Movers and Shakers February 23, 2011

Best Western Coeur d'Alene Inn earns 'Best Western Plus' status

The former Best Western Coeur d'Alene Inn is now the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn, after earning the "Best Western Plus" descriptor from the World's Biggest Hotel FamilySM. The new descriptors, launched in 2010, give Best Western hotels the opportunity to earn the "Best Western Plus" or "Best Western Premier" designation by meeting specific design and amenity guidelines. "Best Western Plus" indicates well appointed rooms with modern amenities, and an enhanced level of comfort for guests looking to get the most out of their stay.

"No two Best Western hotels are alike, so these new descriptors will help our guests choose the right hotel for their needs from among the brand's 2,200 North American properties," said David Kong, Best Western International president and CEO. "Hotels that earn the 'Plus' descriptor typically have a 3-Diamond rating from AAA, and offer a little something extra to make a guest's stay even more comfortable."

With 122 guestrooms and convenient guest services such as free high-speed Internet access, an in-room refrigerator and available breakfast, the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn is designed to suit the needs of any business or leisure traveler. The hotel is at 506 W. Appleway.

"We are proud to put the 'Best Western Plus' sign on our door," said Steve Wilson, general manager of the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn. "We offer the great service and value that Best Western is known for, and in addition we provide a full service restaurant and bar, Mulligan's."

Workforce Development Council

to finance more on-the-job training

Keying on the initial success of an on-the-job training initiative for dislocated workers, the Idaho Department of Labor's Workforce Development Council has earmarked additional money to finance on-the-job training for disadvantaged adults.

The $250,000 commitment from the Workforce Investment Act program supplements a $625,000 federal grant the department received last fall to jump-start re-employment of workers who lost their jobs to foreign competition.

"With the help of this federal grant, 31 dislocated workers are already back on the job, and another 70 will begin receiving paychecks in the coming year," department Director Roger B. Madsen said. "This additional money extends the assistance to adult workers who face serious obstacles in finding employment through traditional means."

Eligible private sector employers are reimbursed for at least 50 percent of the wages they pay to qualified new employees during the on-the-job training period, which runs up to six months depending on the occupation and the trainee's skill level. The jobs must pay at least $10 an hour with a preference toward those that include employer-sponsored benefits.

The Department of Labor has been intensifying services to businesses to broaden its impact on the development and enhancement of the state's labor force so the Idaho economy gets the maximum advantage in the post-recession expansion.

Employers can call any of the 25 local Labor offices to learn if the jobs they are planning to fill or the employees they want to hire are eligible under either the dislocated worker or disadvantaged worker programs.

Music Walk to take place every fourth Friday until April

The Arts and Culture Alliance presents "Music Walk" from 5-8 p.m. Friday. Every fourth Friday from January to April, stroll through beautiful Downtown Coeur d'Alene and enjoy live music performances from some of our local favorites.

Visit supporting restaurants, shops, businesses and galleries with your friends and family. It is free. Just follow the red balloons!

Information: Cheryl Zainfeld, 292-1629 or e-mail [email protected]

February Business After Hours to

be held at Frontier Communications

The Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce's February Business After Hours will be 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday at Frontier Communications, 7400 Mineral Drive in Coeur d'Alene.

Business After Hours is a networking event and opportunity for members to show off their offices or facilities. They are held on the fourth Thursday of each month. Food and beverages are provided by the sponsor business and there are drawings for door prizes.

Information: Brenda Young, 415-0110 or e-mail [email protected].

If you have a new, relocated or expanded business, or announcement of events, promotions or awards, The Press wants to let our readers know. The service is free and items run Tuesday through Saturday. To get the word on the street on your movers and shakers, call city editor Bill Buley at 664-8176 Ext. 2016 or e-mail [email protected].