Business Retention | Expansion
The Business Retention and Expansion team made 18 visits in the month of June, and closed out the year with 143 visits. We assisted a total of 86 companies or 60%. Thank you to those companies who welcomed us in and allowed us to be of service! The companies visited reported an increase of 653 jobs in the past 12 months, and projected growth of over 400 new positions in the coming year. The team also worked on 3 company expansions, which project 38 new positions in the next 2 years.
The BREW team’s focus on promoting internships and partnerships with education paid off. A total of 51 connections were made between industry and internship resources, and 102 connections between business and education. We made over 80 business to business connections, and worked on 10 critical issues with companies. On the workforce front, more than 7,000 new users took a look at job opportunities in the region, driven by outreach promoting the region overall and targeting seekers in engineering and manufacturing fields.
Thank you to all the community partners that have worked with us over the past year to help us welcome new companies, retain and grow existing companies, develop and attract workforce, and support economic diversification and vitality in the region. We can’t possibly name everyone here, but you know who you are, and your efforts and support are greatly appreciated!
BREW works with the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) and Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) on an ongoing basis to help identify transportation issues and opportunities. RTC offers a variety of shared ride options, and My Ride To Work offers private transportation services for employees.
Workforce Updates
We are often asked what EDAWN is doing to help with workforce development. We’re glad you asked! We are engaged in a variety of workforce efforts which include getting unemployed and underemployed into education and workforce pathways, co-leading the Workforce Consortium with The Reno-Sparks Chamber, working with education and employers to make sure training matches in-demand job needs, promoting workforce grants, and promoting the region outside the state as a great place for a career. Please tell anyone you know, looking for work, to register themselves at www.employnv.gov!
Biggest Little Tip of the Month: Nevada Career Studio, The University of Nevada’s Central Career Services Office will host a Part-Time Job & Internship Expo Thursday, August 30, 2018. Save time and reduce recruitment costs; promote your full-time, part-time, and internship opportunities to recent graduates, current students, and alumni from all majors and colleges at the 2018-2019 kick-off Expo! To reserve a table, go here.
Grow with Google, a new initiative to empower communities with digital skills training, chose Reno, NV! The event will be held on August 6th from 9am-5pm at the Nevada Museum of Art. It’s free and open-to-the-public with content for local job seekers, small business owners, developers, students, educators, and anyone who wants to grow their digital skills! There will be workshops with Googlers, 1:1 coaching on-site and program/product demo booths…and of course, lots of free snacks and Google swag.
May 2018 Northern Nevada economic highlights continue positive trends. Reno added 100 jobs over the month and 8,400 over the year with 3.6 percent growth; and unemployment is 3.3 percent, down 0.8 percentage point from a year ago. Carson City was up 800 jobs over the year with 2.7 percent growth. Carson City unemployment is 4.2 percent, down 0.7 percentage point from a year ago.
For those that aren’t aware, there is a Workforce Consortium operating in the area co-led by Valerie Cotta, Program Manager EDAWN, and the Reno Sparks Chamber. This group of dedicated individuals work tirelessly to identify and close workforce gaps in the region, forge important connections, build relationships with employers, and help connect seekers with resources and opportunities. Composed of many community workforce advocates, they work closely together to coordinate and implement workforce solutions in the region. We appreciate their participation and contributions to Northern Nevada.
Just a reminder to post your jobs on Nevada JobConnect, the statewide network that connects business with employees. Contact your local JobConnect office now!
Partner Updates
Congratulations to Western Nevada College and welcome to their new President Vincent Solis. Dr. Solis began his new presidency on July 2nd and is relocating to Nevada from Laredo, Texas. For the full story, go here.
Read about the award winning students from Sierra College, with campuses in Roseville, Rocklin and Truckee. The world’s largest robotic competition was recently held in Pleasanton CA. A Sierra College Robotics Club student team competed with an Autonomous Firefighter robot and won second place. At this same event, another team representing the Club, competed with a 120-pound combat robot. For more information about Sierra College, go here.
Have you heard about Re-Leaf Reno? This is a City of Reno project designed to preserve and expand Reno’s urban forest. The project needs your help to achieve their goal to preserve the health of existing trees and to expand our urban tree canopy. For information, go here.
Join Community in Schools Western Nevada to Fill the Bus, annual school supply drive on Friday, August 3rd.
Save the date – 3rd Annual Philanthropy Leaders Summit Reno – Transformational Philanthropy – held
Congratulations to BlackRidge Technology who recently earned their DoDIN Approved Products List Certification from the U.S. Department of Defense. BlackRidge is a local cyber security companywhich provides next generation security solutions to finance, government, health care and other industries. Read more here.
Are you a member of an organization that holds their meetings elsewhere around the country? Don’t forget the RSCVA team is ready and able to help you bring one of those meetings to the region. Be a Superhero and help the RSCVA attract meetings and conventions to our area. For more information, go here.
Major Investor of the Week
My Ride to Work – My Ride to Work is the driving force behind your workforce. A premier transportation company, we offer safe, reliable and comfortable transportation solutions for your employees.
EDAWN Events
Save the Date!
EDAWN’s Arts & Business Luncheon and Awards – September 13, 2018!
EDAWN’s Arts & Business Luncheon and Awards will highlight and recognize businesses and individuals who have shown outstanding support and engagement with the local arts community. At this luncheon, learn about the important role a thriving arts and culture community plays in our region’s successful economic development efforts of attracting and retaining quality companies, as well as a qualified workforce. Registration will open in August.
Keynote Speaker:
Laura Zabel, Executive Director
Springboard for the Arts
Event Details:
EDAWN’s Arts & Business Luncheon and Awards
Thursday, September 13, 2018
Eldorado Resort Casino
11:30 am – Check-In
12 noon – 1:30 pm – Lunch, Keynote & Awards Presentation
Co-Partners: City of Reno, City of Sparks, Sierra Arts Foundation and the University of Nevada Reno/College of Liberal Arts
For more information, please contact Sheila Imsdahl or call 775-829-3704.
Thank you to our Title Sponsor:
Celebrate the Great – Our community appreciates all the great contributions of our existing primary companies which are the foundation of our local economy. Take this opportunity to recognize and thank the existing primary companies in our region who contribute to our growing economy, by nominating them in one of the following categories: Biggest Little WOW, Corporate Citizen, Employees First, Small But Mighty, Leader in Sustainability, Manufacturing Excellence, Partnership with Education, and Company of the Year. For more details and to nominate yourselves or another company go here: Award categories and General Criteria are posted on the EDAWN website here. Nominations close August 17, so don’t delay.
Please click here to view a list of EDAWN’s 2018 events. For more information, please contact Sheila Imsdahl or call 775.829.3704.
For the Startup Digest Reno calendar of events, go here:2018 EDAWN Entrepreneurial events. For more information, please contact Katie Romanko or call 775.829.3702.