Colorado casinos posted a 5.9 percent increase in revenue in November compared with the same month a year ago. The state’s 46 mountain casinos recorded adjusted gross proceeds – total bets minus payouts – of $63.1 million in November, according to data released Monday by the Colorado Division of Gaming.
During November 2005, the industry had adjusted gross proceeds of $59.6 million.
Additional business news briefs:
FORT COLLINS
N. Colorado economy projected to expand
Northern Colorado’s economy should expand next year at its fastest pace since the 2001 recession, predicts Martin Shields, a regional economist at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.
Larimer and Weld counties should add 6,100 jobs next year for a 2.8 percent growth rate, according to a forecast released Monday. Health care, social service and professional and business services are among the largest contributors to job gains. Manufacturing and construction are expected to lag.
DENVER
Qwest directors need majority to win seat
Qwest has changed its bylaws to require directors who are running unopposed to receive a majority of votes cast instead of a plurality of votes to win election, according to a regulatory filing Monday.
BROOMFIELD
Miami hotel added to RockResorts portfolio
RockResorts International, the luxury hotel subsidiary of Vail Resorts Inc., said Monday that it will add Marquis Hotel & Spa in Miami to its portfolio.
The Broomfield-based company will manage the 56-room hotel, set to open in February 2009, under a long-term contract.
Other RockResorts properties include The Lodge & Spa at Cordillera in Edwards and Snake River Lodge & Spa in Jackson Hole, Wyo.
DENVER
Holland & Hart picks managing partner
Holland & Hart has named Lawrence J. Wolfe its managing partner beginning Jan. 1. Wolfe is based in Cheyenne and heads Holland & Hart’s natural resources practice of more than 50 lawyers.
Wolfe replaces Edward H. Flitton, managing partner since 2000, and will report to the firm’s management committee and committee chairman Paul D. Phillips. He will be responsible for day-to-day management and strategic planning.
DENVER
Ex-Albertsons sites to become Latino stores
The developer of a chain of groceries catering to Latino shoppers will take over the leases of two former Grocery Warehouse stores that were closed when owner Albertsons LLC shuttered stores in Colorado.
Anthony Trujillo said his company will open Rancho Liborio stores at 72nd Street and Federal Boulevard in Denver and at South Circle Drive and Monterey Road in Colorado Springs in the spring.
The company is still in negotiations for additional locations.
BOULDER
Boulder firm to buy Van’s Waffles owner
Healthy Food Holdings, a Boulder-based portfolio company of private-equity firm Catterton Partners, said Monday that it has agreed to acquire Van’s International Foods Inc., the maker and marketer of Van’s Waffles. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Healthy Food Holdings is led by Chuck Marcy, former president and chief executive of Horizon Organic Dairy.
JEFFERSON COUNTY
Lockheed Martin gets Space Radar contract
Lockheed Martin Corp. has been awarded a $48.7 million contract extension from the Air Force on a Space Radar study contract.
The extension allows Lockheed to continue the work through April 2009.
ARAPAHOE COUNTY
Website aids in use of electronic flight chart
A new Jeppesen Sanderson website, www.flyelectronic.net, will make it easier for pilots to transition from paper to electronic flight charts. It has information on the cost, legality of flying with electronic charts, hardware and software and other information.
Jeppesen has sold electronic charts since 1996.
POWAY, Calif.
Benson Space awards contract to SpaceDev
SpaceDev, which acquired Boulder-based Starsys this year, won a $330,000 Phase 1 study contract from Benson Space Co., a business established by SpaceDev’s founder.
SpaceDev will use the contract funds to continue its Dream Chaser spaceship program.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.
Google, NASA join on Internet projects
Google and NASA will work together to make real-time weather and space information available on the Web. Weather visualization and forecasting and tracking of the international space station are among projects to be explored, NASA said.
The agreement is designed to make more information from NASA available to consumers online. For Google, offering space content such as high-resolution maps of the moon and Mars is a way to attract consumers to its websites and programs such as Google Earth.
PHILADELPHIA
Newspaper union OKs pact, concessions
Members of the largest union at Philadelphia’s two biggest newspapers voted 498-69 Monday to approve a new three-year contract despite major concessions and looming layoffs.
The Newspaper Guild of Greater Philadelphia, which represents more than 900 editorial, advertising, circulation and clerical employees at The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News, was the last of 10 unions to ratify a new contract.
