Nevada's reputation as a state where companies can grow
and prosper continues to rise. For the second consecutive year, Inc.
Magazine has reported Las Vegas and Reno as two of the best small metro
areas in the country to start and grow a company. Additionally, the Bureau
of Labor Statistics reports Nevada maintains its ranking as third in the nation
in the number of new manufacturing jobs and first in the nation for new non-farm
jobs. Perhaps the best indication of Nevada's business-friendly environment
is testimony from Garth Kloehn, President, Kloehn Co., a medical manufacturing
company that has doubled in size since moving to Nevada, "A one year search
led us to Nevada. The site was chosen due to its proximity to suppliers, inexpensive
land prices, fewer governmental restraints and excellent business climate."
This past biennium the Commission on Economic Development (CED) has met its
goals of attracting high-wage primary jobs to Nevada through a combination
of maintaining current programs and by examining the dynamics of doing business
in Nevada. The results were a new strategic plan for economic diversification
� Unlocking
Nevada's Future � and several studies indicating our future direction.
In keeping pace with the new economy, our chair, Lt. Governor Lorraine Hunt
directed CED to take several steps to attract high-tech industries to Nevada.
One step was to commission the Battelle Institute to study Nevada's current
technology climate. The result � "A Technology Strategy for Nevada" � is a
comprehensive description of Nevada's strengths and weaknesses, together with
plans to build a foundation to make Nevada a desirable location for high-tech
businesses. CED also joined a team of private businesspeople, government officials,
educators, and entrepreneurs at the State Policy Academy on Entrepreneurship
facilitated by the National Governor's Association Center for Best Practices
and sponsored by the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. The purpose
of the State Policy Academy was to focus on strategies that would create an
environment that fosters the notion of entrepreneurship from elementary school
students to high-growth entrepreneurs.
CED's primary concern is the impact of economic development and the attraction
of high wage, high skill jobs with knowledge imbedded in the product or process.
As a result, in this report you will find information regarding analytical
tools used in our Research and Business Development department to compare
the impacts and contributions to Nevada's economy by manufacturers and other
high-tech companies who requesting incentives.
Also, in this biennial report, you'll find evidence of an increase in the
number of new primary jobs in Nevada, an increase in the number of clients
served through our Procurement Outreach Program, and an increase in the number
of dollars invested in rural Nevada. CED recognizes the specific goals and
needs of its many communities in relation to economic diversification and
the creation of wealth and prosperity. There has been an identification of
the growing disparity between urban and rural revenues. To address this discrepancy,
CED mediated a series of regional workshops which led to the development of
"Building
Prosperity: An Action Plan for Rural Nevada." This plan represents
a strategic rural link to a growing Nevada economy.
Finally, that this report has being delivered to you electronically represents
this agency's, readiness to embrace the new economy. If I can answer any questions
regarding this report's contents, please do not hesitate to contact me at
[email protected] or 775-687-4325.