As you read this column, Nevada’s highest-ranking state administrators are combing through their budgets searching for yet another round of "non-essential" services they can cut. Once again, an economic downturn has plunged state government into financial crisis. Two primary areas of economic activity sustain Nevada’s state government – retail and tourism markets. Upwards of … [Read more...] about Fighting for a Share of the Pie: Economic Slowdown Causes Budget Cuts

"Manufacturing is the heart of America. Without it, we’d all be sitting on dirt waiting for the next lightning storm to light our fire." Michael B. Stuart, CEO of JLM Tool Supply, quoted in the May 2001 issue of Nevada Manufacturing Association Newsletter Before September 2001, few Nevadans seemed to mind that the state’s economy was primarily driven by tourism and … [Read more...] about Making It in Nevada: Resources for Nevada Manufacturers

Many of us started our businesses in good times – such as this past decade. However, we are now facing our greatest challenge since starting those businesses: Can we survive in a declining economy? The answer is simple, but it requires us to focus on issues we may not have paid close attention to over the past 10 years. Increased Sales: Will They Increase My Profit? Look at … [Read more...] about The Profitability Question: To Increase Sales or To Cut Costs?

The Las Vegas skyline is undergoing yet another change as The PENTA Building Group, Inc., began construction in June of a 26-story tower — the first phase of a Hilton Grand Vacations time-share project on Las Vegas Boulevard and Sahara. The new property, which will have four construction phases plus common areas, will have 1,200 total units upon completion, with four towers … [Read more...] about November 2001: The PENTA Building Group

After the events of September 11, 2001, the tourism outlook for Reno-Sparks/ Lake Tahoe, as in every U. S. destination, has taken a dramatic turn. Prior to that date, the community was making great strides toward a new division of marketing efforts: the individual hotel-casino stakeholders were focusing their attention on Reno-Sparks/Lake Tahoe’s traditional West Coast markets, … [Read more...] about “Cautiously Optimistic”: The Outlook for Reno/Sparks/Tahoe Tourism

The changing nature of our economy has always afforded opportunities for the entrepreneur. In fact, the impact of the entrepreneur is demonstrated throughout the national and local economy. With passion and creativity, entrepreneurs eliminate the barriers of status-quo thinking. This philosophy challenges Nevada to be more imaginative in our economic diversification … [Read more...] about Nevada is the Place: For Entrepreneurial Opportunity and Success

Do you wonder what happens on your business’ computer network during the night, or even in broad daylight? Network security and information protection are big issues for every business. Small business owners in particular feel increasingly lost and financially incapable of keeping their technology investment secure. However, there are a number of inexpensive technology … [Read more...] about Things that Go Bump in The Network

Nevada retailers are all asking the same question this year as they add the final touches to their Christmas marketing plans: "Will shoppers come?" Economic experts say the answer to that would have been a resounding "yes" prior to the September 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Now, it remains unclear. "I don’t know if anyone has a crystal ball … [Read more...] about Dreaming of a Green Christmas: Economic Uncertainty Looms Large for Retailers

Triad Development started with a good concept - offer small- to medium-sized businesses a chance to own their own property in Summerlin (which would be a first), create a debt service for owners that would be comparable to existing rental fees in Summerlin, and develop a consistent look that would be compatible with other area businesses. After less than a year, the Triad … [Read more...] about TRIAD DEVELOPMENT TEAM: BRINGING BUSINESSES TO SUMMERLIN

Of Nevada’s 70.2 million acres, 83 percent is federally managed and owned. The entity charged with administering Nevada’s vast tract of real estate is the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), part of the U.S. Department of the Interior. The BLM oversees 68 percent of federal land, which means almost 48 million acres are under BLM control in Nevada. The stated purpose of the BLM is … [Read more...] about BLM Swaps Land Swap Program for Land Auction Program

"We here highly resolve that the dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom…" Abraham Lincoln, The Gettysburg Address Those of us who went to sleep on Monday night, September 10, worrying about the stagnant stock market, the baseball playoffs or our receding hairlines, had developed a completely different perspective … [Read more...] about God Bless America: Lessons from a Tragedy