[EDAWN Column for the Reno Gazette-Journal for Sunday, September 19, 2010]
Target2010 is a community-based economic development plan that was spearheaded by the citizen-based leadership of the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN) in 2004-2005. The region was growing rapidly and leaders wanted quality of life improved – good jobs, not just more jobs.
In the four years since the Target2010 recommendations were presented at a summit attended by community leaders and citizens, has our community accomplished all that was set forth in the economic plan? The answer is no. Has progress been made? Yes. There is still much to do – even more so as we dig our economy and our businesses out of the grips of recession. The Target2010 findings are available here.
EDAWN continues to use the Target2010 plan as a roadmap to implement economic diversification strategies to recruit and expand companies.
Based on the Target2010 strategic recommendations, we can measure our region’s economic development progress against five priorities.
1) Maintain and enhance the region’s attractive business climate to encourage target industry development and foster entrepreneurship. While jobs at any level are critical, we continue to pursue clean energy, manufacturing, logistics and other target industries that offer skilled, good-paying jobs. Additionally, Greater Reno-Tahoe is closer to becoming a center of excellence in a target industry by being designated the home of the National Geothermal Institute. And, entrepreneurship development continues through partners including Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology, UNR and TMCC.
Progress has occurred with a national public relations campaign to build the image of Reno-Tahoe as a place for business and ensure companies understand all that our region has to offer. Since 2008, that effort has yielded 30 stories in such media outlets as the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, and The Economist highlighting Reno-Tahoe’s business assets.
2) Ensure that a quality, well-trained workforce exists to meet the needs of employers. A skilled workforce continues to be the No. 1 issue for companies. With 13.6 percent unemployment, it remains a challenge and a priority. We continue to team with regional workforce experts, higher education and K-12 to partner on solutions.
3) Improve the region’s aesthetic appeal to attract young professionals who can fill jobs in target industries. The Reno-Tahoe Young Professionals Network is thriving. With initial seed money to start up from the Reno Sparks Chamber of Commerce and EDAWN, the YPN has grown to a self-sustaining and expanding 250 members!
4) Focus on developing a local infrastructure that will spur technology development. With world-class institutions like DRI, the tech transfer talent at UNR, C4Cubed and the Nevada Center for Renewable Energy Commercialization, our region has made progress with work to be done.
5) Ensure that economic development efforts are broad-based, addressing the needs of the region through targeted business development resulting in long-term economic prosperity. As stated under priority one, target industry development is EDAWN’s mission. Regional collaboration must occur once again, as it did four years ago, to accelerate effective progress. As the Target2010 plan states, and it holds true today, “The bottom line is that the areas that succeed in their economic development efforts are those that act as a region.”
[Chuck Alvey is President and Chief Executive Officer of EDAWN
The Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada]
