Around the State - February 2010

Around the State

2009 Second Best Year Ever for Existing Home Sales

According to the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors (GLVAR), 2009 was the second best year ever in Southern Nevada for sales of existing homes.  GLVAR reported 46,879 local housing sales as compared to 28,618 total sales in 2008.  Southern Nevada’s best year was 2004 with 71,963 homes sold.

Department of Commerce’s NTIA Awards Nevada Grant for Broadband Data Collection and Mapping

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has awarded 15 states grants for broadband mapping and planning.  Of those 15 states, NTIA has awarded Connected Nation in Nevada approximately $930,000 for broadband data collection and mapping activities over a two-year period.  An additional $500,000 was also awarded for broadband planning activities over a five-year period in Nevada, bringing the total grant award to approximately $1.4 million.

Ogletree Deakins Expands to Las Vegas

Ogeltree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), the third-largest labor and employment law firm, has expanded into Las Vegas.  Tony Martin, formerly of Lewis and Roca, LLP will head up the office as managing shareholder.

Cord Blood America Moves Corporate Offices and Lab to Las Vegas

Cord Blood America, Inc., one of the largest cryogenic storage facilities in the United States, has moved their corporate offices and lab from California to Las Vegas.  The company cited the significant support they’ve received from the Nevada Development Authority as one of the reasons for the move.

Thomas & Mack and Sam Boyd Stadium Among Nation’s Top

The Thomas & Mack Center and Sam Boyd Stadium were the only university venues to rank in the top 20 highest grossing venues in the world in their seating capacity categories in 2009.  The Thomas & Mack Center ranked #18 in the 15,001 – 30,001 seating capacity category and Sam Boyd Stadium was ranked #14 in the 30,001 or more seating capacity category.

AU Goose Unveils Mining Solution

AU Goose, a mining service company in Reno, has presented a technology that allows mining companies to extract and test heavy metal ores using a timely, cost effective and dry method of recovery for both lode and placer ores.  This is the industry’s first non-toxic recovery system of its type and will provide the mining industry with a quicker, cleaner and more affordable alternative for mining exploration.

NV Energy Changing Metering

NV Energy has selected Sensus’ smart grid technology for advanced metering infrastructure this year.  The energy company is expected to deploy as many as 1.3 million electric and 155,000 gas meters throughout the utility’s 54,500 square mile service territory. The deployment will affect 2.4 million consumers in Nevada, including those in rural Northern Nevada.