Crucial river road’s collapse gives Moab economy jitters

Grand County and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management are scrambling to find emergency federal funds to rebuild the Mineral Bottom Road, which was washed out earlier this year. The road is an important river-running link and mountain bike route in Grand County. They applied to the Federal Highway Administration for emergency aid of $1.8 million to $2.5 million, and Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, sent the agency a letter backing the bid.

Highway officials have said the road, maintained by the county but crossing federal land, qualifies for an emergency funding program to aid federal highways. They haven’t yet approved the application, though. The BLM estimates the road supports 87 jobs and about $1.9 million in annual recreation sales. Salt Lake Tribune

Davis hotels welcome show dogs, revenues

Davis hotel owners have rolled out the plastic mat this week for canines competing in the German Shepherd Dog Club of America 2010 National Specialty Show at the Legacy Events Center in Farmington. To accommodate the 500 to 600 competing German shepherds, as well as their "best friend" handlers, about 1,400 hotel-room stays will be generated, said Barbara Riddle, Davis Area Convention & Visitor's Bureau CEO and president. That gives the weeklong event an overall economic impact of $318,380 to the county, she said. Ogden Standard-Examiner

Anime Banzai 2010 convention brings in just under $400K

By the time the costumes came off, 3,200 anime enthusiasts toting an economic impact of just under $400,000 had attended the three-day Anime Banzai 2010 convention at Davis Conference Center in Layton. It is the first time the sixth annual Anime Banzai convention was held at the center. But it won't be the last.

Anime Banzai organizers, through a letter of intent with the Davis Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and a contract with the conference center and area hotels, have signed on to a three-year agreement with the county to hold their convention in Layton, said Barbara Riddle, bureau president and CEO. Ogden Standard-Examiner

Exclusive Utah resort in Deer Valley seeking employees

Montage Deer Valley will hold a job fair Friday and Saturday, looking to hire 450 full- and part-time employees to work at the exclusive hotel scheduled to open Dec. 9. The fair will be staged both days from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Empire Canyon Lodge in Deer Valley.

Resort spokesman Dan Howard encouraged prospective jobseekers to go in advance to the Montage website — www.montagedeervalley.com/careers.php — to obtain more information about 135 different positions that will be filled and to complete online applications. Salt Lake Tribune