In Brief

WASHINGTON

Federal policymakers poised
for spirited debate on economy

Federal Reserve policymakers are poised to have a lively debate today about what steps -- if any -- are needed to get the economy moving. But few expect any major initiatives to come out of the meeting.

There are differing views at the Fed's main policymaking group -- the Federal Open Markets Committee -- about what should be done. And some pressure is off after a few mildly positive economic reports showed the pace of layoffs has slowed, shoppers' appetites to spend has picked up and factory production is growing.

The reports have helped to ease concerns about the economy slipping back into a new recession, giving the Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and his colleagues a little breathing room.

"There are some signs of improvement, so I think the Fed is in a wait-and-see mode," said Bernard Baumohl, chief global economist at the Economic Outlook Group.d for general corporate purposes.

Even without action, the group could send a stronger signal that it is prepared to act if it looked like the economy was in danger of heading into another recession.

R&R Partners rated among nation's top media workplaces

A national trade publication has recognized a big local advertising agency as a top place to work.

The Sept. 20 issue of Advertising Age magazine has included R&R Partners on its list of Best Places to Work in Marketing and Media. Just 30 agencies nationwide appear on the roster.

Advertising Age based its analysis on employee questionnaires that measured the quality of a company's leadership; a work culture that fosters creativity, learning, communication and teamwork; empowerment to contribute to a company's overall success; and an atmosphere in which new ideas are valued and rewarded.

R&R is based in Las Vegas and has offices in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Reno and Washington, D.C. Its clients include the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the Southern Nevada Water Authority and NV Energy.

SolarReserve opens LV office to oversee project, seize chances

Energy developer SolarReserve said Monday it has opened a Las Vegas office to oversee a major Nevada project and pursue additional building opportunities in the Silver State.

The office is starting out with one to two employees and will ramp up to eight staffers in coming months, a SolarReserve spokeswoman said.

California-based SolarReserve is building the 100-megawatt Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project near Tonopah.

The plant will use molten-salt storage to harness heat from the sun and distribute it overnight, after the sun sets. Crescent Dunes will be able to power as many as 75,000 homes during peak periods, the company said.

NV Energy has signed a 25-year agreement to buy electricity from Crescent Dunes for a wholesale price of 13.5 cents per kilowatt hour.

SolarReserve expects to begin construction on Crescent Dunes by the end of 2010.

Diamond Resorts chief named to travel organization's board

Diamond Resorts International Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Stephen Cloobeck has been named to serve on the Corporation for Travel Promotion's board of directors.

On Sept. 11, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke named 11 travel and tourism industry leaders to serve on the board of the new nonprofit corporation, which will promote travel to the United States and work to improve the entry process so visitors will want to return. The Travel Promotion Act of 2009 created the corporation.

Diamond Resorts said Cloobeck brings three decades of resort development, finance, sales and marketing, hospitality service and resort operations expertise to the corporation.