NCET

The Nevada Commission on Economic Development held its regularly scheduled meeting in rural Nevada Wednesday, October 17 and followed their business dealings with area tours. The rural Nevada meeting site allowed commissioners to observe firsthand the impacts of several previously enacted NCED programs.

“I believe it is incredibly important for commission members to travel to the rural areas of our state for meetings,” said Lt. Governor Brian K. Krolicki. “This is only one in a series of meetings designed to bring the Commission and the rural development authorities closer together on areas of importance.”

The Bizmobile

NCED?s commissioners rode the NCET-co-sponsored Bizmobile to Hawthorne. The specially designed bus usually carries experts on the many issues related to small business to rural Nevada communities to help residents start or expand a business.

The Nevada Business Express “Bizmobile” has logged more than 3,000 miles since the kick-off in June, visiting 12 rural communities and providing business counseling services to 285 rural entrepreneurs and business owners.

Bizmobile visits have been well received throughout rural Nevada . Having experts available to discuss and assist with topics ranging from the business startup process to tax management is really helpful for new entrepreneurs.

Because of its exterior design promoting business in Nevada, the Bizmobile is a rolling billboard and gets a lot of attention as it travels the state. Bizmobile visits are promoted with a media campaign in each city on the tour which includes print and radio advertising.

NCED Mineral County Project Tour

Part of the visit to Mineral County included the NCED commissioners seeing the results of nine years worth of work by the NCED in the area.

In 1999, NCED staff worked with citizens in Hawthorne for a Community Development Block Grant. That grant was used for a land study to determine the highest and best use of the land in Hawthorne . The citizens got to work, and with NCED supplied experts, opportunities were identified and a vision was created.

The coordination between the NCED and Hawthorne residents continued and the efforts were successful as grants began being awarded to help the residents make their town a business friendly place. To date the community has received nearly $5 million in grants from the hard work and dedication of the NCED and the community. They used the funds:

* For engineering reports

* To clean up an aging landfill

* To renovate downtown storefronts

* To reduce Main Street from 4 lanes to 3 lanes to: broaden sidewalks and make downtown pedestrian friendly

* To fund workforce training

* To buy computers, develop space and provide business counseling

* To fund a start-up business funding program

* To help fund the water and sewer project for the Hawthorne Industrial Park

* To provide matching funds for a $3 million Economic Development Administration grant.

For more information on the NCED visit www.expand2nevada.com or call 775-687-4325 .