Nevada Briefs - July 2006

Nevada Briefs

Water District Generates Solar Power

The Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD) recently dedicated a solar array system at the Ronzone Reservoir and pumping station in northwest Las Vegas. The LVVWD Board of Directors approved a $22.6 million contract in 2004 to develop and construct six solar array systems to provide 3.1 megawatts of electricity, which will be utilized primarily for daily pumping operations. Excess electricity will be fed into the Nevada Power Company electrical grid. Five other systems are expected to come on line later this year. The project is the largest of its kind built by a public agency in the U.S.

Carson City Envisions Downtown

Envision Carson City, the community-wide effort to update Carson City’s land-use master plan, recently unveiled a 3-D, big-screen virtual tour of the city’s future downtown corridor. This production reflects the collective input received from Carson City residents during a two-day brainstorming session held with city officials and planners last fall. Citizens cast their "votes" on a number of issues such as aesthetics, property boundaries, zoning, parking, sidewalk amenities and streetscape improvements. The virtual tour gave residents a bird’s-eye view of downtown Carson City’s future, planned as a walkable destination where residents and visitors shop, live, dine and enjoy cultural activities.

Elko County Railport Breaks Ground

A formal groundbreaking ceremony was held recently for the Northeastern Nevada Regional Railport and Industrial Park, designed to handle the movement of freight between trucks and rail. The project will be developed on the 840-acre Ellison Ranch located six miles east of Elko near Union Pacific Railroad’s rail yard and Interstate 80. Elko County, which allocated $2 million to buy the land in May, will own the facility, which will be managed by a private operator. Businesses that use rail in shipping or receiving would be eligible to locate in the industrial park. Future tenants could include small manufacturers and food processors, as well as shippers of construction products and mining support supplies. The Elko County Economic Diversification Authority, which has been promoting this development for several years, is also investigating the possibility of setting up a free trade zone at the facility.

Silver State Bank Named Top SBA Lender

Silver State Bank has been awarded the Economic Independence Award by the Small Business Administration (SBA) for achieving the highest dollar volume of SBA loans in the state of Nevada for the seventh consecutive year. The bank loaned a total of $18,114,400 to Nevada businesses using programs backed by the SBA. Henderson-based Silver State Bancorp operates nine branches in Southern Nevada through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Silver State Bank. The bank also operates a loan production office in Reno.

Atlantis Announces Expansion Plans

Atlantis Casino Resort in Reno is expected to begin a $50 million expansion plan late in the fourth quarter of 2006 or in the first quarter of 2007. Approximately 116,000 square feet will be added to the casino level, the second and third floors and the basement. The existing casino floor will be expanded approximately 40 percent. The second floor expansion will create approximately 27,000 square feet of additional ballroom and convention space, doubling its existing facilities. Atlantis also plans to add a pedestrian skywalk over Peckham Street, connecting the Reno-Sparks Convention Center to the resort.