Enterprise zone gets backing of leaders

Steve Sebelius

Thursday, Sept. 12, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Looking for a job? Or even better, do you have an idea on how to start your own business?

Then local government leaders have good news for you: The time is now.

Clark County Commission Chairwoman Yvonne Atkinson-Gates, Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones and North Las Vegas Mayor James Seastrand on Wednesday gathered to extoll the Southern Nevada Enterprise Community.

The community, a meandering zone that encompasses economically depressed areas in all three jurisdictions, was designated in 1994 by President Clinton, making the local governments eligible for money to help rebuild the area's business climate.

So far, the enterprise community's steering committee has received $2.4 million, but has spent little of it. Instead, private businesses are choosing to locate in the area in droves, the leaders said.

Gates said $750,000 of the cash will be set aside to guarantee loans with local banks ranging from $25,000 to $100,000. Other funds will be used for community policing, child care for working families and job training.

"What we have done, along with the state, is something that has never been done before," Gates told an audience of business leaders in the commission chambers. "We are trying to make sure that we not only employ individuals but give them the training to make sure they'll be successful."

Gates, who came up with the idea to try to get an enterprise community designation and brought all of the local governments together to apply for it, listed many of the projects going in the area, including a new senior citizen center and the new justice center approved by voters last week.

"Government is doing its part. It's up to the small businesses to do your part, to move over there and create opportunity," she said.

Jones touted several projects the city has planned for the area, including the Las Vegas Enterprise Park, a new federal courthouse and the completed state office building. In addition, Jones said, casino expansions downtown are part of the plan.

"Five years ago, no one was willing to invest a dollar in downtown Las Vegas. Today, we have more than $1 billion in new investment on the books," she said.

Jones cited the Stupak Community Center in the Meadows Village neighborhood as a prime example of the enterprise community at work: The facility provides meeting space for the Boys and Girls Club, English-as-a-second-language classes and child care, among other services.

"You can't fix Los Angeles," Jones said. "But you can fix this valley."

Seastrand, who touted an expansion of Jerry's Nugget, several housing projects and widening of Lake Mead Boulevard in his city, said the efforts were unprecedented. "We are probably making history here, folks," he told the gathering.

Viola Canales, regional administrator for the Small Business Administration, urged banks to consider loans for start-up businesses in the area. She said the SBA guaranteed $36 million in loans in Nevada last year.