Business briefly Jan. 23

Veterinary clinic gets accreditation

Lone Mountain Veterinary Hospital, 780 College Parkway, has once again received accreditation from the American Animal Hospital Association.

The evaluation includes a review of the hospital's facility, medical equipment, practice methods and patient health care management.

Only 15 percent of all small animal veterinary practices in the U.S. have achieved accreditation by the American Animal Hospital Association. In order to maintain accredited status, Lone Mountain is evaluated every three years.

BRIC to host home buying seminar

Valerie Wyman, Carson City Realtor with Coldwell Bank Best Sellers, will address new laws that could affect home sellers in 2011.

The event starts at 7 a.m. on Wednesday inside the Business Resource Innovation Center, 108 E. Proctor St.

The seminar, hosted by the Business Networking Group, is for home sellers and home buyers. For more information call 775-882-3555 or visit www.bninevada.com.

Realtor organization names officers

The Sierra Nevada Chapter of Certified Residential Specialist, an organization comprised of members who have earned their designation through education and real estate production, installed its 2011 officers.

They area:

President Donna Clark of Dickson Realty in Reno, president-elect Cyndy Brown of Keller Williams in Reno, Treasurer Nancy Costello of Tahoe Real Estate Group in Truckee, and Secretary Christina Rice of Coldwell Banker Best Sellers in Carson City.

Economic trends from Department of Commerce:

• Building permits in December 2010 were 635,000, up 16.7 percent from November but down 6.8 percent from December 2009. Housing starts were 529,000 in December 2010, down 4.3 percent from the prior month and 8.2 percent below December 2009.

• Retail sales in December 2010 rose 0.6 percent from the prior month and 7.9 percent from the prior year, to $380.9 billion. For 2010 overall, retail sales grew 6.6 percent after falling 6.5 percent in 2009. Excluding automobiles, retail sales in December 2010 rose 0.5 percent from November and increased 6.7 percent from December 2009. For 2010 overall, retail sales excluding automobiles grew 5.9 percent after falling 5.2 percent in 2009.