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Grow Fernley:Creating Opportunities to Grow the Local Economy

Presented byPresented by

Fred Turnier, AICPFred Turnier, AICP

Community Development DirectorCommunity Development Director

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Snapshot of Fernley

Population:18,929Median age:34.8College degrees:12%Median household income (2008): $56,614 60% of workforce commutes

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SnapshotOccupation Profile

Manufacturing: 25%Trade/Transportation: 24%Professional & Business Service: 15.13%Construction:13%Leisure & Hospitality: 12.2%Natural Resources -Agriculture: 7.5%Other: 3.17%

(Angelou Economics, 2006; City of Fernley Business License)

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SnapshotQuality of life and physical infrastructure

Silverland Intermediate School

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SnapshotQuality of life and physical infrastructure

Desert Lakes Golf Community

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SnapshotQuality of life and physical infrastructure

St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church

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SnapshotQuality of life and physical infrastructure

St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church

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SnapshotQuality of life and physical infrastructure

Nevada Pacific Parkway

Exit 50

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SnapshotQuality of life and physical infrastructure

Fernley Water Treatment Plant

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SnapshotNational & Large Business

Amazon.comAgru America, IncMSC Industrial Lowe’s Nevada CementSherwin WilliamsStarbucksSouthwest Gas Trex CoUPS Worldwide Logistics, Inc/HoneywellWalmartWorldcolor Printing

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SnapshotSmall & Medium Business

Mirage Garden & GiftsSteve’s Homemade Ice CreamLouis’ China BistroChuckar’s CasinoElectric Sun SalonSushi MottoWig Wam Restaurant Financial & Professional ServicesElectricians, Plumbers

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SnapshotHome-based Business

ArtistsBook KeepingCateringCleaning ServicesConsulting ServicesContractorsDay Care/Pre-schoolHome Repair ServicesInternet Sales & ServiceLandscape ServicesMassage Therapy PhotographyProfessional ServicesTax Preparation

254 home based 254 home based businesses in Fernleybusinesses in Fernley--Roughly 25% of FernleyRoughly 25% of Fernley’’s s economyeconomy

Approximately 98% of Approximately 98% of homehome--based businesses based businesses selfself--financedfinanced

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SnapshotHome-based Business

45 to 64 year olds most 45 to 64 year olds most likely to start new businesslikely to start new business

The Kauffman Foundation The Kauffman Foundation predicts a "coming predicts a "coming entrepreneurship boom" entrepreneurship boom" among people ages 20 to among people ages 20 to 34. 34.

As the recession forces As the recession forces teens to look outside the teens to look outside the limited job market, many limited job market, many are considering are considering entrepreneurship as a entrepreneurship as a viable alternative. viable alternative.

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SnapshotHistorical Context

Rapid growth 1999-2007Fastest in the nation @ 18%National companies choosing FernleyNational homebuilder development

2008 FloodNational recession (2007-offical end June 2009)

Lyon County and Fernley Hit Hard

County Unemployment @ 18%Home values down 25.86% Median home values fall $114,150 Foreclosures @ 1 in 5 homes, highest in the nation (State Demographer, U.S. BLS, 11/2010; RealtyTrac 2010)

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SnapshotEconomic Development Chaos

No strategic planDependent on developersTraditional recruiting model has not worked in this economy (hunting for companies vs. growing our own)

Job growth @ -0.35

Recession forcing us to look at new approaches Mayor & Council make Economic Development priority

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Fernley Mayor & City Council ChargeDevelop and focus on economic development strategies - recruitment, expansion, retention

Creating good and sustainable jobs for residents

Support local entrepreneurshipCapture local income Grow local economy

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Grow Fernley ApproachHow Do We Grow the Local Economy?

Traditional strategies Traditional strategies –– recruitment, expansion, recruitment, expansion, retentionretention

NCED NCED EDAWNEDAWNNNDANNDAWNDDWNDD

Support local entrepreneurship Support local entrepreneurship –– small and medium small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) that want to grow a.k.a sized businesses (SMBs) that want to grow a.k.a Economic Gardening or Economic Gardening or ““Grow FernleyGrow Fernley””

Business Support Services:Business Support Services:Information, Infrastructure, ConnectionsInformation, Infrastructure, Connections

Community Technology Center:Community Technology Center:Resources, Training, Workforce Development Resources, Training, Workforce Development

Strategic Business Networks:Strategic Business Networks:Partnerships, Shared Resources/Customers, Industry Partnerships, Shared Resources/Customers, Industry support & clusterssupport & clusters

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Grow Fernley BasicsGoals & Strategies

Small and homeSmall and home--based based businesses create jobsbusinesses create jobs

GrowGrow--youryour--own vs. own vs. ““huntinghunting”” or recruitingor recruiting

Focus on strategic Focus on strategic informationinformation

Community collaborationCommunity collaboration

Help existing businesses Help existing businesses stabilize and growstabilize and grow

Create new jobsCreate new jobs

Generate new investments Generate new investments in our communityin our community

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Grow Fernley BasicsEconomic Gardening Model

Three major components and Three major components and focus:focus:

InformationInformation –– advice, advice, technical assistance and technical assistance and competitive research competitive research

InfrastructureInfrastructure –– physical physical and quality of life and quality of life amenitiesamenities

ConnectionsConnections –– community community partnerships and business partnerships and business networksnetworks

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Grow FernleyRole of Community Development Information, Infrastructure, Connections

Partner with college business and entrepreneurship Partner with college business and entrepreneurship programs programs –– Higher educationHigher education--Workforce connectionsWorkforce connections

UNR Business Development, WNC, SBA, DETER, JobUNR Business Development, WNC, SBA, DETER, Job--ConnectConnect

Support and initiate local economic development initiativesSupport and initiate local economic development initiativesProvide rich set of business resources, pathfinders and linksProvide rich set of business resources, pathfinders and links

Develop local Develop local ““community of community of practicepractice”” to assist with research for to assist with research for local businesseslocal businesses

Community Technology Community Technology Center/Business Resource Center Center/Business Resource Center

Technical assistance resourcesTechnical assistance resources

Community AssessmentCommunity Assessment

NxLevel, SBA, Support local innovation and tech transfer NxLevel, SBA, Support local innovation and tech transfer programsprograms

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Grow FernleyRole of Community Technology Center (LCSD Broadband Grant) Information, Infrastructure, Connections

Promote academic achievementPromote academic achievementEquip future workers for knowledge economy (innovative Equip future workers for knowledge economy (innovative thinking)thinking)Support youth entrepreneurshipSupport youth entrepreneurshipBusiness informationBusiness informationeCommerce trainingeCommerce trainingAdvanced management techniquesAdvanced management techniques

systems thinkingsystems thinkingtemperamenttemperamentcomplexity theory complexity theory customer service strategiescustomer service strategies

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Grow FernleyRole of Grants Administration Information, Infrastructure, Connections

Identifying and Leveraging Infrastructure & Quality of Life Assets

Over $20 million in active and applied for federal funds$4.5 million in water infrastructure projects$11.2 million in transportation projectsSilver Lace Railroad Crossing $500,000Out of Town Park Improvements $500,000Main Street Redevelopment $750,000Hardie Lane Improvements $500,000City Hall Solar Energy Conversion $750,000Civic, Convention Center $3.5 million Phase 1Downtown Pocket Park – $95,000Gateway to Black Rock (Burning Man) Market Capture Tourism Grant $22,000Access to Health Care $200,000

Leveraging Taxpayer Dollars with Grants

Linking grant development funds to local jobs and infrastructure

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Grow FernleyExit 46 Gateway Improvements

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Grow FernleyMain Street Revitalization

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Grow FernleyCivic Convention Center

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Grow FernleyCommunity Connections

City of FernleyLyon County School DistrictLyon CountyNevada JOIN, Job-connectUNR Business Development CenterEDAWNNNDAWNDDState of Nevada

NCEDNDOTBusiness & Industry

NV EnergyPyramid Lake Paiute TribeBureau of ReclamationFernley Builder’s AssociationBAWNFernley ChamberRealtorsLocal businesses, merchants and service organizations

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ResourcesGlobal Entrepreneurship Monitor; U.S. Census Bureau; Intuit Future of Small Business Report: Demographic Trends and Small Business; Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity

Growing Local Economies, Inc. Denver, CO www.growinglocaleconomies.com

Grow Your Own; Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Winter 2010

Purdue Extension & Purdue Center for Regional Development, Purdue University

Strengthen Your Local Economy through Economic Gardening, by Christine Hamilton-Pennell, ICMA:http://icma.org/en/Article/100633/Seven_Steps_to_Developing_an_Economic_Gardening_Implementation_Strategy

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For more informationCity of Fernley:595 Silver Lace BlvdFernley, NV 89408

Mayor LeRoy Goodman775-784-9857

City ManagerGreg Evangelatos775-784-9858

Community DevelopmentFred Turnier, AICP775-784-9902

Grants AdministrationLeslieann Hayden775-784-9851