USDA Opens Portal
USDA Rural Development has opened its Public Notice Filing (PNF) and Public Notice Response (PNR) Portal for the ReConnect Round 4 Proposed Funded Service Areas. Individuals may now view and respond to any PNF published in the portal. Additionally, the PNF/PNR User Guide and PNF Portal Demo have been posted to assist users in navigating the portal and how to submit a response.
Webinar for Stakeholders: December 13, 2022
The Strategic Economic and Community Development (SECD) initiative funding is earmarked to implement multi-jurisdictional and multi-sectoral strategic community investment plans. SECD is a funding opportunity designed to encourage and advance regional community and economic strategic planning.
Applicants are encouraged to consider projects that provide measurable results in helping rural communities build robust and sustainable economies through strategic investments in broadband, businesses, community facilities, infrastructure, partnerships, and innovation.
The FY23 SECD reserve funds programs include:
• Community Connect
• Community Facilities
• Rural Business Development Grants
• Water and Environmental Programs
Participation is encouraged for all stakeholders that support regional community and economic development, strategic planning, and seek funding to assist rural communities in efforts to improve and thrive.
Webinar: December 13, 2022, 11:00 am PT
Economic Summit Explores Diversification and Recovery in the Region
Elmy Bermejo currently serves as a Regional Administrator for the Small Business Administration. As Region IX Administrator, Bermejo oversees SBA programs, offices, and operations in the SBA’s Pacific region, serving Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, and Nevada.
Bermejo has a passion for building and strengthening relationships while assisting people and organizations to attain their goals. She is a senior government official with more than 25 years of experience at the executive level and has established a successful record of collaboration with public and private stakeholders on a range of issues including workforce development, disaster relief, and small business. Bermejo recently served as the Northern California Director for External Affairs for Governor Gavin Newsom; before that, she served as a Senior Advisor and Outreach Director for Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis of California, the first woman ever elected to this position. Bermejo also served in President Barack Obama’s administration at the U.S. Department of Labor as the Regional Representative to the Secretary and as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs. She serves on the San Francisco Commission on the Environment, The Women’s Foundation of CA, and as an Advisory member of Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) and the Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Public Good.
The Seven Troughs Distilling Company in Lovelock, Nevada, is a step closer to reality with the release of its first architectural concept. The drawing indicates the Windmill building will undergo a significant transformation before it is home to the first local liquor production business in recent history.
Seven Troughs owner Tom Adams closed his Sparks operation to open a bigger distillery and tasting room in Lovelock. Pershing County has a business-friendly environment, and Lovelock has “the best whiskey water in the state,” Adams told the Nevada News Group.
“The water is wonderful stuff,” he said. “It’s like the water of the Scotch highlands.”
Seven Troughs could eventually need up to 1,700 tons per year of locally-grown wheat, corn, malting barley, and rye, Adams told a crowd at the first Business Brunch hosted by the Pershing County Economic Development Authority (PCEDA). He added that the distillery could attract 20,000 tourists annually, benefiting other businesses, including restaurants, gift shops, and art galleries. The tasting room could showcase local foods, Adams told restaurant owners.
Seven Stories About Economic Development Impacting Our Region
Western Nevada is a vibrant and ever-growing community with new businesses and industries moving into the area. Here are seven stories about economic development impacting our region.
New Electronics Facility in Washoe County Expected To Generate $7.8 Million in Tax Revenue
VSE, LLC plans to open an 84,000-square-foot electronics research, design, and assembly center in Washoe County. VSE is an established electronic and mechanical design and engineering company serving small to multi-billion-dollar corporations in semiconductor, medical device, green-tech, and automotive innovation. It will receive more than $318,000 in tax abatements and must create 70 jobs in its first two years at $29.64 per hour. In five years, 140 jobs are predicted. The company will invest $2.2 million in its first two years and create $7.8 million in net new tax revenues over 10 years.
Panasonic – TMCC Partnering on Training Center
Truckee Meadows Community College will open a training center in Reno to help Panasonic Energy North America fill 400 $32-per-hour jobs. The Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development will contribute $1.6 million (GOED). More than $1 million in training equipment will equip the new PENA building in Reno, increasing access to training in advanced manufacturing, production systems, automation, and robotics for anyone seeking a living wage career track or upskilling for advancement.
Post Investing in Nevada Cereal Plant Upgrades
Post Holdings, Inc. will invest up to $110 million to expand its cereal production capacity at its facility in Sparks, Nevada. The expansion is expected to create approximately 30 to 40 new jobs.
Northern Nevada Getting $32 Million in Federal Funds
A variety of projects focused on law enforcement, wastewater treatment, airport improvements, highway infrastructure and economic revitalization will receive $32.25 million in funding from the federal government. The list includes $4.37 million for Fallon’s wastewater treatment plant, $4 million for the Coleman Road Connector in Churchill County, $3.59 million for Reno Tahoe airport terminal road improvements, $2 million for rural nursing expansion projects at Western Nevada College, $1.1 million for Appion Way intersection improvements in Carson City, and $1.38 million to upgrade Kahle Drive in Douglas County’s drainage, sewer, water lines, and sidewalks.
Unemployment Rate falls as Nevada Adds Jobs
The Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation reports the statewide unemployment rate is now 4.9% and employment is up 96,300 since May 2021. Reno area unemployment is 2.7% and the area has added some 800 jobs since April. Carson City isn’t far behind Reno at 3% jobless. Douglas County was at 3.1%, 673 in a labor pool of 21,441. Total employment in the state is now 1.45 million.
New Report Provides Economic Roadmap for Nevada and Its Regions
Brookings Mountain West and The Lincy Institute released a 131-page report offering an evaluation of Nevada’s economy over the past decade. It also suggests how policy and business leaders can rally around a new, focused agenda to address long-standing economic, educational, and social deficits and set the state up for a robust, sustainable recovery.
Reports Chart Good Month for Nevada Casinos, Tourism in May
The Nevada Gaming Control Board said that casinos statewide won $1.3 billion in May, the fourth-highest all-time and the 15th month in a row topping the $1 billion mark.
The economic recovery in Western Nevada is well underway, with key statistics showing significant improvements in recent months.
5,200: Nevada added 5,200 jobs in April 2022, an 8% annual increase. Reno’s Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) added 700 jobs, and Carson City’s added 300.
$1.3 billion: Nevada’s nonrestricted gaming licensees reported a total gaming win of $1,355,229,902 for March 2022, a 26.83% annual increase.
75 cents: Nevada’s minimum wage will rise 75 cents on July 1 to $9.50/hour for organizations with health insurance and $10.50/hour for those without.
Six: Governor Steve Sisolak appointed six members of his existing cabinet to a workforce development sub-cabinet to evaluate the state’s workforce needs and provide recommendations.
$15 million: Washoe County plans to spend $15 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to provide supportive housing to disproportionately affected communities, including $4.5 million for those with severe mental illness.
13: Spirit Airlines will be the 13th airline to service Western Nevada from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport when it begins twice-daily flights to the Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas in August 2022.
With continued support from businesses and residents, we will continue to build a strong and thriving economy.
Christine Brandon Selected to Lead Organization
Western Nevada Development District (WNDD) announced that after a national search, the Board has selected Christine Brandon as the organization’s new Executive Director. Brandon, a long time Carson City resident, was appointed to her new role on May 24, 2022.
“Brandon’s credentials, experience and personality make her an excellent leader for WNDD. We are confident she will bring great energy, innovation and strategic direction as WNDD continues to assist our region in creating vibrant, resilient and sustainable economies,” said Naomi Duerr, President of the Board.
Brandon has unique and varied experience in the areas of: economic development, engineering, project and program management, and leadership of non-profit organizations. In her previous position as instructor at the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, she developed youth programming and managed grant funding. Prior to the university, she was acting Executive Director of a local non-profit. Notably, she served as Board Member on the City of Arlington’s Industrial Development Board. Here she was responsible for encouraging and attracting industrial development, and collaborated with various organizations to entice new businesses through tax incentives, special permitting and government lease programs.
Brandon has a Bachelor of Science degree in Geological Engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla. After obtaining her degree, she worked for the US Army Corps of Engineers where she presided over the environmental cleanup of hazard waste sites identified by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Defense.
She hopes to draw on her extensive experience to support programming focused on improving much needed infrastructure, attracting new businesses and promoting economic resilience and vitality.
Brandon had this to say about her new role, “As the new Executive Director of WNDD, my goal is to bring my diverse background to help the Board of WNDD solve regional infrastructure and economic resiliency issues through creative approaches. I am very excited to serve the members of the Board and communities in Western Nevada and look forward to supporting positive change.”
Sheryl Gonzales, retiring WNDD Executive Director stated, “We are excited to welcome Christine Brandon as our incoming Executive Director and know she will do an outstanding job in her new position.”
2022 Application Workshops Announced
The USDA Rural Development Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is providing two, three-day virtual workshops for those interested in applying for ReConnect Program funding. The ReConnect Program offers loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in areas of rural America without sufficient access to broadband.
Both workshops will present the same content. Register for the dates convenient for you. Workshop content will be posted on the ReConnect website as well.
Workshop Webinar 1: Tuesday, January 18th – Thursday, January 20th.
Workshop Webinar 2: Tuesday, February 8th – Thursday, February 10th.
Workshops will explore the ReConnect program application system and program requirements for FY2022.
Topics will include:
• Program Eligibility
• Evaluation Criteria
• Live Demonstrations of the Application System
• Overview and deep dive sessions on financial, network, environmental, and mapping requirements
• Compliance and Post-award Reporting
Space is limited. Register Today!
“Build Back Better Regional Challenge”
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the 60 finalists for the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) $1 billion “Build Back Better Regional Challenge” the main component of the EDA’s American Rescue Plan programs.
The 60 finalists were selected from a pool of 529 applications and will receive a grant of approximately $500,000 each. Applications were received from 45 states and Puerto Rico. Additionally, the finalists will move on to Phase 2 of the challenge which will award a select group of 20 to 30 regional coalitions up to $100 million to implement 3 to 8 projects that support an industry sector.
The “Build Back Better Regional Challenge” seeks to boost economic pandemic recovery and rebuild American communities, including some that have been grappling with decades of disinvestment.
Take the Nevada Speed Test!
Reliable, affordable broadband connectivity is vital to the development and well-being of all residents in the Western Nevada Development District (WNDD) region. However, not all communities are equally-well served with broadband connectivity.
The Nevada Speed Test is counting on fellow Nevadans to pinpoint those locations by logging on to NevadaSpeedTest.org, a mapping tool which measures internet speeds. By analyzing home and business connectivity, strategies can be identified and funding solutions pursued that improve regional broadband infrastructure.
The Nevada Speed Test may be performed on any device that has an internet or cellular connection and takes less than one minute to complete. No personal information will be collected. Repeated speed tests are encouraged during the one-year initiative to better capture variations in internet speeds and collect more statistically valid data.
If you haven’t taken the test, please log in today. If you have, please share with your friends, family and business colleagues. To help you help us, below is a copy/paste blurb ready for sharing on your social media platforms or e-mail outreach.
Copy and Paste Blurb Below to Help Spread the Word!
Please join me in being part of the Western Nevada Broadband Initiative, a coalition of local governments working to improve broadband connectivity. Your help is needed to pinpoint the region’s most unserved and underserved homes and businesses. By logging on to NevadaSpeedTest.org, a mapping tool which measures internet speeds, we can analyze home and business connectivity to identify strategies and funding solutions to improve our regional broadband infrastructure. It takes less than a minute and thanks for your help!