Pershing/Lovelock Brownfields Initiative Community Meeting Set for January 27

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Part of EPA Grant to Spur Investment in Vacant, Former Mining and Commercial Sites

The public is invited to attend the first meeting of the Pershing County/Lovelock Brownfields Initiative. The meeting is to be held on Monday, January 27, 2020 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Pershing County Community Center, 820 6th Street, Lovelock, Nev.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grants money to assess and clear properties, known as “Brownfields,” that are planned for reuse or redevelopment. Brownfields sites can include properties that are vacant, or are abandoned or underutilized sites that may suffer from real or perceived contamination.

At this public meeting, discussion will be encouraged on directing EPA grant funds to Brownfield sites in and around Lovelock including community gateways, the industrial park and, the downtown corridor.

The $600,000 EPA Brownfields Grant, the only grant given in the State of Nevada in 2019, was awarded through the Western Nevada Development District which applied for the monies and will manage the project in cooperation with local officials including the Pershing County Economic Development Authority.

“Community participation in this process is important and highly encouraged,” said Pershing County Commissioner Rob McDougal. “The public is invited to learn and provide input that will help assist in decisions that promote the removal of blight and contamination, create healthier places to live, work and play, and create jobs and new economic opportunities.”

The Brownfields Initiative is a key element of the Pershing County Economic Development Strategic and Revitalization Plan, adopted by the Pershing County Economic Development Authority which was facilitated by WNDD. Grant funds also will be used to conduct reuse planning for high priority sites, develop downtown/gateway revitalization strategies and conduct community involvement activities.

For a meeting agenda, materials and more information contact Sheryl Gonzales, Executive Director of the Western Nevada Development District at (775) 473-6753 or via email at sgonzales@wndd.org, or Heidi E. Lusby-Angvick, Executive Director of the Pershing County Economic Development Authority at (775) 273-4909 or by e-mail at pceda.hlusby@gmail.com.

See the article at ThisisReno.com

Winds of Change Workshop: Bouncing Back from Disruption and Disaster

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Anticipate, withstand and bounce back. That was the message to the region’s civic and business leaders at the Western Nevada Development District’s Resiliency Workshop held Nov. 13 at Storey County’s Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center.

The shocks and disruptions of today’s economic landscape can range from extreme weather, natural disasters, industry closures or declines, and major data breaches.

Speakers Brett Schwartz, Associate Director of the National Association of Development Organization’s Research Foundation, and Tonya Graham, Executive Director of the GEOS Institute, led the workshop on how to identify vulnerabilities and create the tools for a quick recovery.

Planning and building a resilient community is a key component to WNDD’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy or CEDS program. This locally-based, regionally-driven economic development planning process engages a range of partners, including community leaders and residents, tribes, the private sector, educational institutions, and other stakeholders. A completed CEDS enables regional entities to seek financial assistance from public and private funding sources for development projects within the region, based upon the CEDS’ strategies and projects.

“Economic resilience is a combination of initial response, quick recovery and longer-term initiatives to bolster capacity that can help a region withstand a disaster or downturn,” Schwartz said. “Regional thinking really works in this situation because you share similar risks and hazards and vulnerability in one county or city can impact another.”

The explosion of new businesses locating at Storey County’s Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center is a perfect example of one county’s economic initiatives and growth creating a region-wide foot print, he said.

Shocks and disruptions impact all five community “systems,” said Graham.

“Human health and safety; natural ecosystems, economic, or local business; the built community resources and our cultural resources all have to be considered,” she said.

Climate change and its impacts are a front-burner challenge for many regions but can also be an opportunity for creating new industries and opportunities. Reducing greenhouses gasses can also be a pathway to positives, like generating your power source locally, she said. The GEOS Institute has launched the Climate Wise program to help communities to adapt strategies to deal with climate change.

“Economies are truly regional in nature,” said Sheryl Gonzalez, Executive Director of Western Nevada Development District. “Resilience has become the new normal and our CEDS planning has to recognize and respond. We want to be able to build back better.”

Participants in the workshop were the WNDD communities: the seven counties of Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Mineral, Pershing, Storey and Washoe as well as the cities of Fallon, Fernley, Lovelock, Reno and Sparks who are engaging in the CEDs process.

Workshops will continue throughout early 2020 to address regional issues and build the planning and recovery tools for a successful regional economy, Gonzalez said.

Sheryl Gonzales Elected to NADO Board of Directors

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SHERYL GONZALES ELECTED TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Washington, DC – Sheryl Gonzales, Executive Director of Western Nevada Development District in Carson City was recently elected to the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Board of Directors.

NADO was founded in 1967 to provide training, information, and representation for regional development organizations throughout the United States. Today, NADO member organizations serve local governments and the public within their regions through various programs focused on diversifying local economies, assisting businesses, creating jobs, and providing social services. The NADO Board of Directors oversees the association’s budget and operations and develops policy on issues affecting regional development organizations.

“We are honored to have Sheryl serve on NADO’s Board of Directors. She brings a wealth of expertise, knowledge, and leadership on regional community and economic development issues to the national level,” stated Joe McKinney, NADO Executive Director. “Most importantly, Sheryl is focused on helping our nation’s local communities pursue comprehensive regional strategies for remaining economically competitive in today’s rapidly changing global environment.”

For more information contact NADO Executive Director, Joe McKinney at 202.624.5947 or jmckinney@nado.org.

# # #

Building on nearly five decades of experience, the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) serves as the national voice of regional development organizations. The association is an advocate for federal community and economic development programs and policies that help local communities improve their local economy and quality of life. For more information about NADO and the NADO Research Foundation, visit www.nado.org.

Western Nevada Development District Partners with JOIN Inc. to Secure $75,000 Workforce Development Grant

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Engaging Employer with School-Aged Youth in Carson City, Storey and Churchill Counties

The Western Nevada Development District (WNDD), in collaboration with JOIN Inc., has successfully secured a Nevada Department of Education Grant for Career Bound NV, a new division that focuses on workforce development by providing work-based learning experiences to K-12 students.

Serving as the intermediary between industry and education, Career Bound NV engages employers to provide students with opportunities to explore careers, develop skills and participate in job shadow and paid internships to ensure students graduate ready for employment in Nevada’s high-demand, living-wage careers.

The $75,000 grant will be used for outreach to prospective employers, parent education and student recruitment in Carson City, Churchill County and Storey County. This aligns closely with WNDD’s mission and the regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).

“Work-based learning for school-aged youth provides students with resources and opportunities to explore pathways leading to living wage careers,” said Denise Castle, CEO of JOIN Inc. “This grant will support Career Bound NV in connecting employers to students in an effort to grow their own pipeline of talent. ”

The Governor’s Office of Economic Development estimates that by 2024 there will be 630,000 open jobs in Nevada through business expansion, relocation and those aging out of the workforce. Nearly two-thirds of these jobs will require specialized training or certification. On the other side of the equation, employers state that 60 percent of job applicants do not have the necessary skills needed for today’s jobs.

Castle believes the Career Bound NV program will help close that gap. “This is a collaborative effort between WNDD and JOIN in bringing together employers and students to address one of the region’s greatest economic development needs of creating and maintaining a talent pipeline of skilled workers.”

See the article at NNBV.

Sailing Through… The Winds of Change.

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JOIN US FOR…Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)

~Planning for Economic Resiliency~an interactive, in-depth exploration of economic resiliency and how to plan for it with programs and investments.

Presented by Western Nevada Development District with

Speaker – Brett Schwartz, Assoc. Director of NADO Research Foundation/Program Manager Stronger CEDS, Stronger Regions

 

When: Wednesday, November 13, 2019 9:00 am – Noon

Where:  Storey County Offices-Tahoe Reno Industrial Center

1705 Peru Dr.
Sparks (McCarran), NV

 

Register by Wednesday, November. 6th

Contact Sheryl Gonzales at: SGonzales@WNDD.org or 775.473.6753

The event is FREE to WNDD Board Members and $10 for non-members.

Download Event Flyer!

Join Us for a Brownsfields Road Trip!

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Sunday, October 20, 2019
8 am till 3:30 pm

Join staff from the Center for Creative Land Recycling and local and state partners for a tour of exemplary brownfields projects from Reno to Gardnerville. Starting at the Peppermill in Reno, travel south to visit a mix of sites including a gas station redeveloped into a community meeting facility, a former bank building transformed into a modern office space, and flour mill turned distillery.

Tour 4 unique and exemplary Brownfields Projects!

TOUR STOPS:
• Reno-Spark Indian Colony (Reno)
• Carson City Redevelopment/ Brownfield Sites (Carson City)
• Gardnerville Station (Gardnerville)
• Bently Heritage: Public House//Distillery and Farmer’s Bank (Minden)

FEE: $30 Tour includes lunch. Limited to 30 participants; pre-registration is required.

Downloadable Flyer

 

WNDD Receives $600,000 EPA Brownfields Program Assessment Grant!

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~as part of a coalition between Pershing County, Lovelock and WNDD~

Supporting Pershing County and Lovelock’s Vision of Beautification, Revitalization and Economic Vitality

Western Nevada Development District (WNDD) is proud to announce that it has been awarded a 2019 EPA Brownfields Grant that will target the assessment and cleanup of community gateways, an industrial park, the downtown corridor and mine scarred areas in Lovelock and Pershing County.

The grant is part of the EPA’s Brownfields Program which provides grants and technical assistance to communities, states, tribes and others to assess, safely clean up and sustainably reuse contaminated properties. Maximum grant awards are $600,000 which WNDD received for its analysis and identification of hazardous or blighted areas negatively impacting the areas.

The project will yield economic and community benefits by accomplishing and supporting economic development and community revitalization in alignment with Pershing County Economic Development Strategic and Revitalization Plan.

This will be achieved freeing up key lands that are already zoned for development, where infrastructure (water, sewer, and transportation) is immediately available; and will reduce sprawl by infilling vacant lots within the City’s limits. Additionally, the project will provide incentives for property owners to address contamination by reducing uncertainties related to cleanup. WNDD will assist to assess and manage the funds to create better gateways to the community and foster civic pride.

Ultimately, efforts will attract new business, create local jobs and promote a vibrant community to live, work and play. Contact WNDD to learn how we can assist your community leverage public and private finances that build public infrastructure, create a skilled workforce and lower the tax burden.

Regional Workshop to Help Build the Five- Year Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)

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Western Nevada Development District (WNDD) will be launching the rewrite of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for Western Nevada.
Why Should I Attend?

• We need your expertise!
• To help build our strategic blueprint for regional collaboration
and prosperity.
• To identify economic projects and goals critical to our region’s
growing economy.
• Enjoy a FREE LUNCH! – Sponsored by City of Fallon
• Learn about our regional economy. Presentations by Bob Potts – GOED Deputy Director, Dr. Tom Harris – UNR Center for Economic Development Director, and Buddy Borden – UNR Economic Development Specialist.

Monday, June 10, 2019
8:30 am to 3:00 pm (Lunch included) Fallon Convention Center
100 Campus Way – Fallon

What is CEDS?

The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is a locally- based, regionally-driven economic development planning process and document that creates the space for your region to identify its strengths and weaknesses and brings together a diverse set of partners to create good jobs, foster needed infrastructure, diversify the economy, and spur economic growth.

The CEDS has enabled the WNDD regional communities to obtain millions of dollars from federal, state and private funds to establish infrastructure projects, technical assistance for economic planning, provide business training and workforce development.

Please RSVP your attendance by Thursday, May 30, 2019
(775) 473-6753 or sgonzales@wndd.org

Download Flyer

2019 Dairy and Livestock Summit

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Join us for

8:00 am till noon
Fallon Convention Center
100 Campus Way
Fallon, Nevada

FREE event but pre-registration is required. Please contact Lisa Gonzales at: LisaG@CEDAAttracts.com. Sessions will conclude with lunch.

Download the flyer

Sponsored by:
City of Fallon
Dairy Farmers of Nevada
Telegraph Coffee & Tap

Presented by:
University of Nevada, Reno Center for Economic Development
Churchill Economic Development Authority
Western Nevada Development District

“Connecting Nevada for a Stronger Economy” Conference Announced

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For Immediate Release
March 1 2018

 

‘Connecting Nevada for a Stronger Economy’
Shares Nevada’s New Economic Realities
4th Nevada Economic Development Conference Set for Reno Aug. 20-22

(Carson City, NV) — The Fourth Annual Nevada Economic Development Conference will explore the ideas, programs and business connections that are defining the new Nevada economy from Aug. 20-22, 2018 at the Atlantis Casino & Resort in Reno, NV.

The multi-track conference is presented by the Western Nevada Development District and the newly-formed Nevada Economic Development Association.

“Our theme is ‘Connecting Nevada for a Stronger Economy’ and will provide opportunities for a broad section of professionals to present and share what is happening in a dynamic, changing Nevada economy,” said Jenifer Rose, Conference Chair and Western Nevada Development District Board member. “This conference will take people inside Nevada’s great business re-birth; the new companies, new ideas and knowledge base that is shaping a new future.”

The conference is a perfect venue for economic developers, business owners, utility managers, financial leaders, commercial real estate professionals, transportation managers, elected officials, farm and ranch owners, manufacturers and mining leaders to connect with Nevada’s new business development and expansion network, Rose said.

Tracks for the conference, Tuesday, Aug. 21 and Wednesday, Aug. 22, include Agribusiness, Economic Development, Manufacturing, Transportation/Infrastructure and Workforce Development. The $175 ($200 after July 6) cost before July 6 includes opening sessions, lunch with keynote speakers and Exhibit Hall Reception. A one-day conference pass is $125 ($150 after July 6).

A Pre-Conference Tour and workshop, Connecting Nevada to the Global Economy, on Aug. 20 will visit the SWITCH facility located at the Reno Tahoe Industrial Center. There is a separate registration fee of $75 for this portion of the conference ($100 after July 6) which includes lunch and transportation.

Continuing this year is the Stronger Economies Awards and Accolades Program which will recognize outstanding marketing materials and tools used for attracting and retaining business. The newly added Anthony Lopez Economic Development Professional Award will recognize outstanding achievements by an individual who has made significant contributions to economic development efforts in Nevada. Applications and information are available online at nvedc.org or contact Art Rangel at (775) 499-5516, arangel@rangelmc.net.

For further information, including registration details, log on to www.nvedc.com. This event is recognized by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) as a professional development event that counts towards the recertification of Certified Economic Developers (CECDs).

Sponsoring the Nevada Economic Development Conference is an opportunity for business and organizations to showcase to key industry leaders and decision makers. Sponsors will have an opportunity to reach a uniquely targeted audience involved with Nevada’s economic development. Information is available online at nvedc.com or contact Sheryl Gonzales at 775-883-7333 Ext. 0, sgonzales@wndd.org.

About the Western Nevada Development District

WNDD works with public and private entities to promote collaboration to address economic development issues throughout the region. WNDD is certified by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) as an Economic Development District (EDD) for a nine county region in western Nevada; Carson City Churchill, Douglas, Lyon, Humboldt, Mineral, Pershing, Storey and Washoe.

About the Nevada Economic Development Association

The NEDA is a 501c (3) membership organization committed to furthering the state’s economic vitality. NEDA promotes professional development and education for economic development professionals by building efficiency and innovation through collaboration and education that responds to Nevada’s rapidly changing economic environment.