Special Reports - April 2009

Henderson, Nevada

The Las Vegas Valley Address for Business Success

    While Nevada continues to be recognized by many as one of the nation’s foremost desirable states to operate a business, it is the City of Henderson that continues to attract the attention of national media and businesses.

    Nevada’s second-largest city, Henderson arrived on the national scene in the 1990s when it became the United States’ fastest-growing city. Known for its master-planned communities and high quality of living, Henderson has been at the front of Nevada’s growth spurt over the last decade-plus. Quadrupling its population from just 60,000 people in 1990, Henderson currently has more than 270,000 residents – a population that would make Henderson the 14th-largest city in California – larger than such cities as Irvine, Glendale and San Bernardino.

    To support the city’s growing population, the City of Henderson’s Economic Development Division has made it its goal to ensure the success of local businesses, which is why the city’s business population has seen significant growth in recent years.

    “Henderson has a lot to offer businesses, and these businesses have a lot to offer us,” said Bob Cooper, manager of the City of Henderson’s Economic Development Division, especially referencing the City’s significant business sectors including finance, insurance and real estate firms, retail, health and social services. “We are extremely business friendly at the City of Henderson because our leadership appreciates the development of our economy and how it enhances the quality of life for all of our residents.”

    Only a few hours’ drive down Interstate 15 from several major California ports, or a quick flight from McCarran International Airport, Henderson provides a viable alternative that saves companies – especially those manufacturing and distributing products at the national level – thousands of dollars each year.

    That, coupled with Henderson’s business-friendly low-tax environment and convenient location – adjacent to Las Vegas and between five major markets (Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Diego and San Francisco) – makes Henderson the chosen location for several businesses looking to expand or relocate to the West Coast.

City of Henderson

Nevada offers businesses more than just great tax climate

    So how does a city in Southern Nevada grow from less than 25,000 residents in 1980 to more than 270,000 at the beginning of 2009? It starts with a lot of vision and the implementation of solid plans.

    Visions and plans are something Bob Cooper and his staff know a lot about. Cooper is the manager of the economic development division of the City of Henderson – the once sleepy Southern Nevada town that is now the second-largest city in the state of Nevada.

    Working closely with economic development professionals is a must for businesses considering relocating or expanding to any new area, according to Cooper. Because of the risks involved in such a move for any company, an economic development professional from an area will be able to provide the business leaders with an accurate understanding of the respective area’s business climate and resources, its political climate and the possible incentive programs. The relationship will also improve the company’s chances of short and long-term success in the new location.

    “Our job is to help business leaders take advantage of the opportunities this market is providing and will be providing for years to come,” said Cooper, who has more than 35 years experience in economic development, specializing in business recruitment, local expansions and retention, and business creation strategies.

    And in Henderson, there is plenty of opportunity.

    Although the City of Henderson has always been touted for its amiable tax climate, it has more to offer businesses than just a great tax climate:

Best Development Review Process

    One way Henderson is helping businesses is through the City’s Development Services Center (DSC). In many cities, builders, developers and property owners find the building permit and inspection process cumbersome. But for those working with the DSC, that’s no longer the case.

    The idea for the DSC came from a series of meetings between city leaders and local developers. By listening to the development community, the city was able to revamp the application and permit process and offer services such as online permit tracking. The concept itself is simple: the city created a team representing each of the seven City departments needed throughout the design, planning and approval process of a project and brought them together under one roof to provide coordinated plan review, inspection, and permit services.

    Since the DSC opened its doors in December 2003, building permit and inspection processes – that usually take months in other cities – are now completed in just a few weeks in Henderson – at little cost to tax payers.

    More recently, Henderson’s DSC was recognized by the University of North Carolina School of Government as having one of the top three “outstanding development review processes” of local governments throughout the United States. To determine this, 95 experts in communities across the country were interviewed in order to identify the communities with the best development review processes.

Workers’ Compensation

    In the country’s current economic environment, Nevada’s business-friendly workers compensation environment is becoming an increasingly significant factor as well for businesses considering a move or relocation to Henderson.

    Nevada has some of the most favorable pro-business laws in the country when it comes to limiting liability and costs stemming from claims surrounding on-the-job injuries. Since the workers compensation industry was nationally deregulated in 1999, the area of indemnity severity has been increasing faster than wages on a national scale.

    However, through diligent lawmaking and a pro-business environment, Nevada has seen a 10.5 percent decrease in workers compensation rates since 1999, where neighboring states’ rates have continued to rise.

    Nevada laws limit employers’ liability and exposure to litigious claims in a greater way than other states, whose laws tend to be more lax in the areas of limiting the amount of compensation benefits that can be awarded and the circumstances under which they are distributed.

    Nevada’s enhanced system has resulted in a lower “average of time lost due to injury,” shorter hospital stays, fewer claims and a shorter wait time for recipients to collect benefits when necessary. It is a win-win for employers trying to limit costs and liability and for employees who need to access compensation benefits when their situation truly requires them.

Quality of Life

    Quality of life is certainly something Henderson has become known for. In fact, Money Magazine ranked the City of Henderson on its annual list of Top 100 Best Places to Live: Money’s List of America’s Best Small Cities. Ranking indicators included job growth, income increases, cost of living, housing affordability, school quality, arts and leisure options, safety, medical care, diversity and several ease-of-living criteria. Money Magazine boasts Henderson as a “planned community with great schools and striking mountain views.”

    Next door to Henderson lies Las Vegas – the self-proclaimed entertainment capital of the world. Some of the greatest singing and theatrical talents in the world have come and gone through Las Vegas, ranging from Frank Sinatra to Céline Dion, from Cirque du Soleil to Blue Man Group.

    However it’s not just world-class entertainment that Henderson locals have at their fingertips. Art and culture have deeply rooted themselves into the city’s mainstream, with offerings such as ArtFest of Henderson, One Book Henderson and the Third Thursday Art Walk as well as venues such as the Henderson Pavilion, the Henderson Convention Center and the Henderson Events Plaza keeping locals entertained. There are also hundreds of shopping opportunities throughout Henderson and Las Vegas.

    And while fun and games are what attract people to Las Vegas, it is the high quality of life that makes them stay. The city’s higher education opportunities and access to quality health care contribute to the residents’ quality of life and have been a significant factor in businesses’ moves to Henderson. The city is home to 13 higher education institutions graduating quality, trained professionals into the city’s workforce in industries across the board.

Additional Considerations

    According to a recent survey done by the Boyd Co. Inc., a Princeton, N.J.-based corporate location consulting firm, the Las Vegas region ranked first as being a hot spot for corporate locations. The survey reviewed 30 metropolitan areas with populations in excess of 2 million that were also home to regional concentrations of Fortune 500 companies. The survey’s results were based on administrative support, labor costs, construction costs, utilities, corporate travel and other operating expenses.

    Another aspect of the Boyd survey was operations cost. The Las Vegas region ranked first for least expensive city for a corporate headquarters. The survey looked at a hypothetical business with a 55,000-square-foot headquarters housing 350 nonexempt workers. Las Vegas-based corporate headquarters facilities would incur an annual operating cost of only $22 million.

    In a separate poll, also by Boyd Co. Inc., 100 top-level corporate executives were asked: “What, other than operating costs, are important drivers for corporate headquarters site selection?” A business-friendly tort system ranked first among those surveyed at 29 percent, followed by low or no corporate and personal income tax at 21 percent and 18 percent respectively; business-friendly labor laws at 15 percent; low property taxes at 10 percent; and availability of headquarters location incentives at 7 percent. Again, the Las Vegas region ranked best among all cities surveyed, according to consultant John Boyd, because it has no corporate or personal income tax and has business-friendly right-to-work labor laws. Nevada also ranked high because of its business-friendly court system.

City of Henderson Helps Businesses Achieve Success

City offers variety of tools, programs to businesses

    The current state of the economy could make any new or existing business feel shaky on its foundation, but with the help of services offered by the City of Henderson’s Economic Development Division, businesses can survive and grow.

    The City of Henderson helps businesses succeed through a variety of programs offered to new and existing companies. The Henderson Business Resource Center offers tools to get businesses up and running, while Tools for Business Success is an online resource that provides planning, funding, government requirements, training, marketing, Internet sales and disaster planning information.

    “Economic development is more than just attracting businesses to an area. It includes helping businesses succeed and continue to grow and thrive for years to come,” said Bob Cooper, manager for the City of Henderson’s Economic Development Division. “The continued success of Henderson’s businesses is a strong factor in Henderson maintaining status as one of the country’s best places to live.”

Henderson Business Resource Center

    Henderson businesses have a wealth of knowledge on running a successful business available to them including the Henderson Business Resource Center, which offers assistance to businesses that are getting ready to launch, or are already established and need help moving forward.

    The Henderson Business Resource Center (HBRC) was founded in 2001 by the Henderson Chamber of Commerce to help start-up Henderson businesses succeed. The program helps business owners with the many tasks that go hand-in-hand with owning a business – such as financial and business counseling.

    The HBRC has 10 furnished offices for lease that have flexible terms. The building also offers its tenants conference and seminar rooms. Businesses chosen to participate in the program are selected based on their potential to succeed and provide jobs. The HBRC is supported by donations and grants from corporations and government entities.

    “When we opened Imagine Marketing’s doors at the Henderson Business Resource Center, we had the skills to successfully market a business, but we were lacking the real-world knowledge of running a business,” said D.J. Allen, owner of Imagine Marketing.” It acted as a buffer from start up until getting out on our own. They really put us in a position to succeed.”

    Imagine Marketing moved to the HBRC in February 2002 from Allen’s home. The company consisted of only a few employees. Today, Imagine Marketing has 15 employees and a 2,500-square-foot space in Anthem.

Tools for Business Success

    The Henderson Tools for Business Success is an online guide offered through the City of Henderson’s Web site. It is geared toward new and previously established companies, providing information on start-up, planning, funding, government requirements, training, marketing, Internet sales and disaster planning.

One-on-One Visits

    The One-on-One Visit program is an ongoing initiative established to open communication lines between Henderson businesses and city representatives.

    “Many times, business owners or managers have a concern but don’t want to discuss it publicly for a variety of reasons,” Cooper said. “The One-on-One program not only allows these people the privacy and comfort to confidentially discuss any problems or ideas, but it also brings together several minds knowledgeable on the market and willing to find a solution or brainstorm.”

RoadMAP to Success Series

    To additionally support Henderson businesses, the Henderson Chamber of Commerce teamed up with the City of Henderson, the Henderson Development Association and the Management Assistance Partnership (MAP) to host RoadMAP to Success, a business education series. The seminars are open to the public. Past seminar topics have included: Taxes: A Cost of Doing Business, Financial Analysis, What the Best Companies Do to be Successful in a Down Market and more.

    “The RoadMAP to Success Series aims to give business owners and professionals the opportunity to tackle everyday business-related topics in an inexpensive, informal atmosphere,” said Rebecca Fay, foundation administrator for the HBRC, which often hosts the RoadMAP to Success events.

Resource Partners

    Through partnerships with the Henderson Development Association – a division of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce and dozens of other public and private partnerships throughout the region the City assists or refers hundreds of Henderson businesses to appropriate resources for assistance. The developmental support services and resources offered to local businesses add to the attraction of Henderson as a favorable business climate.

Henderson Builds Toward A More Diversified Business Environment

Preparing the community to accommodate the attraction and expansion of diversified businesses is a cornerstone for Henderson’s future success

    Looking to the future, the city has developed and approved new land use updates and investment strategies to encourage and influence new investment. The Boulder Highway Investment Strategy and the city’s five established redevelopment areas will address infill opportunities and bring new investment to some of Henderson’s older areas.

    In West Henderson, as the new M Resort emerges in the city’s skyline, Henderson is focused on the Limited Transition Area and other new opportunities surrounding Henderson Executive Airport.

    “Federal and local governments have worked together to preserve land for important industrial development and the jobs this development will bring to our community near the airport,” said City of Henderson Mayor James B. Gibson. “The Henderson Executive Airport is extremely important for the business traveler and the time will come when important transactions will be conducted in this city because of the establishment of business and industry in proximity to that airport. Those 500 acres will create an industrial and commercial buffer for our residents and bring additional business to that area, further diversifying our economy, and providing jobs while building infrastructure.”

    Education and health care industries also play important roles in today’s and tomorrow’s Henderson. Over the past decade, one of Henderson’s strategies has focused on encouraging public and private institutions of higher education to consider the development of new campuses in the community. The results to date have been outstanding as Henderson is presently home to 13 colleges and universities offering more than 75 programs and majors in areas as diverse as medicine, arts and culinary training, electronics and computer technology, pharmaceutical studies and business, to name a few. Additionally, Henderson has a higher percentage of high school and college graduates compared to other major incorporated cities within the Las Vegas metropolitan area.

    In health care, Henderson is home to St. Rose Dominican Hospitals, which regularly receive the highest community satisfaction ranking in the region from citizens who have been treated at area hospitals in Southern Nevada. In addition to the many fine doctors, clinics and rehabilitation centers in the city, Henderson also offers private universities preparing individuals for careers in the health sciences. Universities in Henderson readying students for a career in health care include: Touro University-Nevada, a private medical university located in Henderson consisting of growing Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine and Health & Human Services and the University of Southern Nevada, a private university located in Henderson and featuring colleges of Pharmacy, Dental Medicine and Nursing. Henderson-based Nevada State College also offers a School of Nursing.

    The presence of significant educational and health care providers in Henderson is advantageous for the city and the Southwest region. These types of institutions are immobile and provide a sense of economic stability as well as good wages. Education institutions provide a further benefit as well, enabling residents and individuals from other regions to consider earning their degrees in Southern Nevada. These individuals often remain in the area to work during and after graduation, which further supports efforts to accommodate the attraction and expansion of businesses.

Henderson Continues To Attract Businesses, Fill New Development

The economy may be slow, but Henderson continues to grow

    “Although construction and development has slowed throughout the country, builders are continuing to build in Henderson because they know their properties will continue to be filled,” said Bob Cooper, manager for the City of Henderson’s Economic Development Division.

    In fact, the City of Henderson celebrated a series of new developments at its annual economic development awards ceremony in January. In addition to other categories featured, eight developments were honored in the Commercial Developer Projects category including Corporate Six, Eastgate Plaza II and Henderson Commerce Center IV Phase II.

    The Henderson Commerce Center IV Phase II has seen an increase in inquiries and lease agreements in January and February, said Patti Dillon, senior associate for Colliers International – the leasing agent for Henderson Commerce Center IV. The Center, which was completed and opened in mid-December 2008, offers lower lease rates and economic concessions to interested buyers.

    “Through all of the changes in the economy, Henderson definitely still has their eye on the future,” Dillon said. “The market has seen a significant number of existing businesses downsize, seek buyouts and relief, or close shop all together, but there are many businesses that are established and well located and are able to weather this storm. Many of Henderson’s businesses are banding together and weathering the storm together.”

    Corporate Six is a four-story office building on 90 acres at Green Valley Parkway and I-215. It is the first “green” building to be developed by American Nevada Company and is anticipated as an unprecedented standard for Class A office building in the Henderson/Green Valley Office market.

    Like Corporate Six, Eastgate Plaza II is a Class A corporate office building located on the corner of Stephanie Street and Warm Springs Road. The new, six-story building offers 140,000 square feet and low-E glass to optimize energy efficiency.

    The City of Henderson also welcomed and recognized dozens of companies for creating jobs and making new capital investments in 2008, despite a challenging economic environment. Among the dozens of businesses recognized were leaders in information technology such as Datanamics, Inc., FDM4 America, Inc. and Records Readiness Corporation, a newly formed subsidiary of local business Data Empowerment Group.

    Datanamics Inc. was headquartered in Las Vegas for 31 years before moving its operations to Henderson.

    “While the city is smaller, the business community is thriving and growing at a rapid pace, said Terrence McGowan, president of Datanamics.“We have found the Henderson Chamber and Economic Development Team to be very personable and helpful. The business opportunities are plentiful, and we feel fortunate that we have been accepted into the community so rapidly. Datanamics looks forward to a long-term relationship with the City of Henderson.”

    Similarly, FDM4 has been selling to the United States from Canada for more than 15 years.

    “We were expanding and growing and had a make a decision to build another building in North Bay or get closer to our customers in the U.S.,” said Mike Cutsey, president of FDM4 America Inc. “We could have picked anywhere in the U.S. since we are a computer software company, but Henderson provided us a presence in the Pacific time zone for support to customers. The warmer climate combined with easy access to the airport and the ability to relocate our employees in an affordable manner made it a logical choice.”

    Additionally, he said, more often than not customers are more open to visiting the company because of its location.

    “From a personal standpoint, Henderson provides everything you need,” Cutsey said. “It is a beautiful city with plenty of recreational activities including shopping, restaurants and recreational activities. Our employees enjoy the weather and have found the cost of living to be very affordable.”

City Of Henderson’s Redevelopment Efforts Focus On Social, Economic & Physical Infrastructure

And while continued growth and expansion are critical to any successful city, redevelopment is also integral to any city

    Redevelopment concentrates on impacting the social, economic and physical infrastructure within identified areas of the city to enhance public and private investment in community amenities. Focusing on these concentrations allows for improvement in the overall quality of life for its residents.

    The City of Henderson’s Redevelopment Agency’s current strategies place significant emphasis on social needs and infrastructure, focusing on the importance people play in an area’s successful redevelopment.

    The City of Henderson’s Redevelopment Agency continuously works to facilitate the creation and incubation of leadership groups within Henderson to engage its citizens in the process of taking control of the neighborhoods. The overall goal is to construct strong links between historically diverse groups with individual needs in a forum that highlights the impact they can have when they come together with a singular vision and mission to create change.

City of Henderson Redevelopment Programs

Façade Improvement Program

    As a property owner, this loan-to-grant program can help you improve your commercial building and storefront for a very low, if any, out-of-pocket cost.

Mini-Façade Improvement Program

Similar to the facade improvement program, this program is available to the property owner or lessee to fix or update minor exterior improvements to commercial buildings in the Downtown Redevelopment Areas.

Sign Grant Program

    As an eligible business owner, this program provides loans-to-grants for your commercial storefront sign in the Downtown or Eastside Redevelopment Areas.

Art Rent Subsidy Program

    The Art Rent Subsidy loan-to-grant program was created to support the arts. For art business owners, or start-up art businesses, these businesses are eligible to receive 25 percent of the first year’s rent by opening a store in the Water Street District.

Revolving Loan Fund

    The Revolving Loan Fund was created to help start-up businesses or maintain current businesses. For every two dollars an owner or a developer invests in its project, the Redevelopment Agency will loan one dollar.

Grow Henderson Fund

    This program helps to create jobs by funding small business expenses, such as real estate acquisition, leasehold improvements, working capital, and machinery and equipment.

    For more program information, eligibility and guidelines on the programs listed above, please contact the City of Henderson Redevelopment Agency at 702-267-1515 or visit www.cityofhenderson.com/redevelopment_agency/programs.php.

City Of Henderson Receives Recognition

In 2008, the City of Henderson received recognition and honors from throughout the country

    Money Magazine ranked the City of Henderson on its annual list of Top 100 Best Places to Live: Money’s List of America’s Best Small Cities. Ranking indicators included job growth, income increases, cost of living, housing affordability, school quality, arts and leisure options, safety, medical care, diversity and several ease-of-living criteria. Money Magazine boasts Henderson as a “planned community with great schools and striking mountain views.”

    Henderson was also ranked by Fortune Small Business as one of the top 100 cities in America to live and launch a business. The City of Henderson was commended by the online publication for having a business friendly tax-structure and a family friendly identity separate from Las Vegas’ Strip. The City was also commended for the work of its Economic Development Division.

    In late 2008, the U.S. News & World Report named Henderson one of its top 10 Best Places to Retire. Henderson was chosen from more than 2,000 U.S. places. Chosen destinations had relatively low taxes but also offer amenities important to retirees like a reasonable cost of living and fine recreational and cultural choices.

    Other notable recognitions in 2008 included the 2008 Kosmont-Rose Institute Cost of Doing Business Survey and the State Business Tax Climate Index for Fiscal Year 2009.

    The 2008 Kosmont-Rose Cost of Doing Business Survey rated Henderson as a “Very Low Cost City,” analyzing six types of taxes including business license levies, property tax, sales tax, and utility taxes in more than 400 cities nationwide.

    The State Business Tax Climate Index for Fiscal Year 2009 is released annually by The Tax Foundation to compare and contrast the various states’ tax systems. Nevada ranked in the top 10 states with the most business-friendly tax systems. One of the reasons Henderson is attractive to families and new businesses is due to the welcoming tax structure.

    Lastly, Henderson’s Development Services Center. In addition to recognition by the University of North Carolina School of Government for having one of the best development review processes in the United States, the DSC was presented the 2008 Award for Municipal Excellence by the National League of Cities.

 Harsch Makes Long Term Investment In Henderson

    Harsch Investment Properties, a world class real estate investment, development and management company, has a longstanding history and market presence in Southern Nevada. An investor by tradition, the company seeks to acquire and develop properties in which it can realize added value through timing, additional investment, repositioning and sound management practices.
    The company is the largest commercial landlord in Las Vegas, with just under 8 million square feet of industrial, retail and office properties throughout the Valley. With 23 business parks in every municipality, Harsch has intimate knowledge of the Valley’s submarkets.
    “We strongly believe in the Henderson marketplace. It is a vibrant community and from a real estate perspective, it has an infield location, solid residential base, excellent existing highway infrastructure, viable educational opportunities and an abundance of office and retail amenities,” said John Ramous, Harsch’s Vice President of Operations. “We have a strong relationship with the municipalities there and we feel the Company’s development in Henderson is indicative of our intent for this to be a long term hold. As the overall economy is more conducive to construction, the company has additional land for future development in this submarket.”
    In the 3rd Quarter of 2008, Harsch Investment Properties completed a $3 million redevelopment of the Green Valley Business Center. The campus is comprised of three buildings totaling 291,953 square feet of light industrial warehouse/distribution space situated on 12.8 acres. Located near Sunset Road and Mountain Vista Street, the Green Valley Business Center can accommodate users from 10,000 to 72,000 square feet.
    “Green Valley was the first acquisition for Harsch in Southern Nevada in late 1995. At the time it was 100 percent occupied by the electronics store Service Merchandise as their distribution center for the Southwest region,” said Ramous. “As the submarket changed over the years, we found it was the right time for repositioning the center to cater to smaller businesses that require clean, functional and well located light industrial space in very close proximity to both the Henderson and Airport submarkets.”
    The Henderson Commerce Center IV Phase II which was completed January 2009, includes a $35 million expansion totaling five buildings with 240,953 square feet of light industrial flex and office space. Close to the US-95 and I-215 freeways and the new Auto Show Interchange, Henderson Commerce Center is a master-planned business park situated on approximately 17 acres with buildings ranging from 34,000 to 70,000 square feet divisible down to 4,000 square feet.
    “Our latest expansion has been well received from both the business community and potential tenants due to its desirable location, aesthetic appearance and functionality,” said Ramous. “A number of units have already been built-out with small office suites ready for tenants needing new operations immediately. All units offer dock-high/grade level loading, energy efficient T-5 lighting and an attractive rental lease structure.”
    Ramous continued by stating that the Company is seeing a recent trend in tenants from other submarkets, including the Southwest, strongly looking at the Henderson for overall value as this area continues to adjust given the current economy. Henderson will continue to be a sought after location due to its location, area amenities and solid labor base.

Henderson Promotes Sustainability Through MyHenderson

he City of Henderson has launched MyHenderson, a massive effort to promote sustainability throughout the community in areas such as energy, water, waste reduction and recycling, transportation, urban design, urban nature and environmental health.
    MyHenderson is the result of a commitment from city leaders to preserve the city for future generations and enhance the quality of life for all residents. Quality of life has been one of the driving forces in the development of the city over the years, and has been reflected in the City’s Comprehensive Plan and other programs and policies. Through MyHenderson, the City of Henderson is encouraging all residents to apply more sustainable habits to their everyday lives. Recognizing the need to lead by example in this effort, the City of Henderson has enacted a wide variety of conservation measures.
    A range of energy conservation measures implemented at city facilities save the City an average of $250,000 annually.
    The City changed all of the traffic signals throughout Henderson from incandescent bulbs to LED lights, which use 92 percent less energy.
    Through the City of Henderson Turf Conversion Program, the City reduces water usage by converting “non-recreational” turf in city-owned parks, along streetscapes and near municipal facilities to xeriscape. Through July 2008, the program converted more than 1 million square feet of turf to xeriscape, saving the City an estimated 64 million gallons of water and $220,000 annually.
    The City uses non-potable reclaimed water for irrigation in many landscape areas, notably along the Boulder Highway Corridor, in golf courses and a cemetery. The City annually reuses approximately 34 percent of its reclaimed water for these purposes.
    The City also has a Turf Removal Loan Program, which is available to Henderson residents of any income level who wish to replace their turf with water-efficient landscaping. Residents may apply for a loan of up to $5,000 at 3 percent interest over seven years.
    The City initiated a pilot program at two city-owned parks (Mission Hills and Arroyo Grande) with recycle bins placed to collect plastic, aluminum and paper materials. Additional parks will be added as funds become available.
    The City actively promotes recycling throughout all City facilities. The City promotes purchasing products that contain recycled content. The City has been expanding the percent of hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles in the non-emergency fleet. More than 90 percent of the vehicles purchased since 2001 use alternative fuels, which leaves only about 13 percent of the current non-emergency fleet as standard fuel vehicles.
    The City of Henderson has partnered with the Regional Transportation Commission to provide incentives for carpooling and alternative commuter choices to City employees through the Club Ride Commuter Services program.
    The City adopted a Bicycle and Pedestrian Trails Master Plan in 2003 and its Open Space and Trails Plan in 2005. Both plans promote alternative modes of transportation and pedestrian-friendly development integrated with natural open space.
    The City currently has established a standard for providing park space within one mile of every resident.  The City also boasts many other forms of accessible recreational open space, including improved trails and natural areas.
    City facilities are now cleaned with “green cleaning supplies” to improve the safety of maintenance workers and indoor air quality for users.

    Visit cityofhenderson.com for a long list of ways to personally live more sustainably