.

Questions? Contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Small Business Administration (SBA) will now allow borrowers with Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $150,000 or less to apply for forgiveness directly through the SBA. The SBA portal is designed to streamline the process and remove pressure from small lenders to handle forgiveness applications as the SBA looks to wind down the PPP loan program.

Banks responsible for originating the PPP loans must opt into direct forgiveness before their borrowers can use the SBA’s online platform. Currently, more than 500 banks have opted in and allowed their borrowers to apply for forgiveness through the SBA portal, which began accepting applications on August 4.

The deadline for seeking PPP loans ended May 31, but recipients are now seeking loan forgiveness for funds used to cover payroll, mortgage interest, rent, utilities and other costs. Loans are fully forgivable if at least 60% of loan proceeds are used on payroll costs (i.e., wages, payroll taxes, paid leave, healthcare payments, retirement and insurance contributions).

Register and apply for SBA direct forgiveness.

Questions? Contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Editors

In partnership with Ford Motor Company, the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California, will host a Measuring Session for the ’22 Ford Maverick, August 9–12.

The event will allow SEMA members to have a close-up experience with the Ford’s all-new truck.

This Measuring Session will feature two different Maverick trim levels –

XLT

• Front-wheel drive
• 2.5L full hybrid engine
• CVT drivetrain

Lariat

• All-wheel drive
• 2.0L EcoBoost engine
• FX4 Off-Road Package
• Eight-speed automatic transmission

Please note that this will be an in-person event at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California. In order to comply with state and local health guidelines, this event will require scheduled appointments. Due to high demand, all appointments will be time limited and subject to approval by availability.

All registered attendees will be required to undergo an initial temperature check, wear face coverings and gloves and practice social distancing during their appointment.

Register now!

By SEMA Editors

In partnership with American Honda Motor Co., the SEMA Garage will host a Measuring Session for the ’22 Honda Civic, August 16–20. The event will allow SEMA members to have a close-up experience with the all-new Civic sedan, which features:

• Touring Trim.
• 1.5L direct-injection turbo-charged four-cylinder engine.
• CVT drivetrain.
• Standard ADAS Honda SENSING technology.

This will be an in-person event at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California. In order to comply with state and local health guidelines, this event will require scheduled appointments. Due to high demand, all appointments will be time-limited and subject to approval by availability.

All registered attendees will be required to undergo an initial temperature check, wear face coverings and gloves and practice social distancing during their appointment.

Register now!

  By SEMA Editors

Exhibiting at the SEMA Show and entering at least one product in the New Products Showcase puts your latest products in front of thousands of qualified buyers from every segment of the specialty-equipment industry. The best part: the first product you enter is free!

Entry Fees:

• The first product entered in one category in the New Products Showcase is FREE!
• Additional $75 per product category before October 8.
• After October 8, the cost is $150 per entry.
• No refunds provided after October 8.
• Entries submitted on-site will be accepted on a space availability basis.

Enter your new products now!

For more information on New Products Showcase display guidelines, visit www.semashow.com/esm.

By SEMA Editors

The deadline to update exhibitor information for the printed 2021 SEMA Show Directory is August 20.

The SEMA Show Directory is one of the strongest tools buyers use to learn about exhibiting companies and their products. In addition, more than two-thirds of Show buyers say the directory is a useful tool for navigating the Show.

Click here for more information about updating your SEMA Show Directory listing, or contact Maurice O’Connell at mauriceo@sema.org or 909-978-6660.

Click here for a complete listing of 2021 SEMA Show deadlines.

 By Della Domingo

Applications for SEMA Show exhibitors to be included in the official 2021 SEMA Show Press Conference Schedule are due Friday, August 6.

Exhibitors who have breaking news announcements that will be of interest to a large number of media can utilize press conferences during the 2021 SEMA Show by submitting a press conference application before the August 6 deadline. After submitting an application, exhibitors should receive an automatic email confirming that the application was received. Those who do not receive the automatic email may have experienced a technical problem and are encouraged to email pr@sema.org for assistance.

Because media are not required or obligated to attend press conferences, many exhibitors opt to utilize other tools for reaching media at the SEMA Show, including submitting a press release in the Exhibitor Online Media Center.

To learn more about press conferences, the online media center or other PR resources for SEMA Show exhibitors, contact pr@sema.org.

Click here for a complete listing of 2021 SEMA Show deadlines.

By Jason Catullo

The 2021 SEMA Space Allocation process was completed in late June, with more than 1,700 companies selecting their booth locations at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). The LVCC's halls are nearly full of exhibits, but booth space is still being reserved, and more exhibitors are expected to secure space until the Show opens on November 2.

Attendees planning on joining the industry at the 2021 SEMA Show can see who's exhibiting and where through the updated floorplan. If you have not yet registered for the SEMA Show, taking place Tuesday-Friday, November 2-5, visit www.SEMAShow.com/attendee to register.

For 2021, the Show will include exhibit space in the Las Vegas Convention Center’s newly constructed West Hall, a 1.4-million-sq.-ft. facility completed in January. The new facility includes exhibitors from the Restyling & Car Care Accessories, Powersports & Utility Vehicles, and Truck, SUV & Off-Road sections.

Earlier in June, the visitors of the World of Concrete convention were the first to use the new hall, and the event marked the first large-scale convention and tradeshow to be held in Las Vegas in 15 months.

In addition to the new hall, the newly constructed Loop—a high-speed, people-mover system that runs 40 ft. under the LVCC—will transport visitors between South, Central and West Halls. The World of Concrete successfully used the system to shuttle visitors through the 200-acre convention center.

For more information on the 2021 SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com.

By SEMA Editors

The 2021 SEMA Show Space Allocation process wrapped up earlier this week, and more than 1,700 companies are confirmed to exhibit, and many more are expected to sign on before the event takes place in November.

The SEMA Show floorplan is live, and buyers are currently examining the event's layout to see who will be there for 2021.

Companies that would like to exhibit at this year's SEMA Show to reconnect with customers and generate new business, can get started at www.SEMAShow.com.

Exhibiting at the SEMA Show puts your latest products in front of thousands of qualified buyers from every segment of the specialty-equipment industry, including buyers looking for your products. This year's Show offers even more opportunities for exhibitors reach new buyers. SEMA Show management recently announced that buyer registration for the Show has started at the fastest pace they have seen in the event's 54-year history.  

SEMA Show exhibitor Cometic Gaskets is ready to reunite with customers in person, and reach out to more buyers outside of the company's local region.

“We are most looking forward to face-to-face conversations and reconnecting with our customers old and new. Cometic is located in the midwest, and exhibiting at SEMA allows us to connect with our West Coast customers and industry segments, such as desert racing.”

Registration for the 2021 SEMA Show is offered in three categories—attendee, exhibitor, and media—and everyone must qualify to receive a badge and attend.

Reserve your booth now!

By Ashley Reyes

Every person has his/her own unique set of characteristics, and although supervising multiple individuals in the workplace can present its challenges, understanding different personalities can help managers build effective teams.

Leaders in the automotive aftermarket are invited to learn how to identify personality traits and the value of managing different personalities during a webinar on August 24, at 11:00 a.m. (PDT). Presented by the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN), the skills and knowledge presented will help supervisors learn about their employees, enhance teamwork and collaboration, and avoid unnecessary conflicts.

Participants will be invited to share their previous experiences managing different personalities, discuss situations that could have been handled differently, and share tips from what they have learned during an interactive breakout following the webinar presentation.

Learn more and register here for “The Value of Managing Different Personalities.”