Spokane CVB accepting grant applications
The Spokane Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau said it’s accepting applications for grants to be used for tourism promotion.
The money comes from a fee levied on hotel room stays in Spokane County, called the Tourism Promotion Area (TPA), which was launched June 1.
“The purpose of the funds is to grow the tourism economy” here, the CVB said in a press release.
Grants will be awarded for marketing projects and general tourism promotion. Ron Anderson, chairman of the TPA Commission, said in the release that “the litmus test for granting consideration will be how many hotel rooms will be rented in conjunction with the granting request.”
Grant applications of up to $3,000 will be reviewed by the CVB, with applications due Feb. 1. Applications for larger grants will be reviewed by the TPA Commission and are due March 11. The two organizations have a total of $35,000 to distribute in grants.
Applications are available on the CVB’s Web site, at www.visitspokane.com/about_cvb/tpa_application.pdf.
Crude oil futures pass $49
London Crude oil futures prices rose above $49 a barrel Tuesday on concerns about the forthcoming Iraqi elections, terrorist threats to Middle East oil installations, Sunday’s OPEC meeting and a potential oil-worker strike in Nigeria.
Light sweet crude for March delivery was up 64 cents at $49.45 a barrel in afternoon trade on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Heating oil for February delivery rose 1.58 cent to $1.419 per gallon.
In London, Brent for March delivery was 2 cents higher at $46.03 a barrel on the International Petroleum Exchange.
Ford sees lower earnings
Ford Motor Co. expects lower earnings in 2005 because of a drop in profits at its financial services arm, which contributed heavily to 2004 results, but the nation’s second-largest automaker predicts robust growth from its automotive businesses. Its shares rose nearly 2 percent.
Ford said Tuesday it anticipates full-year 2005 earnings per share of $1.75 to $1.95, excluding special items, down from $2.11 a share in 2004. The current Wall Street forecast, according to Thomson First Call, is for full-year earnings of $1.84 a share.
Health magazine ranks cities
Add Men’s Health magazine to those trying to assess how America’s cities compare. In a recent issue, it ranked Spokane 69th out of 101 U.S. metropolitan areas that are considered the “best cities for men.”
The top five, according to the survey, were Fremont, Calif.; Madison, Wis.; Anaheim, Calif.; Austin, Texas; and Plano, Texas. Seattle was 19th, Portland, 31st, and Tacoma was 90th.
The ranking was based on 22 factors covering health, quality-of-life and fitness, a magazine article said.
Krispy Kreme deadline delayed
Winston-Salem, N.C. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc.’s lenders have agreed to push back the deadline for default on a credit line until March 25, the company said Tuesday.
The company said it has agreed to change the terms of its credit line to keep the company from borrowing any more cash without the consent of its lenders.