World Class Lifestyle
Ask any two Northern Nevada transplants why they chose to locate to the area, and their answers will likely be similar. The unsurpassed quality of life coupled with the outdoor amenities and scenic beauty of the area brought them to Northern Nevada. While the pro-business advantages and strategic location may have factored into their decision to locate or start a business in the area, the quality of life in Northern Nevada was the deal clincher.
The “Biggest Little City” (Reno), coupled with the “Capitol City” (Carson City), is surrounded by world class ski resorts nestled in a scenic mountain range that is breath-taking regardless of the season. Locals enjoy a community large enough to offer all the amenities of a large city, yet small enough to have a true sense of community.
Named among the top 25 best places to live in a recent issue of Men’s Journal magazine, Reno has an abundance of outdoor recreation and cultural offerings. The Reno Aces Ballpark, Riverwalk, Artown and outdoor recreation were among the reasons the city was included as among the best places to live. While visitors to the area may marvel at the abundance of recreational, outdoor and entertainment venues, residents share an uncommon community pride in their hometown.
Economic Development
According to Chuck Alvey, president and chief executive officer of the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN), business is up with more and more companies coming to the region. Since the November elections, about 50 companies have come, which compares to 20 in all of the previous year.
“Economic development today is proactive and aggressive. We have a reenergized economy, “ he said. Alvey, who has been at the helm of EDAWN for a number of years recently announced that he will vacate his position later this year when a replacement has been named. During his tenure with the organization, he has worked with hundreds of companies and remains committed to Northern Nevada.
In addition to EDAWN, the area is served by the Nevada Commission on Economic Development (NCED) and Northern Nevada Development Authority (NNDA) which primarly represents the Carson City area. The economic development agencies work closely with elected officials, chambers and other business organizations in Northern Nevada.
As of mid-May, NCED was negotiating with 20 businesses expected to decide in the subsequent three months whether or not to relocate to Northern Nevada. In Sparks, a number of companies have inquired about relocating to The Legends, the city’s largest shopping mall, according to Len Stevens, executive director of the Northern Nevada Chamber of Commerce, which primarily services Sparks.
New enterprises, too, continue to spring up throughout the region. Washoe County issued about 200 business licenses between January and mid-May of this year. “There’s definitely been movement,” Stevens added. “A lot of businesses have opened, which provides more jobs, so that’s really good.”
“Fundamental changes” are what’s taking place in the region’s economic development, said Bob Cashell, mayor of the City of Reno, which is carrying out its own economic development priority action plan to complement others’ efforts. “We are looking to industries other than gaming and construction to grow our economy, and changing how it is accomplished,” he added.
Rob Hooper, executive director of NNDA agrees that fundamental changes are taking place, and has put a few of his own into effect. The organization has formed 11 action committees, tasked with identifying challenges related to regional economic development in their specific sectors and devising solutions. These organizations meet monthly and are comprised of 250 local volunteers who believe in “shared abundance over competitive scarcity,” Hooper explained.
“If everybody comes together for a common cause, everyone gets more than they thought. And it works,” he added. “In the last two years since we started this, on the relocation side, we were able to manage 20 relocations, create over 1,000 new jobs and account for 1.4 million square feet being consumed.”
Relocations & Expansions
Economic development efforts, coupled with an improved economy, have resulted in several relocations and expansions in the area. Following is a sampling of the recent business activity in Northern Nevada:
GSI Commerce Inc. – This provider of e-commerce and interactive marketing services to retailers is expected to open a fulfillment center this summer.
Swanson Health Products – In April, this seller of vitamins and supplements, organic foods and related products opened a 52,500 square foot distribution center in Sparks.
Sanare – This healthcare products and services company specializing in diabetes, opened in Reno earlier this year.
EMCO High Voltage Corporation – A designer and manufacturer of power supplies, this company opened a facility in Minden late last year.
Toys R Us – The well known toy store has plans underway to open a 300,000 square foot distribution center in the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Park this year.
Urban Outfitters – This fulfillment center plans to expand into 462,000 square feet of newly constructed distribution space and hire an additional 150 workers.
SunFire – These manufacturers of ammunition magazine products expanded into a 11,000 square-foot center in Reno.
The Right Business Fit
Northern Nevada’s location, workforce and natural resources make the area ideal for clean energy, advanced logistic companies and manufacturing. In addition to these primary industries, economic developers are targeting business and financial services, life sciences, software, aviation and aerospace companies as well as intangibles such as licensing and intellectual property rights.
The Geothermal Energy Association ranked Reno as the world’s fourth leading geothermal city. With its wind, solar and geothermal resources, Northern Nevada currently is home to six clean energy corporations’ headquarters with more expected to locate to the area. New to Reno is the National Geothermal Academy, a consortium of top geothermal schools in the nation, which will educate and train the next generation of geothermal professionals. The first classes are scheduled to begin in the summer of 2011.
The City of Reno is leading by example in the green movement. Photovoltaic or wind turbine systems have been installed on 11 different city facilities in various locations as examples for the community. “We should become the clean energy power center of America,” Cashell said.
The area’s strategic location and proximity to California makes it an ideal choice for logistics companies. The region is using its highways, railroads and airports to expand e-commerce and other types of distribution. Reno-Tahoe International Airport moves approximately 113 million pounds of cargo a year and is a tremendous asset to the area’s economic development efforts. Earlier this year, Brightpoint North America Inc., a provider of logistics services to the wireless industry, joined the growing number of companies opening a distribution center in Northern Nevada.
Economic developers capitalize on the area’s resources such as logistics, foreign trade zones, tax benefits and commercial real estate to attract companies with production processes requiring a skilled workforce, the use of computers, high precision equipment and information technologies. Their efforts have resulted in relocations and expansions of companies such as Pacific Cheese Company, which expanded its Reno manufacturing facility, and TnB Enterprises Nevada (a maker of metal gun cases) which this year moved to Sparks from California.
Taking Care of Existing Businesses
Because job growth comes from existing businesses, it’s essential to take care of the companies already here and help them grow, Alvey said. In that regard, the City of Reno opened a Development and Business Services Center, which houses an economic development manager and business relocations manager, both ombudsmen who act as liaisons between citizens and the various municipal departments.
“We can do what they need efficiently and in a way that’s convenient to them.” Mayor Cashell said.
Also at the center are a Nevada Small Business Development Center (NSBDC) with business counselor, training programs, building licenses, building permits, planning and engineering entitlements departments. Later this year, the Nevada Institute for Renewable Energy Commercialization, a renewable energy incubator, is also slated to move in.
The city also assists businesses who nearly qualify for bank loans with supplemental funds called “gap financing.” These monies are community development block grants that, when repaid, can be used again for this type of funding.
In efforts to foster those with an entrepreneurial spirit and startups, EDAWN and a handful of partners have joined forces with the University of Nevada, Reno’s College of Business to develop an entrepreneurship program. EDAWN is also working with C4Cube, a small business incubator.
The Whole Package
While it’s often been said “you can’t have it all”, many in Northern Nevada would beg to differ. The motto “We Love This Place” adopted by Northern Nevadans sums up their sentiments toward the area in which they live and work. Looking forward, the forecast looks even better for the area as the economy continues to improve. “I think the future for our state can be brighter than any of us can anticipate right now,” said Hooper.
