Nevada's report card is something to cry about

by Becky Bosshart

Nevada gets a failing grade for innovation and competitiveness of existing businesses.

Sez who? You may ask with a defensive, Don Corleone-esque mumble (to hearken back to Nevada's glorified mob-domineered past).

Nevada's failing grades comes from a nonprofit organization that issues an annual comparison of the economies of the 50 states that takes into account 68 measures.

According to the CFED's 2004 Development Report Card for the States, Nevada should diversify its industrial base and bolster its educational system to remain competitive. Overall, the state received a B in performance, a D in business vitality and an F in development capacity.

CFED, which is based in Washington D.C., gave straight As to Connecticut, and put Delaware, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oregon and Virginia on the honor roll.

I's there something I'm missing here? Massachusetts? I heard that people are moving out of there. And that a group of CEOs ranked Massachusetts as the worst state to do business, and Nevada was the second best. But anecdotal snippets aside, is this report card the result of a comprehensive study, or just more think tank pundits spouting venom at the rebel red state of the West?

But, like almost everything in life, it's a lot more complicated than that.

The state continues to rank no. 1 in the nation for long-term employment growth. Nevada has a comparatively low poverty rate (6th in the nation) and income distribution (8th). But then again, the state has the highest number of business closings in the nation.

Go figure. Judge for yourself at http://drc.cfed.org.

Carson City Sperry Van Ness agents honored

Sperry Van Ness, one of the nation's largest commercial real estate investment firms, recently recognized four of the company's Northern Nevada advisors at its national conference in Beverly Hills, California. Senior advisors Tom Johnson, owner of the Carson City and Reno Sperry Van Ness offices, and Bruce Robertson received the 2004 Partner Circle Award. Johnson and Robertson were recognized as two of the top 30 Sperry Van Ness brokers in the United States. They achieved this award out of 500 other advisors, many in major markets such as New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Sperry Van Ness advisors Jack Brower and Dewey Struble received the company's achievement award and were among its Top 100 advisors. The Northern Nevada Sperry Van Ness advisors received this distinction above other advisors representing major markets in the U.S.

Carson Valley Inn

The Carson Valley Inn was recognized by the Safety Consultation and Training Section of the State of Nevada's Division of Industrial Relations for successful completion of the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program. The Carson Valley Inn is only the 13th business to receive this honor in Nevada as well as the first hotel/casino.

The free program is designed to assist those who employ less than 250 to develop and implement effective safety and health programs. SHARP assists businesses to improve their return on investment, be in compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations and create added value of safety and health in reducing their accident costs.

Award for business that advance the employment of the disabled

The U.S. Department of Labor is calling for entries for the 2005 New Freedom Initiative Award, which honors nonprofit, small business, individuals and corporations for advancing the employment of disabled people.

The award recognizes public-private partnerships and programs that have had a positive impact on the employment of disabled people through access to assistive technologies, the use of innovative training, hiring and retention techniques.

For information visit www.dol.gov/odep under the New Freedom Initiative tab. Or call the Office of Disability Employment Policy at 202-693-7880. The deadline for nominations is May 27.

n Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.