Business Briefly for Dec. 5

Realtors group donates coats to Advocates

Members of the Sierra Nevada Association of Realtors collected and donated coats to the Advocates to End Domestic Violence.

"We are very pleased to have collected such a large number of coats this year," said Lori Duster, a Realtor. "It was great to see such strong participation throughout our association in an effort to help the women and families in the shelter stay warm this winter."

The nonprofit organization operates a 51-bed shelter and provides a variety of services designed to protect and support battered women and their children. For more information about the organization visit www.aedv.org.

For more information about Sierra Nevada Association of Realtors call 775-885-7200.

Single family housing sales down nationally

Sales of new single-family houses in October were at a seasonally adjusted rate of 283,000, down 8.1 percent from September, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. They are 28.5 percent below their year ago level.

Nevada tourism commission publicist earns annual award

Bethany Drysdale, media relations specialist for the Nevada Commission on Tourism, was honored Thursday by the Sierra Nevada Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.

She was awarded with the Mark Curtis Sr. Professional of the Year Award at the organization's annual awards ceremony at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa.

Drysdale, 32, has promoted Nevada's tourism industry attractions for NCOT since 2005, acquainting national and international travel journalists with the state's activities, events and amenities to develop stories for travel publications, websites and broadcast outlets that entice consumers to visit.

"Bethany enthusiastically applies her considerable tourism knowledge, expertise and variety of skills to produce travel stories and information for the global media that entice people to visit, which benefits Nevada's tourism-dependent economy," said Lt. Gov. Brian K. Krolicki.

Loss of benefits would ripple through economy

(AP) - Economists say the loss of extended jobless benefits for tens of thousands of Nevadans would have repercussions beyond Nevadans unemployed.

Some estimate the state would lose more than $500 million in economic activity by March if Congress doesn't extend payments to unemployed workers.

Nevada leads the nation in joblessness, bankruptcies and foreclosures. The state's unemployment rate in October was 14.2 percent. On Friday, the national unemployment rose to 9.8 percent.

The Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation says at an average weekly benefit of $300, the loss to the state's economy by mid-December would be $21 million.

By March, about 65,000 people would cease to receive assistance, taking $265 million directly out of the economy. But the ripple effect as that money isn't spent could snowball.

Las Vegas casino clearing last hurdles

LAS VEGAS (AP) - The builders of the last multibillion-dollar casino approved in Las Vegas before the economy faltered have turned the building over to those who will work there once it opens.

The chief executive of the $3.9 billion Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas symbolically accepted the keys to the resort on Friday in a ceremony with all 5,000 employees hired to work at the Las Vegas Strip casino.

The head of development for builder Related Cos. tells The Associated Press that the last of several restaurants and retail stores within the 8.5-acre development should get their permits by Monday.

Ron Wackrow says the building passed its inspections and received its temporary certificate of occupancy last month.

The casino is scheduled to open Dec. 15.