Business Briefs for May 16

Regional Burger Kings install energy efficient technology

The owner of 12 Burger Kings in Northern Nevada has retrofitted the restaurants with energy-saving technology using incentives from NV Energy, the power company announced Monday.

The improvements have reduced the company's energy usage by 995,959 kilowatts - about enough electricity to power 110 homes.

Owner Jill Lillaney has received $48,900 in incentives from NV Energy's Sure Bet program to offset the costs of installing the technology in her locations in Carson City, Reno, Sparks, Gardnerville, Fernley and Winnemucca.

The new measures include motion sensor lights in bathrooms, fluorescent and LED lights and energy-efficient toasters instead of steam tables for warming sandwich buns.

She has one location in Carson City at 3589 N. Carson St.

NNDA seeking members for marketing committee

The Northern Nevada Development Authority will begin to establish its Marketing and Media Regional Advisory Committee on May 26.

The NNDA is looking to recruit the committee's founding members. Professionals with marketing and media backgrounds are encouraged to come.

Those who would like to learn more about the committee can come to a meeting next Wednesday at noon inside the NNDA offices at 704 W. Nye Lane, Suite 201. Lunch will be served. The meeting should last until 1:30 p.m.

The committee will help market the Sierra Region and its companies on a national scale.

To RSVP call Danny Campos, the director of investor relations for the NNDA, at 775-883-4413 or dcampos@nnda.org by Friday.

Ribbon cutting Tuesday at nursing center

The Carson Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 2898 Highway 50 E., will host an open house Tuesday from 4 p.m. To 7 p.m.

The event marks the center's grand opening. A ribbon cutting staged by the Carson City Chamber of Commerce takes place at 5:30 p.m.

Refreshments will be provided.

NBC hosts breakfast

Nevada Business Connections will host its next breakfast meeting on Thursday with speakers Rick Parr, general manager of the Reno Aces, and Sherri Rice of Access to Healthcare Network.

Doors open at 7:30 a.m. Cost is $20 for members and $30 at the door. The event takes place inside Carson City's Gold Dust West, 2171 U.S. 50.

To RSVP call 775-882-8306 or e-mail executive director Kris Holt at kris@nevadabusinessconnections.com.

DETR announces changes to unemployment debit card withdrawals

Unemployment benefit recipients will soon see improvements in the debit card fee structure for accessing their benefits, the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation announced last week.

Beginning June 1,, recipients will be allowed one free withdrawal with each benefit deposit made into their accounts at Wells Fargo Bank ATM locations, said Cynthia Jones, DETR deputy director and administrator for the Employment Security Division.

Separate stimulus payments of $25 do not result in additional free withdrawals. Also, any unused free withdrawals will not expire until the last day of the next month after the deposit is posted to the account. Currently, recipients are only allowed two free withdrawals per month, and there is no accrual of withdrawals.

"We are continuously looking for ways to improve the state's unemployment insurance program so that recipients can receive the most out of their benefits," Jones said. "The debit card program has been highly successful since implementation nearly three years ago. It has resulted in tremendous savings for the state and has proven to be quite convenient for users."

If recipients use other ATM machines besides Wells Fargo, they will be charged $1.75 per transaction. After the free withdrawals at Wells Fargo, additional withdrawals will also cost $1.75 per transaction.

Also, recipients are allowed five free interactive telephone or operator assisted inquiries through Eppicard about their account. After those five transactions, they are charged 35 cents for each call.