Business

Heavenly Mountain Resort at Lake Tahoe has named James Grant as its director of Mountain Operations. Grant was promoted from his role as director of Lift Operations. Meanwhile, Heavenly’s director of Snow Surfaces, Jim Larmore, has been named the new director of Mountain Operations at Northstar California Resort.

Jack Fisher, a 35-year gaming operations veteran with a strong Northern Nevada background, has been appointed General Manager at MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa at Lake Tahoe, a Tropicana Entertainment Inc. property.

Fisher brings an appreciation of Lake Tahoe’s vacation destination appeal with MontBleu’s brand as an all-encompassing resort for year-round outdoor recreation with upscale amenities, four-star dining, gaming, nightlife and entertainment.

Tahoe Regional Young Professionals get down to business with this month’s professional development speaker, Third Alarm – an organization comprised of retired firefighters turned public speakers. The event is at the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority Nevada offices, May 17 from 6:45 – 8 p.m., beginning promptly at 7 p.m.

Milky Way Incorporated dba Coyote Grill has announced the signing of an Amendment to its lease in Round Hill Square allowing it to more than double the size of its current business model.

Currently occupied by ‘Paradise Nails and Spa,’ Suite 102 is 1684 square feet and will allow the Coyote Grill to begin its long anticipated expansion that will include entertainment, gaming, pizza and varietal coffees and espressos.

Like a lot of vacationers, Rick and Kristie Santos would return from trips to Lake Tahoe during the housing boom wondering what it would take to own a second home there.
Lately, however, with interest rates dipping below 4 percent and home prices seeking bottom, the Fair Oaks couple started thinking differently. The Santoses recently joined a growing number of would-be buyers scouting the Tahoe area for second homes.

Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort is honored to be recognized by Ski Area Management in the Best Video category of their 2011-12 Marketing Awards. Produced by First Track Productions Sierra received the "Most Heart-Warming Video" award featuring the Burton Star Wars Experience.
In its inaugural year, the Burton Star Wars Experience is a snowboard experience that introduces three to six year-old kids how to snowboard in an interactive environment like no other.

CARSON CITY — A new business index evaluating the states on the effects of their tax systems on entrepreneurship and small business ranks Nevada 3rd behind South Dakota and Texas.
The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council’s “Business Tax Index 2012” pulls together 18 different tax measures, and combines them into one tax score that allows the 50 states and District of Columbia to be compared and ranked.

Bringing together strangers, often through social media, the cash mob events aim to support locally owned merchants. The upshot: stores get a windfall, and 'mobsters' learn more about their city and meet new friends.
Similar to so-called flash mobs — groups that assemble in public to perform often frivolous activities such as dancing — cash mobs bring together strangers. But the purpose is serious: to support locally owned businesses with a quick injection of cash. The trend is part of a larger "buy local" movement that has emerged in response to the rise of big-box national chains that are putting the squeeze on mom and pop stores.

It is official. Kirkwood Mountain Resort is now officially under the umbrella of ski industry giant Vail Resorts, Inc.

Fitch Ratings affirmed South Tahoe Public Utility District on Monday as part of its ongoing survey of public agencies, noting the ratings outlook remains within the organization remains "stable."
The firm, which positions itself as a global rating agency dedicated to providing value beyond the rating through independent and prospective credit opinions, research and data, gave the water and sewer district a AA+ rating, noting $10.8 million sewer revenue certificates of participation. The ratings agency also asserts that STPUD continues to have strong reserves in place that protects the district against a reduction in its property tax revenues.

Tahoe Regional Young Professionals are seeking three new Board of Director positions: an Assistant Executive Director, Finance and Special Events Director. Application and nominations are being accepted until May 5. The current Board of Directors will conduct interviews, May 7-9, vote and announce the newest additions to the organization mid-May.

CARSON CITY – Nevada’s unemployment rate fell four-tenths of a percentage point in February to a seasonally adjusted 12.3 percent, but the news is not all positive, a state agency reported today.
Bill Anderson, chief economist with the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR), said an argument can be made that the forces behind the drop in the jobless rate were signs of weakness.

For local business owners who are looking to rent desk space or an office, call Substitute Personnel. Sharing the space helps with rent and utilities, and they may be able to offer needed business services as well. Location is in the center of town near Sierra Tract.
Desk space could start as low as $250 per month including utilities and snow removal; separate office space would be $600 per month including utilities. Space includes furnishings,shared kitchen area and bathroom (not wheelchair accessible).

MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa in Stateline, Nev., Lake Tahoe announced today that Jef Bauer, General Manager, resigned effective immediately.
Bauer served as general manager since October 2010, according to a news release. A reason for his departure was not given.

Heavenly Mountain Resort at South Shore Lake Tahoe is officially the world’s most popular ski and snowboard resort on Facebook.

CARSON CITY – Nevada ranks at the top of states for its low overall tax liability paid by mature businesses, but only 38th for new firms due in part to a lack of incentives, according to a new comprehensive study by the Tax Foundation.

CARSON CITY – The state Board of Finance was told today that Nevada now expects to receive between 30 and 33 cents on the dollar in recovery from a $50 million investment loss when Lehman Brothers unexpectedly filed for bankruptcy in September 2008.
Nevada state Treasurer Kate Marshall said the state initially expected only 10 to 11 cents on the dollar when the firm filed for bankruptcy protection during the height of the nation’s financial crisis.

The following is from Michael Scialfa, owner of Lake Tahoe Books and Art Windows on the Sierra and Beyond. Follow them on Facebook here.

An open letter to our patrons:

For those born after 1976, the Cork and More is older than they are. The specialty food and wine shop recently celebrated a milestone, marking its thirty-fifth year in business last month. From a small wine and cheese shop to a complete culinary business, the store has grown and changed over the years to offer the consumer gourmet food, products and accessories for the kitchen and the table.

Gov. Brian Sandoval said this week that he plans to repeal 654 unnecessary regulations that will assist in the state’s efforts at economic diversification and job creation by making Nevada more business friendly.
In addition to the repeal of more than 600 rules, another 1,100 will be updated as a result of an executive order he issued in January 2011 imposing a one-year freeze and calling for his cabinet to thoroughly review the entire regulatory framework of the state. The review was finalized last week.

Could the Winter X Games be moving to a Lake Tahoe ski resort? This year’s Winter X Games concluded Sunday, and also concluding was a contract that the X Games had with Aspen’s Buttermilk Mountain. The contract expired and ESPN, which is the event owner, could be looking for another venue.

RENO, Nev. – Kate McGee has joined 88.7 FM KUNR – Reno Public Radio – as a broadcast journalist, coming to northern Nevada from the East Coast. She recently graduated from Fordham University in the Bronx, N.Y., with a dual bachelor's degree in American studies and history. She started her public radio career at Fordham’s WFUV Radio as a reporter, anchor and producer, where she covered everything from Mayor Mike Bloomberg to stickball tournaments.

After months of speculation, the City of South Lake Tahoe is pleased to announce the owners of the Garfinkle property located 2011 Lake Tahoe Boulevard (northeast corner of the “Y”) have signed a permit application to bring T.J. Maxx into the location as their new tenant. The owners have indicated they expect a spring 2012 grand opening.

“This is exciting news for the City and community, an excellent way to get New Year 2012 off to a great start breathing new life into that corner of the community,” said South Lake Tahoe Mayor Claire Fortier.

By Sean Whaley / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – Efforts by Gov. Brian Sandoval and state lawmakers to encourage new business creation, relocation and expansion in Nevada took a major step forward today when the Legislature’s Interim Finance Committee approved nearly $3.5 million to fund a new economic development office.