Gov. Brian Sandoval names Steve Hill as new economic development chief

By David McGrath Schwartz

Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011 | 1:30 p.m.

Gov. Brian Sandoval has picked the former chairman of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce to be interim director of the new Office of Economic Development.

Steve Hill, an executive with a cement company, will be a member of Sandoval's cabinet. He has been a vocal Carson City presence since 2009, calling for public employees to make concessions on things like collective bargaining, while also expressing a willingness to sometimes increase funding for government.

His position starts Oct. 3. Economic development was a top priority for Sandoval during the 2011 Legislature, and he and Democratic lawmakers worked until the last hour on Assembly Bill 499. The new structure of Economic Development puts the governor squarely in charge. Previously, it had been the purview of the lieutenant governor, who will still sit on the board overseeing economic development.

The budget passed by the Legislature, at Sandoval’s recommendation, increased economic development funding from $9 million over two years to $15 million. In addition, the state established a “catalyst fund” to pass money through to businesses expanding or locating here.

At the first meeting of the new Board of Economic Development today, Sandoval called its private sector members a “dream team” that other states would envy. The state has contracted with consultants to identify industries to target.