Governor Launches Nevada JobConnect
Lincoln Spoor , owner of Krispy Kreme of Nevada, joined Governor Kenny Guinn in a Las Vegas press conference in January to announce the creation of a new state program called Nevada JobConnect. The comprehensive system incorporates services offered by a consortium of public and private agencies and puts them in a central location for convenient access by job seekers and potential employers. The program, created as a result of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, offers many benefits for Nevada businesses, including a one-stop source of information and assistance, a large database of job seekers, employee/employer matching services, customized hiring, financial incentives and access to labor market information. “Our company finds the system easy to use and approachable,” said Spoor, who owns doughnut shops in both Reno and Southern Nevada. “We have used it as a resource when looking for candidates, and it provides the expertise and experience we need from a service provider.” For those seeking employment, the JobConnect centers offer one-stop access to information about job openings and employers, personalized support, vocational rehabilitation services, résumé assistance, job training and retraining and educational assistance. Clients can access services offered by the system at two drop-in centers in Reno and Las Vegas or by accessing its Web site, nevadajobconnect.com. Additional JobConnect centers will be set up throughout the state over the next few months.
GE Power Systems Acquires Bently Nevada
Bently Nevada, Northern Nevada’s largest non-gaming employer, has announced that it was officially acquired by GE Power Systems of Atlanta, Ga. on January 24. No financial terms of the agreement were disclosed. Bently Nevada is the world leader in instrumentation and services designed to monitor and diagnose the mechanical condition of machinery. The GE acquisition includes Bently Nevada Corporation and its facilities worldwide. However, the company’s headquarters and primary manufacturing functions will remain in Minden, where it employs 1,200 people. Donald Bently, who founded the company in 1961, will retain his other diverse business interests, including: Bently Pressurized Bearing Co. of Minden; Gibson Tool and Supply of Carson City; Bently Agrowdynamics, with more than 38,000 acres in the Carson Valley; and Bently Holding Corp., which controls extensive real estate holdings in the U.S. and internationally. GE Power Systems is one of the world’s leading suppliers of power generation technology, energy services and management systems.
Reno RTC Signs with TransitMaster
Washoe County’s Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) has approved the award of a $4.75 million contract to Siemens Transportation Systems to provide an Intelligent Transportation System, commercially known as TransitMaster, for its buses. TransitMaster, which includes integrated voice and data radio communications, will be installed in 68 fixed-route Citifare buses and 40 CitiLift paratransit buses, as well as 14 supervisory and maintenance vehicles. The system allows transit managers and dispatchers to effectively manage their fleet, increases security and makes available more timely information about the location and arrival times of buses. Real-time information is transmitted between the central dispatch location and all buses through the data radio system and uses Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technology to track the exact location of each vehicle. The system also features automatic passenger counters, automated onboard bus stop announcements, transit signal priority capabilities and an alarm button to notify dispatchers in case of emergency.
Sands Regent To Acquire Gold Ranch Resort
The Sands Regent, the publicly-held company that owns the Reno Sands Regency Casino, has announced plans to buy Gold Ranch Casino and RV Resort 12 miles west of Reno, near Verdi. Gold Ranch, visible from heavily-traveled Interstate 80, is the first gaming attraction travelers encounter when entering Nevada from California. Facilities include an 8,000-square-foot casino with approximately 300 slot machines, two restaurants, two bars and a convenience store. The property also includes a gas station, a State of California lottery outlet and a 105-space RV park. Terms of the purchase will include cash, common stock of the Sands Regent and new and assumed debt. The final price will be determined by the property’s net earnings figures for the 12 months preceding the final closing date.