INTEL: LVCVA heroes and payouts, Wal-Mart gives back

This seems like a good week to celebrate a good deed.

On Oct. 31, Janet Denton was working in her office at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority when another employee staggered in looking distressed. Denton quickly observed that the other person was choking, and applied the Heimlich maneuver. She was able to unblock the person’s airway and allowed him to start breathing before he lost consciousness.

Kudos to you, Ms. Denton.

Wal-Mart is in full giving mode, and is encouraging you to follow suit.

Recently, the retailer donated $2 million to Operation Homefront and Fisher House to provide toys, meals and lodging to military families in need. The donation will help hundreds of active-duty service members come home for the holidays. This is in addition to the commitment by the Walmart Foundation to give $20 million through 2015 to help veterans and their families prepare for successful civilian lives through job training, transition support and education.

If you’re interested in donating to either cause, visit www.fisherhouse.org/walmart or www.operationhomefront.net/walmart.

Since Memorial Day, Wal-Mart has hired more than 20,000 veterans through its Welcome Home Commitment. The initiative means that the retailer pledged to offer a job to any honorably discharged veteran within his or her first 12 months off active duty. The company recruits veterans into positions that best match their skills and professional goals, from immediate jobs in stores and clubs to long-term careers. The company expects its commitment to result in the hiring of more than 100,000 veterans over the next five years.

At its most recent meeting, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority board of directors approved a few large marketing expenditures.

First, $300,000 was earmarked for the 2014 Big League Weekend at Cashman Field featuring the Chicago Cubs versus the New York Mets. The games are scheduled for March 15 and 16 and are expected to draw 3,800 out-of-town attendees and generate an estimated nongaming economic impact of $2.9 million. The authority is expecting to churn out $100,000 in revenue from the games, as it will receive 15 percent of the gross ticket sales.

Another $300,000 will be spent on producing a client development event for 330 clients and guests in Washington, D.C., on April 24. Attendees will be composed of organizations such as the National Association of Broadcasters, Association of Homebuilders, HSBC and Delta Airlines. Since July 1, the authority has hosted more than 50 of these shindigs.

Clark County, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, Boulder City and Mesquite recently received their quarterly paychecks.

A total of $5.19 million was given to the entities as part of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s tax collection allocation for the first quarter of fiscal year 2014. Clark County received $2.18 million; Las Vegas received $1.47 million; North Las Vegas received $552,763; Henderson received $664,354; Boulder City received $114,185; and Mesquite’s piece was $207,610.

The money was given by the travel board because of an agreement made in 2007 that ensures the locales receive a 10 percent collection fee on any hotel and motel room tax earned in their jurisdictions. The convention authority is funded primarily by room tax revenue.

This payment covers hotel activity occurring during June, July and August, with the associated room tax received in August, September and October. The total allocation is 6.8 percent higher than the same period in 2012.

Hey downtown folks, El Pollo Loco is coming.

The Mexican fast food joint is planning to open at the southwest corner of Lake Mead and Martin Luther King Jr. boulevards. Recently the company signed a 20-year lease for a 31,342-square-foot retail pad at the site.

Contact reporter Laura Carroll at lcarroll@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4588. Follow @lscvegas on Twitter.