When the Nevada Legislature met in special session in February to plug the $800 million hole in the state’s budget, lawmakers were desperate to “find” enough money to fund state programs. Unfortunately, the Legislature’s creative accounting solutions included a blatant misappropriation of $62 million that wasn’t theirs. This was money that had been collected by the Clean … [Read more...] about Clean Water, Dirty Politics: Another Legislative Money Grab
Archives for May 2010
Education: Progress Report
When Education Week published its Chance-for-Success Index in early 2010, Nevada, again, drew negative attention for its low scores—adding to a pile of bad news that has many Nevada educators, legislators, businesses and economic development experts seriously questioning the state’s future. By the Numbers Within the index, which tracks key education indicators and grades … [Read more...] about Education: Progress Report
Vision, Dreams & Reality: Nevada’s Most Influential Citizens
Nevadans can be born and raised in the state, or can come from half the world away to find their home. Once here, Nevada becomes a part of most people’s lives in short order, and many want to give back. Nevada Business Magazine asked readers to nominate those Nevadans who have had a significant impact on our state. The 12 individuals chosen are leaders in their fields who … [Read more...] about Vision, Dreams & Reality: Nevada’s Most Influential Citizens
Industry Focus: Elected Officials
With so much focus being placed on government spending, partisanship, budgets and taxes, elected officials find themselves even more in the spotlight than usual. Recently, elected officials representing Nevada met at the law offices of Holland & Hart in Las Vegas to discuss some of the issues they face. Connie Brennan, publisher of Nevada Business Magazine, served as … [Read more...] about Industry Focus: Elected Officials
May 2010: Around the State
New Tax Benefits Aid Employers Two new tax benefits are now available to employers hiring workers who were previously unemployed or only working part time. The provisions are part of the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act (HIRE). Employers who hire unemployed workers between Feb. 3 of this year and Jan. 1, 2011 may qualify for a 6.2 percent payroll tax incentive. … [Read more...] about May 2010: Around the State
Bruce Hendricks: Bank of Nevada
Chief Executive Officer Las Vegas Number of Employees: 437 Years in Nevada: 41 Years with Company: 10 What inspired you to get into banking? When I was in college, I got a job as a teller at a local bank and really enjoyed the people. After I graduated, I had the chance to join a bank’s management program and that was the start. Describe your leadership … [Read more...] about Bruce Hendricks: Bank of Nevada
City of Reno
What a difference a year makes in comparing this year’s City of Reno Special Report with last year’s. Although the economy was certainly in the doldrums a year ago, these past 12 months have taken an even greater toll on business and economic development in Reno. As the city continues to grapple with significant shortfalls in basic revenues, it expects to cut around $35 million … [Read more...] about City of Reno
Racing to the top, or running in place? Winning federal money doesn’t mean you’ve improved education
Last year, President Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan introduced Race to the Top (RTTT), a competition for $4.5 billion in awards to states for adopting serious education reforms — in areas like charter-school support, teacher evaluation and fixing low-performing schools. At the end of round one, Delaware and Tennessee were the only two winners, most notably beating … [Read more...] about Racing to the top, or running in place? Winning federal money doesn’t mean you’ve improved education
Rooting for the Good Guys: Lending in Nevada
With so much negative commentary in the print and broadcast media about the banking industry, it’s easy to miss the fact that over 8,300 traditional, FDIC-insured banks and their more than two million employees are serving towns and cities across the country, committed to helping their communities thrive. Lending typically declines in recessions. In this recession, however, … [Read more...] about Rooting for the Good Guys: Lending in Nevada
Architects & Engineers: Digging Deep to Weather the Recession
When Robert Finnegan recalls some of those first bleak weeks of the Great Recession at his engineering firm, he can’t help but remember the initial eery paralyzing effect the economic crash had on his entire staff. “We all just sort of sat there with our hands folded looking at each other and wondering aloud, okay, now, what do we do,” said Finnegan, president and co-owner … [Read more...] about Architects & Engineers: Digging Deep to Weather the Recession
Industrial Summary: First Quarter 2010
Las Vegas The Las Vegas Valley industrial market continued to struggle with higher vacancies while average asking rents slid downward in response to an ongoing supply-demand imbalance. No new inventory came to market as current economic conditions have stalled or delayed construction activity for most proposed projects. The amount of occupied industrial space dipped to a … [Read more...] about Industrial Summary: First Quarter 2010
May 2010: Business Indicators
The US economy continued to expand without adding much in the way of new jobs. US employment was down by 2.4% over the last year and essentially unchanged from the previous month. But, there are strong indications that the national economy is primed for employment growth soon. Productivity, in terms of output per worker, increased at an annual rate of 5.9% in February. … [Read more...] about May 2010: Business Indicators
Did the first quarter of 2010 live up to your expectations for your business?
“Landry & Associates, Inc. anticipated the first quarter 2010 to be similar to the challenges we faced in commercial real estate in 2009. While leasing remains slow, we are excited about being awarded the new property management contracts for Whitney Mesa Phase I Industrial Park and the Anthem Village Business Owners Association.” Marge Landry • President/Broker, … [Read more...] about Did the first quarter of 2010 live up to your expectations for your business?