Nevada lawmakers look for ways to boost state’s economic growth

Siobahn McDonough

Thursday, Feb. 8, 2001 | 11:58 a.m.

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Assembly Ways and Means members held a brainstorming session Wednesday on ways to boost Nevada's economic growth.

The committee heard the Nevada Commission on Economic Development promote ideas for expanding global trade and investment, developing rural areas, enhancing tourism and attracting high-tech companies and other businesses.

A key concern, the commission's executive director said, is the need for more resources for training companies' employees.

"We are significantly small in the amount we dedicate to training," Bob Shriver said. "Companies pass us off too often whenever they look at the state's training."

"In other states, there are higher tech jobs, higher paying jobs and ones that are going to be around a long time," he added.

"We've always been based on the small business. It's got to be a partnership. A lot of private investment and getting risk capital here will make a difference," he said. "When heavier industries come into the state, the high wages will come with it."

At least nine companies have expressed interest in opening power plants in Nevada. Also, the state is looking at solar power potential.

Ways and Means Chairman Morse Arberry, D-Las Vegas, agreed that the state needs to take a serious look at how to plump up training programs.

"I think the most important thing is training. If the rural areas aren't healthy, we have to have the urban areas kick in to help them," he said. "The high-tech sector is really a good area to look at. The cost of living is higher in California, so they're leaving."

Others, such as Assemblyman Joe Dini, D-Yerington, voiced their concern about the lack of economic development in outlying areas.

Nevada ranchers and farmers are hurting because of a big drop in agricultural exports - particularly in alfalfa and beef to Taiwan and Japan, where there used to be healthy markets, Dini said.

Assemblywoman Sandra Tiffany, R-Henderson, also was concerned about rural counties.

"They are on the brink of economic difficulty. They have to do more than train the leaders. They have to attract businesses there, as well," Tiffany said.

"We have the land. We have the water and workers in northern Nevada," added Assemblyman John Marvel, R-Battle Mountain. "But we may need to retrain them. If we can show these industries we have a labor and work force here, maybe they'll come."

One area in which the state is getting an economic shot-in-the-arm, is in filming and television production.

Some 447 productions including television films and episodes, commercials, motion pictures and other film or video productions were filmed in Nevada in 1999-2000. The revenue from those productions reached $123.5 million.

"They come here because of our exteriors," said Charlie Geocaris, director of the Nevada Film Office. "Our visuals, our variety of locations is what's attracting people here - though it's good to have a state-of-the-art component, too."

"Rat Race" with Whoopi Goldberg and Danny DeVito, "Nurse Beatty," "Get Carter" with Sylvester Stallone and "American Sweethearts" with Julia Roberts are among major motion pictures recently filmed in Nevada.