JOBLESS-BENEFIT CLAIMS HIT THEIR LOWEST LEVEL SINCE '73
Associated PressThe number of Americans claiming unemployment benefits fell last week, sinking to the lowest sustained level in a quarter century despite world economic turmoil that's battered U.S. manufacturers.
A seasonally adjusted 289,000 Americans filed applications for unemployment checks, down 10,000 from the week before, the Labor Department said Thursday.
It was the eighth consecutive week of claims below the 300,000 mark, the longest such stretch since 1973, demonstrating the strong demand for labor in the U.S. economy.
A separate survey shows factories have cut 337,000 jobs since March 1998, but apparently laid-off workers are finding jobs in service industries, which have been hurt less by international conditions than export-dependent manufacturing companies.
BOARD ALLOCATES BONDS TO FINANCE FACILITIES
Associated Press
A state board has allocated nearly $18.5 million in tax-exempt bonds to three companies to finance housing and manufacturing facilities.
The Utah Private Activity Bond Authority Review Board announced it was giving Saxton Inc., and Payson-based Stonebridge, LLC, $7.5 million each in bonds.
Las Vegas-based Saxton plans to build an apartment complex in West Haven. Stonebridge will use its bond to build an apartment complex in Payson.
Logan-based Integrated Systems Engineering, Inc. will receive $3.435 million to build a plant in Logan where electronic signs will be manufactured.
The bonds come from $150 million the state receives from the federal government.
W.V. CHAMBER TAKES ON NEW LOGO, LONGER NAME
What was the Valley West Chamber of Commerce has officially changed its name and logo.
The new name will be the West Valley-Taylorsville-Kearns Chamber of Commerce.
Pam Ostmark, chamber president and chief executive officer, said the name change was necessary because the old name left people confused regarding what area the chamber represents.
ALAN TOWERS ASSOCIATES OPENS AN OFFICE IN S.L.
Alan Towers Associates, a New York-based firm specializing in reputation management and public relations, has opened a Western region office in Salt Lake City.
The new office, which has been retained by Los Angeles-based Metropolitan West Asset Management, is headed by Timothy Holland. It is at 476 E. South Temple.