New Project to Increase Economic Development
in Western Nevada

December 8, 2005

By Tom Gardner
Associated Press

RENO, Nev. (AP) - The Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada announced a $250,000 effort Thursday to develop a plan to bolster diverse economic growth in the Reno-Sparks area by encouraging high-wage, skilled jobs and workers to come to the area.

"Northern Nevada has earned a reputation as a top place to do business in America, but it's how the region sustains that growth and maintains its desirable quality of life that will ensure a prosperous future," national consultant Angelos Angelou told a gathering at the University of Nevada, Reno.

"Many of our clients have been desperate clients. This is not the case with Reno," he said. "It's always better to do economic development from a position of strength, not one of weakness."

Angelou's 10-year old consulting firm, based in Austin, Texas, has been working with community leaders for the past six weeks to set goals and priorities for development in the area.

He and 15 staff members with AngelouEconomics will continue to identify the region's needs for the next six months before submitting a report to the development authority recommending steps to be taken in the program called Target2010.

AngelouEconomics has been economic development consultant to some 85 entities including the states of Texas and New York, the cities of Orlando, Fla., Cleveland, Tallahasse, Fla., and the governments of the Czech Republic, Portugal and Austria.

The firm also has worked with Toyota, Dell and Intel, among other companies.

"Our goal is to incur prosperity in the region and enhance the quality of life," he said.

"Target2010 is a crucial step toward positively impacting the region by generating high wage jobs and reducing the gap between income and cost of living."

Chuck Alvey, president and CEO of the development agency EDAWN, said Thursday's announcement has been five years in the making.

He told 14 high school seniors who attended Thursday's gathering that one goal was to encourage them to stay in the Reno area or return to it if they go to school elsewhere.

"It's exciting to take action today that will provide promising job opportunities for our high school and college graduates when they enter the work force and keep young talent here," he said.

In a reference to Nevada's 17th-ranked basketball team, Alvey said coach Mark Fox achieved success through constant recruiting and Target2010 needs to do the same.

Fox was one of a number of UNR faculty and officials who attended Thursday's presentation and Angelou welcomed the university as a partner in the development program along with EDAWN and businesses SBC Communications, Sierra Pacific Power Co., the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority, US Bank and Wells Fargo.

Although the program will focus on the Reno-Sparks area, Angelou said it could expand toward Fernley and even Fallon to take advantage of the vacant land there.

While the final report is not due until May or June, Alvey said the Target2010 Web site would be updated with developments between now and then.