Las Vegas, Nev. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) announced that the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the Department of Commerce has awarded $400,000 to the Western Nevada Development District (WNDD) to help respond to the coronavirus pandemic and drive economic development planning going forward.
“Nevada has been one of the hardest-hit states in the nation in terms of the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic on our citizens and small business owners,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’m glad to see these CARES Act funds get to Nevada’s only Economic Development District through the EDA to help pursue strategic investments to bolster our economy and foster good paying jobs in Northern Nevada.”
WNDD President Roy Edgington agreed, noting that “The Western Nevada Development District is pleased to have received these funds to support our communities in the engagement of strategies that will diversify our regional economy, support workforce training aligned to careers post-pandemic, and to build economic resiliency for the future.”
BACKGROUND:
Senator Cortez Masto voted for the CARES Act, which included increased funding to the EDA’s Economic Development Assistance program. The program provides rural and urban communities support for local and regional economic development. The goal of the program is to spur job creation, leverage private capital investments, and strengthen America’s ability to compete in a global marketplace. In June, Senator Cortez Masto called on Congressional leadership to include additional EDA funding in the future legislation responding to the coronavirus pandemic.
Western Nevada Development District (WNDD) was designated by the U.S. Economic Development Administration as an Economic Development District in 1984. There are over 500 Development Districts throughout the United States. WNDD is the only certified Economic Development District in the State of Nevada.
The WNDD Board of Directors is comprised of elected and appointed officials as well as agency staff and business representatives from throughout the region. The region includes seven counties (Carson City, Douglas, Storey, Churchill, Pershing, Mineral, and Washoe) and five cities (Lovelock, Fernley, Sparks, Reno, and Fallon). Associate members include NV Energy, Nevada Green Institute, Nevada Builders Alliance, and JOIN. The University of Nevada, Reno Center for Economic Development also serves on the board and partners with WNDD in a variety of technical assistance projects, analysis, and reports. WNDD works towards creating an environment in which business, industry, and workforce will locate within the region, promoting a vibrant and sustainable economy.
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