Around the State - August 2009

Around the State

Nevada’s Employment Bucks National Trend

According to the SurePayroll Hiring index, small business hiring is up 0.7 percent in the second quarter nationally.  Year-to-date nationally, small business hiring is up by 1.5 percent, however, salaries have dropped 4.3 percent.  Alternatively in the Silver State, hiring is down 1.6 percent with a 1.6 percent increase for salaries year-to date.

Hospitals are quitting smoking

Statewide, Nevada’s hospitals are going tobacco and smoke free.  In Southern Nevada, all three St. Rose Dominican Hospitals are now tobacco and smoke free.  In Northern Nevada, Renown Health, Saint Mary’s and Northern Nevada Medical Center are working together to make all of their facilities completely smoke and tobacco free.  According to the American Cancer Society, the use of tobacco products is linked to 440,000 preventable deaths a year.

NV Energy files for approval of the One Nevada transmission line and renewable projects

NV Energy recently filed an Integrated Resource Plan for the Southern Nevada territory with the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN).  Specifically, NV Energy is seeking approval for the construction of the One Nevada Line (ON Line) 500 kV transmission line with an in-service date of 2012, new energy efficiency and conservation programs, the expansion of existing programs and various other renewable energy projects.

Record Number of Homes Sold

According to the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors, more existing homes were sold in Southern Nevada during June than during any other month on record.  The previous record month was June 2004 with a total of 4,414 total sales.  June 2009 saw 4,702 sales.  Of the sales, 61.7 percent of all single-family and 57.2 percent of all condos and townhomes sold within 60 days of the listing.