Bob Hastings, Don Vetter Join WNDD as Economic Recovery Coordinators

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Bob Hastings and Don Vetter recently joined the Western Nevada Development District as Economic Recovery Coordinators.

According to an Oct. 5 press release, the positions were created as part of the federal CARES Act Recovery Program.

In their roles, Vetter and Hastings will help carry out community capacity building projects and programs while serving as a liaison and coordinator for the businesses, government, tribal, educational and nonprofit communities served by the Carson City-based development district.
Hastings, a Certified Quality Systems Auditor, has over 25 years in advanced manufacturing management experience. Most recently, he worked at Career Bound NV as a Work Based Learning Administrator, assisting in the development of a work-based learning program in conjunction with multiple school districts, businesses and other community stakeholders. He has also served eight years as an elected Lyon County commissioner.

Vetter has worked with numerous urban and rural communities in Nevada through his public relations, marketing and advertising firm, Vetter PR, Inc. Following his graduation from San Jose State University with a journalism degree, Don worked as a print and broadcast journalist for news media outlets in California, Nevada and Utah. He served as Washoe County Public Information Officer from 1990-93.

Employment Opportunity: Government Contracts Advisor for Carson City

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Nevada PTAC seeks a Government Contracts Advisor for Carson City

The Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) seeks an experienced Government Contracts Advisor to educate Nevada businesses about lucrative contract opportunities with federal, state and local government entities, and their prime contractors. The customer service-oriented team member shall help businesses, especially small businesses, looking to compete on public sector procurement opportunities and that are seeking to diversify sources of revenue, create jobs, retain jobs, and help the Nevada economy by winning, being awarded, and executing under government-related contracts and/or subcontracts. The professional position assists businesses, especially small businesses, to help drive the economy forward and to also diversify Nevada’s economy.

Learn More

Tahoe Prosperity Center Presents Tahoe Rising

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A virtual discussion on the region’s Economic Challenges and Opportunities!

Tahoe Rising is a three-part virtual event to catalyze change and take action for the benefit of Lake Tahoe’s regional community and economy. Join the Tahoe Prosperity Center as it presents keynote speakers from around the country and the Lake who will discuss challenges facing Lake Tahoe in this current pandemic; sharing economic, community and environmental perspectives.

The fast-paced program includes panel sessions with those experts combined with local Tahoe leaders that will enhance these conversations. Collaborative and interactive group sessions will follow and provide an opportunity to share solutions that can be implemented locally to improve the region and build a resilient community.

The Tahoe Prosperity Center is an Associate Member of the Western Nevada Development District.

Event Schedule:

September 30th
10:00 am till 12:00 pm
Topic: Tahoe’s Economic Picture

October 14th
10:00 am till 12:00 pm
Topic: Tahoe’s Economic Recovery

October 28th
10:00 am till 12:00 pm
Topic: Tahoe’s Economic Resiliency

Learn More!

County Small Business Grant Program!

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Supporting Small Businesses Financially Impacted by COVID-19

A partnership between NACO and the counties of: Douglas, Elko, Lincoln, Lyon, Nye, Storey, Washoe and White Pine

Eight counties across Nevada have partnered with the Nevada Association of Counties (NACO) to develop a grant program to support small businesses financially impacted by COVID-19. This grant program is being supported by federal CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds. Eligible businesses must be located in Douglas, Elko, Lincoln, Lyon, Nye, Storey, unincorporated Washoe or White Pine counties.

Eligible Grant Uses include:

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Protective Retrofits
• Working capital – including utilities, payroll not covered by PPP, inventory etc.

Grant awards range from $1,500 to $20,000.

Applications are open September 8 thru October 6, 2020.

The Nevada Small Business Development Center is partnering with NACO to provide help to businesses that may need it.

Request free and confidential assistance by calling 800-240-7094 to make an appointment with a counselor through one of their 13 statewide locations.

Apply Now!

Nevada Commuting Patterns

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Michael Dominguez and Thomas R. Harris have just released a technical report containing valuable data on Commuting Patterns in Nevada.

Michael Dominquez is a Research Associate at the University Center for Economic Development at the University of Nevada, Reno, and Thomas R. Harris is a Professor in the Department of Economics and Director of the University Center for Economic Development at the University of Nevada, Reno.

The report contains statistical data, by county, on where residents live vs work, number of households, median income, percentage of households with a computer, percentage of households with broadband internet, annual unemployment rates, and education levels.

Download the complete document here: Nevada Commuting Patterns

Job Openings: Economic Recovery Coordinator

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Economic Recovery Coordinator
Two Positions Available!

BACKGROUND:

Western Nevada Development District (WNDD) is recruiting for two Economic Recovery Coordinator positions. Funds for this position are from a two-year (24 MONTH) Economic Development Administration grant under the CARES Act. These funds are intended to provide assistance to communities to respond to the economic shock sustained as a result of the Coronavirus-19 pandemic. Coordinators will be deployed in communities within the seven county, five cities and tribal community located within the region.

DESCRIPTION: The Economic Recovery Coordinator will support, carry out and serve as a project/program coordinator for economic development planning and implementation activities related to the development of plans, projects and programs for the WNDD region. Serving as a liaison and coordinator for the businesses, government, tribal, educational and nonprofit communities, support and assistance will be provided as local economies recover from the economic shock sustained as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This will include facilitation of the region’s efforts to identify and develop strategies to create and build a more resilient economy; working for the purpose of revitalizing, expanding, and upgrading distressed communities’ environment to attract industry, encourage business retention, expansion and recruitment and generate long-term sustainable private sector jobs and investments, strengthened recovery and resiliency.

DOWNLOAD FULL JOB DESCRIPTION!

PAY and BENEFITS:

Pay: $55,000 to $60,000

Benefits: Dental, vision insurance
Health insurance reimbursement $450 per month
Retirement Plan
Paid Time Off
Holidays

WORK HOURS: Monday to Friday – 8 am to 5 pm

COVID-19 Considerations: Employer strictly observes social distancing requirements and the wearing of a mask in a secure environment. Employee will have a private workspace.

How to Apply: Send cover letter, résumé and three references to Sheryl Gonzales at sgonzales@wndd.org.

Deadline to apply: Friday, July 31, 2020 at 12 noon.

WNDD Receives $400,000 Cares Act Recovery Grant From Economic Development Administration

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Building Post-Pandemic Workforce and Community Resiliency

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the Department of Commerce has awarded $400,000 to the Western Nevada Development District (WNDD) to help respond to the coronavirus pandemic and drive economic development planning going forward.

As part of EDA’s CARES Act Recovery Assistance, this supplemental financial assistance award will help WNDD’s 12 local government, non-profit and educational community members respond to the unusual and compelling urgency of the coronavirus pandemic.

WNDD President Roy Edgington, Mayor of the City of Fernley, announced the receipt of the $400,000 EDA grant, stating: “The Western Nevada Development District is pleased to have received these funds to support our communities in the engagement of strategies that will diversify our regional economy, support workforce training aligned to careers post pandemic and to build economic resiliency for the future.”

The award’s scope of work requires the recipient to undertake one or more of the following pre-approved activities:

1. the development of an economic recovery and resilience plan, tied to the applicant’s approved Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, to address the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic,

2. the deployment of disaster recovery coordinators to orchestrate the region’s response to the pandemic,

3. the provision of technical assistance, as necessary, to local governments, businesses, and other stakeholder organizations, and

4. the funding of appropriate technology and staff support for these pandemic-response activities.

The CARES Act, signed into law by President Donald J. Trump on March 27, 2020, provides EDA with $1.5 billion for economic development assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.

“Nevada has been one of the hardest-hit states in the nation in terms of the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic on our citizens and small business owners,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’m glad to see these CARES Act funds get to Nevada’s only Economic Development District through the EDA to help pursue strategic investments to bolster our economy and foster good paying jobs in Northern Nevada.”

For more information, contact Sheryl Gonzales at 775.473.6753 or SGonzales@WNDD.org

Pershing County & Lovelock Residents/Businesses…We Need Your Input!

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Join us for a virtual visioning tour of downtown Lovelock

Community outreach and engagement are crucial elements of the Lovelock/Pershing Brownfields Initiative.

With the current restrictions brought on by COVID-19, we are using a virtual visioning tour and community input questions to continue the planning and reuse efforts led by the Western Nevada Development District and the Pershing County Economic Development Authority.

The virtual tour can be see at: LoveLovelock.com and takes less than 10 minutes. Browsers are shown a video of each site on the tour, asked questions, and presented open dialogue opportunities after each stop.

Bring your thinking caps as we seek your input on:

• What do you value in the downtown core?

• What historical elements should be retained?

• How do we create a better sense of place and community spaces?

• What elements are needed in the downtown core to become a destination for businesses and visitors?

• What are the building blocks for a downtown vision?

Take your tour now through August 1st at: LoveLovelock.com

FREE Certification COVID-19 Contact Tracing

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Learn How to be a Contact Tracer!

Dubbed the largest US civilian mobilization since World War II, contact tracing is vital to the fight against COVID-19

Contact Tracers are needed throughout the country to help the fight against COVID-19. The crisis has created an unprecedented need for contact tracing and requires thousands of people to learn these skills as soon as possible.

The job qualifications vary but some new positions are available to individuals with a high school diploma or equivalent. FREE Introductory courses teach students about the basic science of SARS-CoV-2 and offers a certification upon completion. Once certified, individuals can be added to various online data bases for possible selection by organizations compiling contract tracing teams.

John Hopkins University is offering FREE online courses and certification.

  • Beginner level courses are in English
  • Approximately 5 hours to complete
  • Dates are flexible
  • Learn on your own schedule
  • 100% online
  • Certificates are earned upon completion

Learn More!

What the CARES Act Means to Your Community!

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$1.5 Billion in CARES Act Funds
Available to Aid Communities Impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) has begun taking applications for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) supplemental Funds (EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance). Grant funds are available to eligible communities and intended to assist in the prevention, preparations for, and response to the novel coronavirus.

The EDA has allocated $1,467,000,000 of the $1.5 Billion to be disbursed among its offices:

Atlanta Regional Office – $248,000,000
Austin Regional Office – $236,000,000
Chicago Regional Office – $225,000,000
Denver Regional Office – $193,000,000
Philadelphia Regional Office – $259,000,000
Seattle Regional Office – $266,000,000
(Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Hawaii and Nevada)
Headquarters – $40,000,000

The remaining funds will be transferred to cover salaries and expenses, and oversight activities.

EDA’s CARES Act Recovery Assistance is designed to provide a wide-range of financial assistance for both non-construction and construction activities, including a Revolving Loan Fund, in regions across the country experiencing severe economic dislocations brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.

An update Addendum to the FY 2020 Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Notice of Funding Opportunity (FY20 PWEAA NOFO) for the CARES Act Recovery Assistance has been published and addresses:

Filing Date

This funding opportunity (PWEAA2020) has no submission deadlines, and EDA intends to review applications within 60 days of receipt. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis; however, they are subject to change with the publication of a new PWEAA NOFO, cancellation of the current PWEAA NOFO, or all available funds have been expended.

Project Types

• Economic recovery planning
• Economic dislocations caused by the coronavirus pandemic
• Preparing or updating resiliency plans to respond to future pandemics
• Implementing entrepreneurial support programs to diversify economies, and constructing public works and facilities that will support economic recovery, including the deployment of broadband for purposes including supporting telehealth and remote learning for job skills.

A comprehensive description of project types can be found in Section E of the FY20 PWEAA NOFO.

Eligible Applicants

• District Organization of an EDA designated Economic Development District
• Indian Tribe or a consortium of Indian Tribes • State, county, city, or other political subdivision of a State, including a special purpose unit of a State or local government engaged in economic or infrastructure development activities, or a consortium of political subdivisions
• Institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education
• Public or private non-profit organization or association acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a State

Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Requirements

Except for a “Strategy Grant” to develop, update, or refine a CEDS, each project must be consistent with the region’s current CEDS or equivalent EDA-accepted regional economic development strategy that meets EDA’s CEDS or strategy requirements. In certain circumstances, EDA may accept a non-EDA-funded CEDS that does not contain all the elements EDA requires of a CEDS.

See Section A.3. of the FY20 PWEAA NOFO.

Cost Sharing/Matching

Generally, the EDA expects to fund at least 80%, and up to 100%, of eligible project costs. Additionally, EDA may establish a maximum investment rate of up to 100% for projects of Indian Tribes. Any portion of the costs for the EDA scope of work funded below 100% must be borne by the recipient or provided to the recipient by a third party as a contribution for the purposes of and subject to the terms of the award. The applicant is responsible for demonstrating that a grant rate above 80% is justified.

See Section C.2 of the FY20 PWEAA NOFO for a complete description.

FY20 PWEAA NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

CARES Act Info Flyer