Business briefly March 6

Business group

to host joint breakfast meeting

Nevada Business Connections will host a joint breakfast meeting with the Downtown Improvement Association and the Reno-Tahoe Winter Games Coalition on March 16 at the Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa in Reno.

Keynote speakers include Steven Polikalas, president of the Downtown Improvement Association; John Killoran, CEO of Reno-Tahoe Winter Games Coalition; and Kris Holt, executive director of Nevada Business Connections.

Doors open at 7:30 a.m. and the event ends at

9 a.m. Cost is $20 for members and $30 for guests.

To RSVP, call Holt at 775-882-8306 or e-mail kris@nevadabusiness

connections.com.

Bank to host economic outlook meeting

City National Bank will host its 2011 Economic Forecast and Market Update at 8:30 a.m. March 24 at the Tamarack Junction, 13101 S. Virginia St., in Reno.

RSVP by Friday, March 18 at www.cnb.com/events and enter code: Reno

For questions call 775-828-8126.

Speakers include Michael Skaggs, executive director of the Nevada Commission on Economic Development and Paul Single, director of Fixed Income Investments City National Bank.

As gas prices rise, a few driving tips

With gas prices on the rise, here's a few gas saving tips from the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project:

• Accelerate slowly, stop slowly, keep steady speed: 5-33 percent savings.

• Drive at lower speeds. Most vehicles are most efficient at 55 mph, higher speeds require more energy: 10-25 percent savings.

• Use cruise control in flat terrain. Less accelerating and decelerating means greater efficiency: 7 percent savings.

• Improve aerodynamics. Leave ski and bike racks in the garage when you don't need them: 17 percent savings.

• Maintain proper tire inflation. Under-inflated tires increase drag: 3 percent savings.

• Keep vehicle tuned Up. A smooth running vehicle uses less gas: 4 percent savings.

• Remove excess weight. Storing heavy items in the truck or backseat creates excess load: 2 percent savings for every 100 pounds.

Those findings among others were presented to the Senate Transportation Committee in Carson City last month.

Meanwhile, average retail gasoline prices in Nevada have risen 17.1 cents per gallon since late last month averaging $3.48 per gallon as of one week ago, according to www.nevadagasprices.com.

NNDA forming technology committee

The Northern Nevada Development Authority is forming a "Technology Action Committee", which will study the region's technological capabilities such as Internet connections, data recovery and energy.

The NNDA is seeking professionals from the private and public sectors to sit on the committee.

An information meeting will be held at 11:30 a.m. March 25 at the NNDA office, 704 W. Nye Lane, Suite 201. Lunch will be served.

For more information call 775-883-4413.

Economic indicator from the Dept. of Commerce:

Construction spending in January 2011 was $792 billion, down 0.7 percent from December and down 5.9 percent from January 2010.

Non-profits benefit from bank donations

Wells Fargo invested $1 million in 120 Northern Nevada non-profits and community organizations in 2010, the company announced last week.

The bank also said its employees served 12,000 volunteer hours in their communities in the region.

"Everyone has been touched in some way by the current economic challenges, so I couldn't be more proud of our company and the generosity of our team members," said Chad A. Osorno, regional president for Wells Fargo in Northern Nevada.