EDAWN Receives Mac Conway Award for Excellence in Economic Development - Site Selection Magazine recognized EDAWN as a Mac Conway Award winner for Excellence as one of the top Economic Development organizations in the County. It is the first time a Nevada Economic Development organization has received the award. The Mac Conway Award is named in honor of Site Selection founding publisher H. McKinley “Mac” Conway, and is awarded to the top 20 local and regional U.S. economic development groups. EDAWN was one of only two organizations recognized in the eleven western states. Article

Livability Selects Reno as one of the Top 25 Best Places to Live Out West. “In a word, Reno, is rad. Nicknamed the “Biggest Little City in the World,” this Northern Nevada city has become a hotspot for talented remote workers who want to stretch their dollars further while enjoying awesome amenities. The options are endless when it comes to having fun in Reno, from next-level entertainment (even if you don’t gamble, you can bet on the casinos to host great concerts), phenomenal restaurants, a solid craft beer scene and unmatched outdoor recreation.” Article

Statewide Entrepreneurial Development report. The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) and EDAWN released a statewide ecosystem report that assessed entrepreneurial ecosystems in Nevada and benchmarked those against other Western states. The assessment was conducted by Entrepreneurial Communities, a team of experts who interviewed hundreds of stakeholders across the state, including entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and educators, to assess the areas for improvement within the entrepreneurial ecosystem and recommend implementation strategies. “This report provides a roadmap for how we can continue to grow and strengthen Nevada’s entrepreneurial ecosystems,” said Governor Joe Lombardo. Press Release & Report

Ending homelessness in Washoe County - an audacious goal! If you did not read the recent editorial in the RGJ from Par Tolles, it is worth a read. As Par says, “We made a community commitment to ending homelessness in Washoe County and invested to make that commitment a reality.” In the editorial, Par identifies some of the many partners and organizations supporting and committed to this audacious goal. There is no doubt that “If we hold our collective resolve, Washoe County will be a model for the West” when it comes to addressing homelessness. Editorial

Help our Homeless get the help they need. If you see a camp or individuals experiencing homelessness, please notify regional enforcement via:

• Washoe 311: https://www.washoecounty.gov/311/ or
• Reno Direct: https://www.reno.gov/community/reno-direct

Congratulations to the two Northern Nevada Teams that represented us at the FIRST Robotics World Championships. VC Silver Circuits went 11-0 during the qualifications match, but lost in the first rounds of playoffs. They won the Motivate Award for outreach, costumes and team spirit. Team Incognito won the Think Award, the second highest award a team can earn at the championship competition. “We are very proud of our Nevada teams,” Patti Poston, FIRST Senior Mentor Nevada, said. “These teams are the first teams ever to win awards at the world's competition for Nevada. Very exciting.” UNR Media Advisory

Please join us for the annual Business and Education Luncheon - Our Kids – Our Schools – Our Future -  on Tuesday, May 16th, at 11:30 am at the Atlantis Casino and Resort. Sign up to attend this community luncheon presented by Washoe K-12 Education Foundation in partnership with EDAWN. Sign up here.

All Good things must come to an end. Mike Kazmierski, President and CEO of the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, recently informed EDAWN’s Board of Trustees and Investors that he is stepping down from his position this summer. “As most of you know, I became the CEO of EDAWN almost 12 years ago, Kazmierski said in his resignation letter. “Now, the time has come for me to pass the torch to another CEO who will continue to lead the organization into the next decade.” EDAWN is conducting a national search and expects to announce the new CEO in June. RGJ Article

RGJ Editorial – Desert Research Institute. Most community members are unaware of one of our state's crown jewels right here in Reno-Sparks, the Desert Research Institute (DRI). DRI is a non-profit research institution in Nevada with Reno and Las Vegas campuses. It was founded in 1959 to conduct scientific research on environmental issues affecting Nevada and the surrounding region. However, over the years, it has blossomed into a world-class institute that provides scientific support to government agencies, industries, and communities globally. RGJ Article

EDAWN articles published in the RGJ are stored on our website. Here is the link to the library.

The Business Development team hosted 9 site visits for the month of April. Heavy leads have been coming in, as businesses are recognizing the technology and future in lithium-ion batteries. Aviation and our air space are hot topics as the development in commercial building is continuing to grow. Data Centers are still leading the trend with prospects and setting their sites East of I-80 and are in discussions with municipalities on how to expand and meet demands with our Economic Growth.

EDAWN’s SVP, Heather Wessling-Grosz attended the IAMC Conference to represent Northern Nevada earlier in the month. Many other Economic Developers were interested in our growth, and hearing about the Tesla announcement for the truck division was the topic during the conference.

We also closed a Logistics and Distribution company, PIP USA (Protective Industrial Products) – The company plans on adding 50 jobs in the next 5 years. PIP is the leader in creating safety equipment in the construction and manufacturing industry. Please visit their website: Global Leaders in Hand Protection and PPE (pipglobal.com)

To contact the Business Development team, please email Heather Wessling Grosz or Danielle Randol. 

University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) Nevada Athletics Spring Summit - You’re invited to the Nevada Athletics Summit on Thursday, May 11th at 5:00 p.m. at the National Automobile Museum. Food, fun, prizes, and great information about how you can support our home team. For more information or to RSVP, visit nevadawolfpack.com/SpringSummit. Go Pack! 

Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) is inviting the public to a free event "Smart About Water Day" on May 6th from 10am - 2pm at the California Buildings at Idlewild Park- EVERYTHING ABOUT WATER IN OUR COMMUNITY UNDER ONE ROOF! For more information, visit their flyer here.

Congratulations to Dickson Realty! - Dickson Realty earned the prestigious Diamond Award from Leading Real Estate Companies of the World (LeadingRE), a global network of market leading independent real estate firms. The award was presented at the LeadingRE Annual Conference on March 28-30 in Las Vegas. The Diamond Award is the highest honor bestowed on a LeadingRE member company. Here is the Press Release.

The Chamber’s “Business Helping Business Microgrant Program” is now accepting applications until 5:00 pm on May 5th from for-profit Chamber members that employ 25 employees or less. The microgrants are in the amount of $2,000 and three (3) recipients will be selected by May 25th. This program is made possible through several of the Enterprise Advocates and Business Backers at the Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce. See more here.

The Community Foundation of Northern Nevada (CFNN) strengthens our region through philanthropy and leaders by connecting people who care with causes that matter. Since 1998, The Community Foundation has distributed $169 million in grants and scholarships from donor-directed charitable funds. The Community Foundation activities include two community-wide initiatives, leadership in the nonprofit sector, and the Community Housing Land Trust.

Register Today! Washoe K-12 Education Foundation's "Business and Education Luncheon" - May 16, 2023

Register Here!

We appreciate your support which enables us to fulfill our mission of quality job creation through economic diversification!

Please click here to view a list of EDAWN’s 2023 upcoming events. For questions, contact Sheila Imsdahl, Vice President of Investor Relations & Events at imsdahl@edawn.org or 775.829.3704.