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?
Why is the Tail Wagging the Dog? Public Employees as Lawmakers
“The powers of the Government of the State of Nevada shall be divided into three separate departments,—the Legislative,—the Executive and the Judicial; and no persons charged with the exercise of powers properly belonging to one of these departments shall exercise any functions, appertaining to either of the others, except in the cases expressly directed or permitted in this … [Read more...] about Why is the Tail Wagging the Dog? Public Employees as Lawmakers
The Road Ahead: Banking in Nevada
Nearing the end of a long, tough road is never easy. The banking industry in Nevada is crossing its proverbial fingers that the road Nevada’s economy has been on will soon get easier. The hope that the tough parts of the journey are almost over is what’s keeping bankers driving forward. Politicians beg bankers to lend more and to do it right this moment while regulators … [Read more...] about The Road Ahead: Banking in Nevada
Social Media & Marketing
When Nevada business owner Scott Dunseath attends community events to support his apparel shop, Reno eNVy, he photographs, on his iPhone, people wearing his brand, then simultaneously sends it, via one text message, to the company Web site, Facebook (2,241 fans) and Twitter (1,010 followers). He recently spread the word about a store sale via social media, and revenue that day … [Read more...] about Social Media & Marketing
Industry Focus: Utilities
Nevada’s utilities are facing increased pressure in both the financial and competitive realms due to the economy and the emergence of alternative energy in the state. While the lower price of natural gas has certainly helped, Nevada’s utilities are finding that customer’s expectations are far different than the realities they are facing. Recently, executives representing … [Read more...] about Industry Focus: Utilities
April 2010: Around the State
Construction Costs Expected to Remain Stagnant in 2010 According to construction consultant Rider Levett Bucknall, a national average decrease in construction costs of approximately 0.5% from the previous quarter indicates construction costs should see little to no inflation this year. In 2009 construction costs were down by 7.3 percent comparatively. Las Vegas matches the … [Read more...] about April 2010: Around the State
Patty Wade: Wade Development Company, Inc. and Wade Consulting Group, LLC
President/Owner/Founder Reno/Las Vegas, Nevada Number of Employees: 10 Years in Nevada: 18 Years with Company: 22 What inspired you to get into your industry? My partner Joe Wade was a prominent real estate attorney in Newport Beach and I guess I caught the bug being around him and all the intriguing deals—I’ve always been a deal junkie! I also wanted to do … [Read more...] about Patty Wade: Wade Development Company, Inc. and Wade Consulting Group, LLC
Band-aids Don’t Fix Broken Bones: Special session’s budget issues will resonate in 2011
If anything became clear in the recently concluded 26th Special Session of the Nevada Legislature, it is that during the 2011 regular session debate will center around one highly contentious issue: taxes. During the 2009 regular session, lawmakers were able to lean on federal stimulus funds and a variety of new taxes — on the order of $1 billion — in order to once more evade … [Read more...] about Band-aids Don’t Fix Broken Bones: Special session’s budget issues will resonate in 2011
Stimulus Dollars: A Contractor’s Friend or Foe?
Contractors should beware of strings attached to stimulus funds from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA). Construction projects funded in whole or in part by stimulus dollars must comply with requirements established by ARRA. Buy American ARRA limits the use of stimulus funds to projects for the construction, alteration, maintenance or repair of public … [Read more...] about Stimulus Dollars: A Contractor’s Friend or Foe?
The 3 C’s of Fundraising in a Challenging Economy
Today’s hard economic times are challenging the fundraising efforts of many non-profit 501c3 organizations. While it is a time that requires greater efforts, it is not impossible to reach an organization’s development goals in enhancing the mission of the organization. The 3 C’s are a valuable tool in formulating development strategy in the current market. They are: … [Read more...] about The 3 C’s of Fundraising in a Challenging Economy