It seems as though the economies of Las Vegas and Nevada may finally be recovering, as evidenced by new information about the local tourism and gaming industries, which mainly drive the area.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority recently reported that the number of visitors increased by 4.3 percent during September when compared to last year, which is the first yearly increase the city has seen since May 2008. Overall, more than 3 million people came to Las Vegas during September, up from 2.9 million visitors during the same time last year.

Another plus, convention attendance has increased by 12.2 percent, even though there were 95 fewer conventions in Las Vegas during September when compared to last year. This is the first time the city has seen an increase in convention attendance since July 2008.

Despite the fact that gaming revenues declined by 9 percent during September, casinos throughout Nevada brought in $911.1 million, making for the first time since March that the gaming win exceeded $900 million.

According to an article by the Las Vegas Review Journal, a recent gaming report found that revenues decreased for the 21st straight month in a row. However, a few bits of good news were included in that report:

• Gaming revenues reached $506.4 million on the strip, which is only a 3.58 percent decrease from last year, making for the lowest monthly decline in 15 months.
• High-end players, including international customers who spend a lot, spent $835.4 million, a 46.2 percent increase from last year. Of that, casinos kept $98.5 million, which is a 30.4 percent increase.
• The amount of money gambled on slot machines throughout the state decreased by 6.9 percent, accounting for the first time this year that figure was below double digits.

High-end play has increased in many prominent casinos during September, including the MGM Mirage, which had its third-best quarter ever for international marketing, and the Bellagio, which had one of its best-ever quarters for baccarat wagering. Gaming officials have stated that recovery of the Chinese and Hong Kong economies, as well as a weak dollar, have helped increase international visitation.

The gaming situation in Las Vegas could continue to get even better as the $8.5 billion CityCenter is slated to open by the end of the year.

The federal government recently announced that the $787 billion economic stimulus plan passed early this year has created or saved 5,667 jobs throughout Nevada. So far, Nevada has received $315 million of the $987 million in funding the state is slated to receive from the ARRA.

Overall, Nevada is expected to receive $2.2 billion in stimulus funds, including $700 million in tax savings given to residents and expanded unemployment benefits for for workers who have been laid off.

According to an article by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Sen. Harry Reid recently reported the ARRA has created or saved 6,134 jobs in Nevada. Of those positions, 2,094 were in public schools; 2,064 were in higher education institutions; 615 were in construction; and 437 were in the Nevada Department of Employment Training and Rehabilitation.

Even though many officials and politicians have questioned the validity of the recent reports surrounding stimulus job creation, the federal government reported the stimulus has created 640,329 jobs throughout the country.

Although the state's unemployment rate has continued to inch upward, Nevada has managed to add some jobs as of late.

During September, Nevada saw its unemployment rate increase from 13.2 percent to 13.3 percent, which is higher than the national unemployment rate of 9.8 percent. The state hasn't seen its unemployment rate decrease since December 2005, when it went from 4.3 percent to 4.2 percent.

Nevada had a total non-farm employment of 1,182,300 workers during September, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 1,179.600 workers during August, but a 6.1 percent decrease from last year.

The company recently announced its plan to cut 1,000 jobs and reorganize its operations in an attempt to cut costs and deal with a decline in the airline industry. The jobs, to be cut during the first half of next year, will include about 600 airport passenger and ramp service positions, about 200 pilot positions and about 150 flight attendant positions.

According to news reports, the announcement came after US Airways learned that it loss $80 million, or 60 center per share, during Q3. That follows a loss of $2.3 billion last year.

"By concentrating on our strengths we will be better positioned to return US Airways to profitability, which will result in a more consistent experience for our customers, better returns for our shareholders and greater job stability and career opportunities for our employees," Chief Executive Doug Parker said.

US Airways plans to eliminate some flights and focus on the hub cities of Phoenix; Charlotte, N.C.; Philadelphia; and Washington. After the reorganization, flights to and from those cities and shuttle service between New York LaGuardia Airport, Boston and Washington will account for about 99 percent of available seat miles, which is up from 93 percent today.

The company also plans to reduce Las Vegas flights by February 2010 from 64 per day to 36 per day. Stations in Colorado Springs, Colo., and Wichita, Kan., will be closed and flights from those stations will move to more profitable routes.

Crew bases in Boston, New York LaGuardia and Las Vegas will be closed by May 2010. US Airways also plans to close its maintenance station in Santa Ana, Calif., early next year.

Flights from the company's gateway in Philadelphia to five European locations will be suspended, including Birmingham, England; Gatwick Airport in London; Milan, Italy; Shannon, Ireland; and Stockholm, as well as flights from Philadelphia to Beijing. Seasonal service to Brussels and Zurich will become yearly by late 2010.

In order to become a paramedic, you must first obtain a license from the State of Nevada Department of Health and Human Services Division of Emergency Medical Services. Attending a paramedic school can help you prepare for that.

Paramedic school programs should be accredited through the Committee on Accreditation for Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions. You will be eligible to take the national licensing exam once you graduate from an accredited school.

A paramedic's responsibilities will vary depending on where they work, but all paramedics in training are expected to learn certain skills, such as how to insert breathing tubes, advanced airway management skills, pre-hospital pharmacology, EKG interpretation and ethics.

In order to attend paramedic school, you will be required to have certain immunizations, including those for measles, tetanus and hepatitis B. Most schools also require you to provide proof of a negative tuberculosis test and be certified in CPR.

There are plenty of options when it comes to choosing a paramedic school in Nevada. The state has several programs at community colleges and private technical schools, with tuition ranging from hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars.

Some top paramedic schools in Nevada, according to Medical and Nursing Training, include:

• The National Center for Technical Instruction - This is a private school in Las Vegas. Applicants must complete an approved anatomy and physiology class and must be certified as a basic EMT.Once accepted into the program, students are expected to complete 600 hours of classroom work, 290 hours of clinical work in a hospital emergency room and a four-month internship on an advanced life support ambulance. While most students complete the program within one year, the school allows up to 18 months for completion.
• Regional Emergency Medical Services Authority Training Center - This training center, located in Reno, is partnered with the University of Nevada. Applicants must have a current EMT certification, a passing score on the Health Occupations test, an interview with program faculty, and attend a mandatory orientation to the program.Accepted students are expected to complete 500 hours of classroom instruction, 290 hours of hospital experience and a 480 hour field internship. Most students complete the program within one year.
• University of Southern Nevada - This Las Vegas school offers an associate degree paramedic program. Applicants must be certified as an EMT and complete prerequisite classes, including anatomy, physiology, English and medical terminology. Applicants are judged based on experience as an EMT and grade point average.Once accepted, students are expected to take additional general education classes, complete an internship in emergency rooms at area hospitals and an internship working on an ambulance.

Sen. Harry Reid recently announced that Nevada will receive more than $90 million from the Department of Energy for geothermal technology projects.

The funding, from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is expected to create about 1,100 jobs throughout the state. Of the projects, 20 in Nevada will receive $72.4 million, while five from Reno-based companies outside the state will receive $20.5 million.

Those projects, which will include everything from exploration to using wastewater to increase the power of low-temperature geothermal sources, will focus on using heat from the Earth to make steam and create electricity.

"I can remember the first time I traveled as a young man between Reno and Carson City," Reid said. "I had never seen anything like that. Steam coming out of the ground. We are going to harness that steam."

There are currently about 300 megawatts of geothermal energy production in Nevada, and an additional 200 megawatts are expected to be developed by 2012. However, it has been estimated that there are as many as 3,000 megawatts of energy available from geothermal sources in Nevada, but developing all of that power could cost about $12 billion.

Most of the geothermal resources in Nevada are located in the northern portion of the state, meaning a new transmission line would have to be developed in order to move power to the southern portion of the state. NV Energy officials have said they could ask the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada for approval of such a measure by November.

The federal government will provide a total of $338 million throughout the country to be spent on similar projects. In addition, private companies are expected to invest $353 million in matching funds. The ultimate goal, according to officials, is to catch up with other nations, such as China, which is spending up to $9 billion per month on developing renewable energy sources.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas recently held its Southern Nevada Business Plan contest, which gives local entrepreneurs with good ideas to help the local economy the chance to start their own business. Anyone entering the contest must have an innovative business idea that would create economic growth in the area, whether through jobs or wealth.

"The competition’s goal is help revitalize the economy and inspire business people who may have a great idea but who didn’t have the resources to execute the plan," Steven Phelan, director for the UNLV Center for Entrepreneurship, said.

The contest, which is sponsored by the UNLV Center for Entrepreneurship and the Las Vegas Business Press, was open to anyone 18-years or older living in Clark, Lincoln or Nye counties.

In order to enter the contest, applicants had to submit a five-page executive summary detailing their business concept and strategies to finance and market their business. Every applicant will receive feedback from UNLV business college professors on ways to improve their proposals.

Ten semi-finalists, to be announced Nov. 23, will be required to create a full-length version of their business plan with advice from UNLV business college faculty and students. Five finalists, to be announced Jan. 11, 2010, will receive $1,000 in cash and free office space valued at $3,000.

The first-place winner, to be announced Jan. 22, 2010, will receive a prize package valued at more than $50,000, including cash and business services to help start their business.

The Las Vegas area's economy could certainly use the help. Even though the area managed to see an increase in employment last month, the unemployment rate continued to climb.

During September, the Las Vegas-Paradise area saw its unemployment rate increase from 13.4 percent to 13.9 percent, which is higher than the national unemployment rate of 9.8 percent.

The area had a total non-farm employment of 854,300 workers during September, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 844,700 workers during August, but a 6.2 percent decrease from last year.

The Bureau of Land Management is working with Coeur Rochester, Incorporated to expedite environmental studies necessary to reopen and expand the company's mine near Lovelock, Nevada.

The mine currently employs about 30 workers with a total payroll of about $4 million. The expansion is expected to create up to 200 new jobs and add about $20 million to the company's payroll.

"It is vital to create new jobs in Nevada as quickly as possible," Gov. Jim Gibbons said. "I am pleased the BLM and Coeur Rochester were able to come up with an agreement that will speed up the approval processes and put Nevadans back to work, while at the same time protecting Nevada’s environment."

The BLM originally ordered Coeur Rochester to conduct an environmental impact study before the company could proceed with its expansion project. However, the process of completing such a study can take years to complete.

With that in mind, Gibbons sent a letter to the BLM asking that Coeur Rochester be allowed to conduct an environmental assessment of the impacts of the project, which can be completed in significantly less time.

The agreement between the BLM and Coeur Rochester will allow the company to solicit public comment in order to identify concerns, issues and potential impacts, as well as identify a mutually acceptable third-party contractor to quickly prepare the environmental assessment.

The added jobs could potentially help Nevada's economy. Even though the state's unemployment rate increased last month, Nevada still managed to add jobs on a monthly basis. During September, the state saw its unemployment rate increase from 13.2 percent to 13.3 percent, which is higher than the national unemployment rate of 9.8 percent.

The state had a total non-farm employment of 1,182,300 workers during September, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 1,179,600 workers during August, but a 6.1 percent decrease from last year.