Nike officials tour Douglas County

Tuesday, Aug. 12, 1997 | 12:38 p.m.

Three Nike officials toured several Nevada plant sites on Monday. Nike spokesman Lee Weinstein said their first concern is the area's tax structure.

The company hopes to whittle its list of Washington, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico and British Columbia down to one or two areas by the end of the year, he added.

"We're not going to wholesale move our world headquarters out of Oregon," Weinstein said. "We're a growth company and have been on a tremendous growth curve. The question is: Where do we grow to?"

"I think Douglas County is the best deal," Douglas County Manager Dan Holler said after the tour organized by state and local economic development leaders. "They would fit into the community."

Holler said he told the Nike advance team that the county had what they wanted: land in the industrial zone at the Minden-Tahoe Airport, proximity to Reno's transportation - and a quality of life that the Reno area can't match.

He also said Lake Tahoe is a short drive away, and the county has no business licenses and the second-lowest tax rate of Nevada's 17 counties.

Nike wants to open its new facility by 2005. Although the plant could employ up to 5,000 people, state officials said there would likely be a 10- to 15-year buildup.