Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 29

RED HAM REWARDS Business --HAfElGOIlSS! CAUC77S62WO00 OR VISIT US ON THE WEB AT WWW.RESORTATRECWAWK.COM BID AtVFRTIShMtNT SECTION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2003 RENO Sferrazza talks redevelopment with downtown improvement group Kings Inn update: City councilwoman says potential buyer looking at long-closed property. Sferrazza: Says she has "serious concerns" about expanding redevelopment agency board. 4- I ances. Shecited the boards of the Airport Authority of Washoe County and the Reno-Sparks Convention 8c Visitors Authority as examples of organizations that have run into problems with private or mixed (private and elected) board members. A number of DIA members challenged Sferrazza's apparent presupposition.

Ty Cobb, executive director of the Northern Nevada Network, cited Councilwoman Toni See DOWNTOWN on 80 The owner of the vacant Kings Inn, Nationwide Capital Services, is in bankruptcy. The councilwoman also reported that demolition work is complete on the site of the planned Downtown Events Center (Fourth and Lake streets), and that construction is on track to begin in January. Sferrazza was the latest council member to be the guest speaker at the DIA meetings, which have this year been largely focused on the issue of expanding the Reno Redevelopment Agen- clusively of the seven members of City Council, but a state law passed this summer now allows the board to be expanded to 1 1 members. Rather than privatizing the entire board, the prevailing thoughts within City Hall and among DIA members are to maintain the council members with the addition of the four redevelopment experts. But Sferrazza said she had "serious concerns about expanding the board, saying non-elected members could foster a system lacking checks and bal By Thomas J.

Walsh RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL The shuttered Kings Inn casino and hotel on Third Street downtown, between West Street and Arlington Avenue, is being looked at by a prospective buyer, according to Reno City Councilwoman Jessica Sferrazza. Sferrazza told the Downtown Improvement Association early Thursday that the city continues to pursue condemnation proceedings for the property, and that "someone is interested" in turning it around. She said she could not elaborate more, except that engineers have recently been in the building and found it to be "structurally sound." Hunt to lead state trade, tourism delegation to China Uwn wrap pes al Mfi IllTO tadi einMioiF rtsrolteip shows zj STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt will lead Nevada's first official tourism and trade mission to the People's Republic of China Oct.

9-1 9, heading a delegation of tourism, hotel ana private industry officials to develop new business, she announced Thursday. The delegation will travel to Beijing and Shanghai on the China mainland, as well as Hong Kong and Macau, to meet officials instrumental in developing trade and tourism with Nevada, said Hunt, who chairs both the Commission on Tourism and the Commission on Economic Development. Five officials from Northern Nevada are included in the trip: Ralph Witsell, director of travel industry sales for the Reno-Sparks Convention 8c Visitors Authority. Krys Bart, executive director of the RenoTahoe International Airport. Three officials from Click Bond Inc.

of Carson City President Charles Hutter, COO Collie Hutter and Pacific Rim Manager Karl Hutter. The company manufactures fasteners for aircraft and aerospace. "China is the world's Much to offer: Tourism officials tout expanded convention center, other changes. By Thomas J. Walsh RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL In an effort to win back a pair of lucrative annual trade shows put on by the national outdoor retail industry, local convention officials and a "task force" of regional companies have joined forces, beginning with attendance at an important annual outdoor conference starting this week in Vail, Colo.

Representatives from the Reno-Sparks Convention Visitors Authority and KPSI3, a Reno public relations and marketing company, are in Vail through Sunday to attend the annual OIA (Outdoor Industry Association) "Rendezvous" convention, which brings together manufacturers, sales representatives and some retailers that serve the industry on a national level. The RSCVA recently contracted with KPSI3, which has extensive experience and contacts in the outdoor industry, to help formulate a direct networking approach to convince decision-makers to bring the summer and winter Outdoor Retailer trade shows back to Reno. The shows were held here for a decade until leaving for Salt Lake City in the mid-1990s, and were a key moneymaker for the city. "What we're doing is allow- Reno Gazette-Journal file cy's board of directors to include four private business experts with redevelopment experience. The Redevelopment Agency's board is currently made up ex- rZ KPSI3 arranged for a blues singer to be on hand to greet guests at the lunch, with woeful "you've been gone so long" theme lyrics.

The agency also put customized door hangers overnight on hotel room doors that are designed to look like pink "while you were out" office message slips. In addition to the new convention space, the door hangers tout Reno's 20,000 hotel rooms See OUTDOOR on 4D 's properties cessful in the market there (in Northern Nevada), we have to deliver brands and products that are unique and acceptable to that market, Arcana said. Gofden also operates Golden Route Operations, the third largest slot route in Nevada. The company also is building two new restaurants in Las Vegas. Martin and Black opened their first Sparky's restaurant at Prater Way and Sparks Boulevard four and a half years ago, and grew the chain to six locations, with a seventh planned for south Carson City when they found a buyer.

See SPARKY'S on 8D Reno Gazette-Journal file Retailer show was held at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center for a decade mid 1990s. Payroll firm's bankruptcy impacts Nevada businesses HunfcLt. Governor hopes to open doors for Nevada businesses to trade with China. Reno Gazette-Journal file fastest-growing economy and presents golden opportunities to develop and increase lucrative new tourism and trade opportunities for Nevada," Hunt said. "This mission will open significant doors with China and enable our delegation to establish solid business connections that will benefit Nevada's industries and tourism-based economy for years tocome.

During the 10-day mission, Hunt and other state officials plan to meet with leaders of Chinese agencies that govern tourism, trade, broadcast media and aviation, while private sector manufacturers and business investors gather with their counterparts to seek new export markets. The delegation also will host receptions in Beijing and Hong Kong for Chinese dignitaries, business and tourism leaders. See CHINA on 40 Terry Johnson: State labor says he has received complaints. Reno Gazette-Journal file da Labor Commissioner Terry Johnson. Johnson said he has received complaints that Team America did not pay health insurance premiums for September, a situation that would have left employees with no insurance after Sept.

30. The lack of insurance payments caused a brief crisis for some employers, said Dianna Hegeduis, deputy attorney general assigned to represent the labor commissioner's office. See BANKRUPT on 80 Daily Features Sunday: Information Bank Local Stocks and Licenses; Investing The Motley Fool and Stock Game. Monday: Business Technology Bytes, Plugged.ln, Sites.Comment and Wired; Economic Indicators and Weekly Planner. Tuesday.

Small Business. Wednesday Information Bank-Bankruptcies, People and Watch. Thursday Information Bank Conventions, Gaming and Job Fairs. Friday Real Estate Building Permits and Locally. Saturday Spotlight and Weekly Wall Street Updates: I atnet noiuc rgj.combusiness Las Vegas company plans to buy Sparky SELLING THE OUTDOORS: The Outdoor before moving to Salt Lake City in the ing oth attendees and exhibitors to know that in Reno, the door is open," said Rob En-riquez, the RSCVA's executive director of sales.

Our subtle approach is saying, Come back home whenever you're The Outdoor Retailer shows are conducted every January and August, and bring in as many as 20,000 visitors and a combined $24 million to $30 million economic impact to Salt Lake City. The RSCVA will sponsor a luncheon at the event today, and Sparks will work for Golden, which intends on keeping all the restaurants open with the current themes. "We are still working with them and growing the business," Black said, adding that the two will work as advisors for Golden. "We wanted to make sure they wouldn't change the name ana concept." Golden is planning a new alpine-style tavern called Sierra Gold that will open in spring on the corner of South Meadows Parkway and Double Boulevard in Reno, Operations Director Stephen Arcana said from Las Vegas. Golden will try to open both new alpine theme bars and Investing Dow Nasdaq 9,487.80 1,838.22 Inside Today INSIDE Reno team: List of Reno-Sparks Outdoor Retailer Community Task Force members.

40 where PresidentCEO Jeff Beck-elman will give a 10-15 minute speech about the many changes and the growth that Reno has undergone since the mid-'90s, starting with the greatly expanded Reno-Sparks Convention Center. Arcana: Operations director of Golden Gaming, which is buying Sparky's. Provided by company Sparky's in Northern Nevada, including the Sparky's planned for Carson City, Arcana said. Golden runs 21 PT's Pubs locations and four PT's Places in the Las Vegas area and the Gold Bar in Fernley. PT's is something that works here in Las Vegas, but the truth of the matter is that to be suc 2-30 A' Biz Poll How big a By Joyce Swanson RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL When an Ohio company filed for bankruptcy last week, 180 Nevada companies, including at least rive in Northern Nevada, scrambled to see if their employees' wages had been paid and whether they were still covered by health insurance.

Team America, based in Worthington, Ohio, had contracted with 1,200 companies in six states to handle human resource matters, including making payrolls and sending in premiums for employees' health and life insurance benefits. In some cases, Team America electronically debited their clients' bank accounts for the payroll and benefits, but didn't make the payments, explained Neva- Ryan Randazzo RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL The largest tavern company in Nevada Golden Gaming Inc. of Las Vegas is buying The Old Little Waldorf Saloon, Dog House Pub Grub and all four Sparky's sports bars in Northern Nevada. The owners of the six-restaurant? local chain, Dave Martin and Andy Black, have agreed to sell the restaurants for an undisclosed amount. The deal will close this month assuming Golden Gaming, best known for its PT's Pubs locations in Las Vegas, gets its business and alcohol licenses.

All 150 employees in Reno Coming Sunday Taxes: With the flip of the calendar to October, new business taxes on payroll, bank branches and gross gaming revenues are in effect. The state's casinos are already paying an additional 0.50 percent on their gaming revenues. Come January, the taxman will be knocking on banks and other business doors to collect for the October-December quarter. How are those businesses preparing and where do they see the effect trickling down? Contact Us Business editor Edward H. Shur, (775) 788-6428 E-mail: businessrgj.com Circulation: (775) 786-8744 1,020.24 Telecommunications Carson-based ETI buysTeleCuba USA ETI Corp.

of Carson City, whose stock is traded on the Over the Counter market, has signed a letter of intent to acquire TeleCuba USA Inc. of Miami. TeleCuba USA, a facility-based telecommunications operating in Florida, serves the large Hispanic market. TeleCuba presently offers international, 10-10 dial-around, local and switched services. TeleCuba USA offers a wide range of services in multiple languages, including customer service and billing.

ETI plans to use the proposed acquisition as a vehicle to expand on its proven business model by consolidating the operations and management of TeleCuba with ETI and its affiliates. The proposed acquisition will take the form of a stock merger transaction; closing is subject to approval by the Florida Public Utility Commission, ETI shareholders and other customary conditions. ETI and TeleCuba seek to finalize the pact by Dec. 31 Wire reports threat to Northern Nevada's economy is California's tribal gaming? Enormous and potentially devastating. Very serious, but we can handle it with hard work.

Serious, but nothing to lose sleep over. Worrisome, but the outdoors is what we're about. Negligible; what's all the fuss? Vote: rgj.combusiness. E-mail your views: businessrgj.com. Results: Saturday Business roundup: Directors of the New York Stock Exchange discussed proposals on Thursday to reform the organization's governance in their first board meeting since John S.

Reed became interim leader. 3D Employee stock options: The revival of employee stock options is enriching workers at formerly slumping Internet companies. 40 Economy. Increased claims for unemployment insurance were submitted last week as laid-off workers prevented from filing because of Hurricane Isabel applied for benefits. 4D Mortgage rates: Rates on benchmark 30-year mortgages dropped for the fourth week in a row.

5D.