This past year, Nevada economic development leaders have made great strides in promoting Nevada as one of the nation’s top places for business.  Through their efforts and those of others, the Silver State continues to diversify its regional economies by attracting quality companies that bring good paying jobs and expanded opportunities for our citizens.  In fact, in the past 12 months, Nevada has added more than 70,000 private sector jobs and has led the nation in job growth rate (6.2 percent). 
 
            During the 2005 Legislature, I worked with legislative leaders to provide $9 million to the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN) and the Nevada Development Authority (NDA). This funding has allowed these two private economic development organizations to expand their marketing initiatives to promote Nevada’s pro-business climate to quality companies considering relocation through programs such as:    
 

• Marketing Nevada: A partnership between the state of Nevada and private economic development organizations—including NDA, EDAWN, Northern Nevada Development Authority, and Sierra Pacific Power Company—has been highly successful the past three years in promoting Nevada to California businesses, as well as businesses that may have been considering locating there.  The latest campaign, supported by this new infusion of money, has garnered extensive national media coverage for Nevada.  For more information, visit www.MissingBridge.com.
   
• Target2010 – Northern Nevada’s New Economy:  EDAWN and its partners are halfway through a new economic initiative that will significantly shape the future of Northern Nevada. Target2010 will identify specific target industries for additional economic development recruitment efforts focused on creating quality jobs.  For more information, visit www.target2010.org.
   
• Marketing Southern Nevada: NDA has embarked on an extensive Golden State marketing campaign called the California Business Nut Bus Tour to further promote opportunities specific to Las Vegas.  The California Business Nut campaign utilizes print and broadcast media to promote the benefits of doing business in Las Vegas.  For more information, go to http://nevadadevelopment.org.
   
• Market Research and Analysis: To build on the current success of targeting high-tech, communications, and health science-oriented companies to relocate or expand into Southern Nevada, NDA is conducting an in-depth study to identify key opportunities by industry and by market for other likely candidates. Linked with this effort is a Target Industry and Skill Set Study that will identify the unique strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the study areas. Combined, these two studies will provide NDA the ability to pinpoint specific businesses that may be most interested in relocating to Nevada. 

I am proud of the work EDAWN and NDA are doing to diversify our state’s economy through the recruitment of new businesses and industries that create good paying jobs.  Their combined efforts are making a difference today and will continue to have long-term payoffs, enhancing Nevada as a great place in which to live and do business.