Recently added articles from The Public Record:
New strategies, increased budget allows CVA to better market the desert through challenging times
Jan 27, 2009; ... First the good news: Throughout most of last year, the Coachella Valley's tourism industry, as measured by desert resort hotel metrics, fared well given the difficult economic climate. Occupancy, average daily rate (ADR) and revenue per available room (RevPAR) were all in line with the desert's ...
Griffin Ranch offering unprecedented deal to prospective homebuyers
Jan 20, 2009; ... The sales professionals at Griffin Ranch are poised to offer prospective homebuyers one of the most unique and irresistible home-buying incentives ever offered in the Coachella Valley. Griffin Ranch will pay an existing home mortgage while the homebuyer is in escrow on any standing ...
RETI and the future of renewable energy in California and the Coachella Valley
Jan 20, 2009; ... The Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative (RETI) held one of their first public meetings in Palm Desert on Saturday, January 10. RETI was first created in 2007 as an important way to answer the goals set by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the CA Energy Commission which seeks to increase ...
Educating your furture employees
Jan 20, 2009; ... The Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce focuses most of its attention on the work of building business, but this month's meeting at Desert Willow turned to the topic of educating your future employees. On hand to discuss how the Coachella Valley's future workers are being educated were the ...
Two popular Palm Springs eateries thriving despite tough economic times
Jan 13, 2009; ... Despite the economic downturn, two popular Palm Springs restaurants, Las Casuelas Terraza and Sherman's Deli and Bakery - had record holiday seasons compared to last year. "If you've got great food that's moderately priced and good customer service to boot ... customers will keep coming ...
FHA Loans, offering Coachella Valley homebuyers valuable alternative to conventional financing, increasing in popularity
Jan 13, 2009; ... Since 1934, when the National Housing Act was passed, creating the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) in the hopes of reducing unemployment by increasing new home construction, FHA loans have been an important tool in the lender's toolkit. Of course the FHA makes no loans itself; rather, it ...
New research reveals strong local economic benefit of Walmart Supercenters
Jan 06, 2009; ... The local business climate in communities throughout California benefits significantly from the presence of Walmart Supercenters, according to a new study released recently by the international consulting firm Navigant Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: NCI). "The presence of Walmart Supercenters ...
Coachella Valley Economic Blueprint Launched: Public Encouraged to Take Online Survey
Jan 06, 2009; ... The Coachella Valley Economic Partnership (CVEP), together with partners in government, education, healthcare and business have embarked upon a long-term strategic community and economic development planning process in order to create a shared vision for the Coachella Valley's future growth and ...
Angel investors offer Coachella Valley entrepreneurs rare opportunities for funding, mentorship
Jan 06, 2009; ... Of the many hurdles entrepreneurs face when attempting to bring a new product or service to market, raising capital presents perhaps the biggest challenge. The seed funding raised from friends, family, and other contacts (often called the FFF round of financing, an acronym standing for friends, ...
"The Gofer" - Coachella Valley's Newest Hybrid Transport
Dec 30, 2008; ... Bob Gibson glides through the streets of Sun City Shadow Hills on his favorite transport, "The Gofer" - a seven-speed bike with a battery powered motor. He can easily switch from exercise to sit-back-and-relax modes at the push of a thumb. The vehicle is a hybrid transporter, taking the average ...
New report: California population surpasses 38 million while population growth slows in Riverside County
Dec 30, 2008; ... California's population surpassed 38 million by July 1, 2008 according to official population estimates recently released by the State Department of Finance. The growth of 1.16 percent, representing 436,000 new residents during the fiscal year, continued the pattern of modest growth rates over ...
City of Palm Desert names new city manager
Dec 23, 2008; ... The Palm Desert City Council has selected John M. Wohlmuth to be Palm Desert's next city manager. Wohlmuth, who has served as the executive director of the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) since 2003, will assume his new duties beginning February 1, 2009. He ...
With improvements, Palm Springs International Airport aims at world-class service and facilities
Dec 23, 2008; ... For its millions of annual visitors, the Coachella Valley is a resort destination with an international allure, the result of its unparalleled combination of climate, natural beauty, culture, and recreational opportunities. From golf to fine dining, from upscale shopping to lounging poolside, ...
Public pools and spas must comply with new law or face major fines
Dec 16, 2008; ... With less than a week before the deadline to comply with a new federal pool safety law, pool contractors are stepping up their efforts to retrofit suction drains across the valley with anti-entrapment covers. Public pools and spas, including those in the area's country clubs and resorts that do ...
College Access Foundation joins CVEP and local civic groups to significantly boost college attendance in Coachella Valley
Dec 16, 2008; ... College Access Foundation president Julia I. Lopez joined leaders of the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership (CVEP) and other local business and civic leaders last week to announce a new regional initiative to dramatically expand college access in the Coachella Valley. The Pathways to ...
Local automotive dealers watch closely as Congress decides fate of Big Three
Dec 09, 2008; ... As the perfect storm of the credit crisis, low consumer confidence, and the plummeting values of real estate and stocks clamp down ever tighter on the economy, it comes as no surprise that the automotive industry is in crisis. In November, vehicle sales hit their lowest levels since January of ...
New tiered-rate billing structure moving forward at CVWD
Dec 02, 2008; ... The Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) is proposing a new "water budget-based tiered rate structure" for its customers. What CVWD is now pursuing could be the initiation of a trend for other water districts in the valley in terms of pricing and customer billing for water in the Coachella ...
Gene Autry Plaza officially breaks ground
Dec 02, 2008; ... Gene Autry Plaza, the Palm Springs retail center located at the corner of Gene Autry Trail and Ramon Road, officially broke ground last week - signaling the eventual public opening of the long anticipated retail center's expansion. The project is scheduled for completion by April of next ...
Successful events, marketing outreach critical to sustaining valley retail through difficult season
Nov 25, 2008; ... Last week, The Public Record reported on the slower build up of seasonal traffic this year in the Coachella Valley, and consulted real estate experts to examine the effects of part-time residents on the valley's real estate segment. The concluding part of the series turns to the retail segment, ...
Saving money and water - One drop at a time
Nov 25, 2008; ... California's water supplies are facing a looming crisis. The massive underground aquifer that feeds our desert is in a state of overdraft, with more water taken out each year than can be replaced. As a result, area municipalities and businesses are forced to rely more on smart conservation to ...