Key
Industry Targets
Sustainable Growth
 Carson City has one of the most
diversified economies in the state of Nevada. The community
features a large industrial and governmental professional base,
as well as a wholesale trade center. Output exceeded $1,000,000
in FY 2002, which represented an 8 percent increase over year
2001, a figure consistent with prior years.
Coupled with the
presence of local,
regional and state government, Carson City expects a healthy
growth in its economy for years to come. This expectation is
supported by the recent findings in a Policom study, which
revealed:
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Being the state capital, State government is
the primary industry, accounting for 53 percent of the
contributory earnings in our economy.
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Manufacturing has been one of the fastest
growing sectors in the nation, leveling out recently. It
remains a continued focus of retention, expansion and
economic development.
Carson City has quietly become
Nevada's leading manufacturing community, with 15 percent of its
workers in manufacturing, compared to the state average of four
percent. In fact, the percentage of manufacturing companies in
Carson City far exceeds the average in most cities across the
U.S. The manufacturing sector is of particular importance to the
economy in Carson City.
Primary Jobs
In June 2002, Carson City
mobilized a task force of 50 community volunteers who worked six
months to create the Economic Vitality Strategic Plan. This plan
focused on optimizing Carson City’s future economic health. One
of the primary goals of the plan was to grow the community’s
wealth by raising the earning potential for workers and
ultimately the fiscal health of the community. Today, Carson
City continues to focus its strategic planning on “wealth
creation” by targeting employers that grow primary jobs in
manufacturing, transportation, research and development,
wholesale distribution and corporate. Primary jobs
are defined as those employment opportunities that add to
the economy rather than depend on it.
Economic Vitality Strategic
Plan
During the strategic planning
process, Carson City identified several specific challenges to
its economic vitality and then organized a variety of strategies
and tactics aimed at addressing these challenges. Strategies
centered on corridor and downtown enhancements and economic
development.
The Economic Vitality Strategic
Plan identified the following five goals:
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Build and maintain partnerships for ongoing
involvement and accountability of all sectors in economic
development.
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Target existing and emerging key economic
sectors that provide quality primary employment to the
community.
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Develop and maintain regional cooperative
relationships on issues of commonality with adjacent
counties and the state.
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Achieve the economic, physical and aesthetic
revitalization of the downtown area by encouraging tourism,
local business development and the preservation of our
cultural heritage.
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Attract investment along the highway
corridors and ensure their economic vitality by encouraging
well-planned development, capitalizing on the city’s unique
scenic and historic character.
Carson City continues to
implement their strategies and initiate projects to support the goals
outlined above. The Economic Vitality Strategic Plan is one
reason that Carson City has become the growth center of Northern
Nevada.
Areas of Focus
The following are the areas of
focus the city has undertaken as outlined in the Economic Vitality
Strategic Plan. Carson City has dedicated numerous resources
(both financial and personnel) to help implement these
strategies.
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Alternative Energy
Carson City is an
excellent alternative energy center for both employment
and power generation. Carson City’s climate positions
the area as a viable source of alternative energy
generation from solar, wind and geothermal.
www.energynevada.com
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Manufacturing
At 15%, Carson City has
the largest percentage of manufacturing employment of
any county in Nevada. Carson City continues to build on
this strength by working closely with existing employers
on recruitment, retention and training. Initiatives have
also begun to taget new sectors, such as research and
development and/or high-tech industries.
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Professional Services
Carson City recognizes
that the largest single primary employer in the
community is the State of Nevada. Given this fact, city
officials and organizations now work hard to facilitate
this relationship and reinforce that Carson City is a
great place for the state to do business.
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Healthcare
A major opportunity for
Carson City is to become a regional health care
provider. Therefore, the community has united to help
the local hospital achieve this goal. The health care
sector has the potential to bring numerous primary
employment opportunities to Carson City. Currently,
Carson-Tahoe Hospital is transforming into the
Carson-Tahoe Regional Medical Center and has started
construction on a new hospital in the northwest part
of town, off U.S. 395. This state-of-the-art
community-based private hospital facility is a $150
million project due to open in 2005. This represents
the largest private construction project in Carson
City’s history.
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Tourism
Completing the
reconstruction of the V & T Railroad and promoting other
forms of cultural tourism has been identified as a key
initiative to help safeguard the economy. The $30 million
V & T Railroad project is geared towards rebuilding the
famous
18-mile
short line railroad between Carson City and Gold Hill.
Once completed, this will be a major tourist attraction
that is expected to attract over 140,000 visitors per
year and bring 885 new jobs to the community.
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Airport
Carson City recognizes
the economic value of the Carson City Airport
contributes to the community. The airport has
historically operated within significant limitations
that have kept it from becoming a greater economic
development asset. However, today, the airport is making
a major investment of $25 million to help improve its
facilities. This will include lengthening and improving
its runways in order to better facilitate business jet
service.
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Arts
Cultural arts help
create value in the community by enhancing the quality
of life and increasing economic activity. Carson City is
now examining options for providing greater funding to
the arts through public/private partnerships. The
Brewery Arts Center
has become a regional draw and is an example of how the
arts contribute to the quality of life and economic
vitality in the area. Additionally, the
Capital City
Arts Initiative promotes a variety of
contemporary visual arts exhibitions, arts education
projects, public programs and artists’ residencies.
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Regional Retailers
Carson City has set up
a task force focused on the recruitment of regional retailers.
We recognize the significant contribution that regional
sales can make to employment and to the fiscal health of
the city
Redevelopment
Since the
creation of Carson City’s downtown
redevelopment district in 1986,
the city and state have invested more than $100 million to
revitalize and expand the Capitol Complex and adjacent
facilities. In addition, the $15
million in private, city, state and federal funds used to
improve the downtown corridor have helped create a positive
impression of the downtown. Unlike pre-redevelopment years,
resident survey commissioned by the Redevelopment Authority
Citizens Committee indicate that locals feel safe walking
downtown; they patronize downtown for business purposes and to dine,
and value its historical charm.
Looking to replicate its success, on September 16, 2004, the
Carson City Redevelopment Authority approved a new redevelopment
district on South Carson Street. The creation of the
redevelopment district enables Carson City to retain and grow
its auto sales sector through public /private partnerships and
investment opportunities.
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