Week of Dec. 9 | News Briefs

Nevada employment

Employment in Nevada firms with less than 100 employees totaled 603,000 as of the second quarter of 2016, a new all-time record. This is the first time that the 600,000 job threshold has been crossed according a report by the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.

This is an increase of nearly 12,200 jobs from the first quarter of the year.

U.S. Bank

U.S. Bank, with numerous branches throughout northern Nevada, has been named a Best Brand for Small Business and for Middle Market Banking by leading consulting and research firm Greenwich Associates.

U.S. Bank earns awards in both the small business ($1 million to $10 million in annual sales) and Middle Market categories ($10 million to $500 million in annual sales). U.S. Bank was recognized as a Best Brand in six categories: Overall, Loans or Lines of Credit, and Cash Management for Small Business and Overall, Loans or Lines of Credit and Cash Management for Middle Market.

MONEY Magazine and Nerdwallet also recognized the U.S. Bank Business Edge Platinum credit card as a “Best for Borrowing” in the Small Business category of MONEY’s annual “Best Credit Cards” listing.

Pro Group Management

Pro Group Management, an administrator of self insured groups for workers’ compensation firm in Carson City, was presented the Best in Financial Risk Management – Nevada award at the 2016 Finance Awards presented by Wealth & Finance International.

The Finance Awards were developed to distinguish the leaders in the finance industry by recognizing their commitment and talent in the financial risk arena.

Wood Rogers

Wood Rogers, a multidisciplinary engineering, planning, and surveying consulting firm, moved into new office at 1361 Corporate Blvd. in Reno.

Wood Rogers employees designed the office which features a kitchen and patio, as well as employee activities such as basketball, cornhole or darts.

Shaheen Beauchamp Builders LLC

Shaheen Beauchamp Builders LLC, a Carson City-based contractor, has been nominated to receive the Nevada Excellence in Design awards by the Nevada Chapter of the American Institute of Architects for a pair of renovation projects.

Shaheen Beauchamp was nominated for renovation of the Mutual of Omaha Bank in Carson City in 2013 and 777 Center in midtown Reno this year.

The AIA Nevada Excellence in Design program recognizes achievement in areas of architectural activity in order to elevate architectural quality and establish standards of excellence in design, while advocating for sustainable architecture.

Inspire Kitchen and Bath

Inspire Kitchen and Bath Showroom has opened at 950 S. Rock Blvd. in Sparks.

The 8,000-square-foot building designed by Don Mackey Architecture and built by Dianda Construction, broke ground in January.

Customers who visit Inspire beginning through Friday, Dec. 23 can enter their name into the Inspire Dream Kitchen and Bath giveaway. The giveaway includes a $5,000 in-store gift certificate toward a kitchen or bath remodel, limited to items found at Western Nevada Supply, not including installation. The winner will be announced Tuesday, Dec. 27. For more information on products, services and the latest news, visit GoBlueTeam.com.

Sierra Wellness Connection

Sierra Wellness Connection, a locally-owned cannabis medical dispensary, opened its second location in 2765 US Highway 50 East, Suite A, in Carson City.

Sugar Love Chocolates

Sugar Love Chocolates has launched a Kickstarter campaign on the eve of Small Business Saturday. The goal is to raise $4,000 so that Sugar Love Chocolates can place a minimum quantity order for 2,500 custom two-piece boxes. The launch of the Kickstarter campaign coincides with Sugar Love celebrating its one year anniversary of its retail location.

For more information, campaign, view the video, and/or become a backer, go to https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1961114454/sugar-love-chocolates-two-piece-wedding-favor-boxe?ref=nav_search.

KPS3 Marketing

KPS3 Marketing, a full-service marketing and digital communications firm, has announced an endowment scholarship at the University of Nevada, Reno Reynolds School of Journalism in honor of Stephanie Kruse, founder, president and chief strategist of KPS3.

The pledge from KPS3, announced at their 25th Anniversary Celebration, will be in the amount of $10,000 over the course of five years to qualified students.

Noble Studios

Noble Studios, a digital marketing agency in Reno, was presented with a Silver Award of Excellence in Digital Marketing Design at the 2016 Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International Adrian Awards.

Noble Studios was honored for its work on Yosemite.com, the new website for the Yosemite / Mariposa County Tourism Bureau.

Pershing Gold

Pershing Gold Corp., the emerging Nevada gold producer advancing the Relief Canyon mine in northeast Nevada, intends to offer and sell shares of its common stock in an underwritten public offering.

Pershing Gold also intends to grant the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase additional shares of its common stock in an amount up to 15% of the shares sold in the offering on the same terms and conditions to cover over-allotments. The proposed offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the offering.

Pershing Gold announced the pricing of its previously-announced public offering. The offering consists of 2,205,883 shares of common stock at $3.40 per share for a total of approximately $7.5 million in gross proceeds before deducting the underwriter’s discount and expenses and assuming no exercise of the over allotment option.

The company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for advancing the Relief Canyon project, capital expenditures, working capital and general corporate purposes.

Pershing Gold also entered into a non-binding term sheet with Sprott Resource Lending to provide a credit facility with a principal amount of up to $20 million. The proceeds of the facility would be used to advance the Relief Canyon project towards production.

Builders Alliance scholarships

The Nevada Builders Alliance Women’s Council awarded four scholarships to Nevada college students enrolled in construction-related programs.

Betty Morton from the College of Southern Nevada, Donovan Walker from Western Nevada College, Joseph Brand from Great Basin College and Richard Schnitz from Truckee Meadows Community College each received $1,000 from the Council. Morton is the first female to receive the construction studies scholarship.

Barracuda Championship

Organizers of the 2017 Barracuda Championship golf tournament announced the event will be held at Montrêux Golf & Country Club in Reno on July 31-Aug. 6, 2017.

For more information on the Barracuda Championship such as how to become a volunteer or how to purchase tickets, visit www.barracudachampionship.com.

Lyon County offices

The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office and Lyon County Human Services are moving into their new 6,800-square-foot building at 620 Lake Ave. in Silver Springs.

In July 2015 the County Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of the building from Clean-Dried Processing for a total price of $580,000.00. Lyon County spent an additional $494,424.00 to remodel the interior to meet the needs of both departments.

The building has 86,609 square feet of parking and room for expansion. It will house the Patrol Division for Silver Springs, Narcotics Division, Detective Division, LCSO Command staff as well as providing holding cells for arrestees. The Human Services Administration and Support staff will be headquartered at this facility as well.

DETR grant

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval recently announced the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) was awarded a $799,765 ApprenticeshipUSA State Expansion grant by the U.S. Department of Labor.

The grant will be used to fund the Technical Readiness and Apprenticeship (TRAIN) project, a statewide effort to align programs, effectively utilize and interpret data, and reduce barriers to education, literacy, and training through Registered Apprenticeships.

Construction Economic Outlook breakfast

Nevada Chapter AGC presents its 2017 construction economic outlook breakfast Wednesday, Dec. 14 from 7-9 a.m. at the AGC office, 5400 Mill Street in Reno.

Presenters will be: Ken Simonson chief economist, AGC of America; Steve Hill, executive director, Governor’s Office of Economic Development; and Sanjay Varshney, vice president, Economic and Regional Partnerships, Wells Fargo.

Topics will range from national construction trends and issues, regional economic impacts and concerns, and labor and construction cost forecasts.

To attend the AGC Construction Outlook call 329-6116 or email AshleyB@nevadaagc.org. Cost is $25 for AGC members and $35 for future members. Cost includes a buffet breakfast.

Cannabis lab accredited

374 Labs, a Nevada state-certified cannabis testing laboratory, received ISO 17025 accreditation in December, making it the first and only cannabis laboratory in the state to receive the prestigious accreditation.

ISO 17025 is a requirement of top testing laboratories in all industries from biotech to forensics in most major countries.

374 Labs was the driving force in starting Nevada’s medical marijuana laboratory round-robin testing program. The program, jointly administered by the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health and the Nevada Department of Agriculture, has each state cannabis lab perform a full sample analysis on marijuana samples, comparing results among labs to ensure consistency throughout the testing process.

INTERO Real Estate donation

Intero Real Estate Services of Gardnerville presented a check in the amount of $8,200 to the Incredible Kids Fund on Nov. 30. Douglas County Community Services Foundation representatives Renea Louie, Scott Morgan and Drew Aguilar along with Douglas County Community Services/Parks and Recreation staff accepted the donation on behalf of the foundation.