Business Briefs

Area chambers set schedule

Chambers of commerce speakers for the upcoming week include:

Tom Rohn of tsunamifactor.com will speak at the Nikiski Chamber of Commerce meeting at noon today at North Kenai Baptist Church. For more information, call Judene Van Cleave at 776-5551.

The Soldotna Chamber of Commerce will meet at noon Tuesday at the Riverside House. Gail Phillips will speak about the 15th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. For more information, call Shanon Hamrick at 262-9814.

Gail Phillips will speak about the 15th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce meeting at noon Wednesday at Paradisos. Lunch is $10.50. For more information, call 283-7989.

The Nikiski Chamber of Commerce meeting at noon April 22 at North Kenai Baptist Church will feature Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly member Gary Superman. For more information, call Judene Van Cleave at 776-5551.

Hospital earns recognition for second year

Central Peninsula General Hospital earned Quality Respiratory Care Recognition for the second year in a row. Hospitals earning the QRCR designation agree to adhere to criteria governing their respiratory care services in order to ensure patient safety, including proper certification or credentials for all respiratory therapists.

The American Association for Respiratory Care began the recognition program in 2003 to help consumers identify facilities using qualified respiratory therapist.

Money for commercial drivers training available

Northern Industrial Training has grant money available to train 12 Alaskans in an eight-week commercial drivers license (CDL) course. Training includes construction truck driving, heavy equipment operation and hazardous materials training. Alaskans who work or used to work in the salmon industry may be eligible, including commercial fishers, crew members and cannery workers who lost jobs due to a cannery's permanent closure.

For more information, call (888) 367-6482.

Area businesses sponsor food drives

Members of Curves of Soldotna and Curves of Kenai who bring in canned or dry goods for donation will be eligible for drawings. Also, for every KDLL membership of at least $91.90 charged to a credit card during the station's spring membership drive, ending Monday, local grocery partners will donate one can of food.

All donations go to Kenai Peninsula Food Bank. For more information, call Kristina Combs at 262-3111.

Grocer offers tax refund check cashing service

As an enhancement to its payroll check cashing service, Safeway will cash IRS tax refund checks up to $1,499 at its stores in Kenai and Soldotna. Present the check and personal identification at the customer service desk to receive cash, upon approval. The service is intended to assist individuals who wish to remain unaffiliated with banking institutions. Safeway keeps the identity of customers who use the service confidential.