Nevada Commission on Economic Development Encouraged by First Quarter Increased Business Activity

CARSON CITY, Nev., May 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, Chair of the Nevada Commission on Economic Development (NCED), reports that the state agency has seen a 159 percent increase in first quarter business development activity compared to the same period in 2010.

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"We are excited at the prospect of what this means for Nevada and for the economy as a whole," said Krolicki. "This illustrates that many companies are realizing that Nevada's operating environment and physical location make it an attractive place to operate."

NCED is currently negotiating with 20 business prospects that expect to make a decision within the next 90 days about relocating to Nevada. If they commit to Nevada, those 20 companies could represent more than 2,000 jobs and more than $350 million in capital investment for the state. They include six food processing companies, two renewable energy projects, two distribution/logistics companies and one technology company.

Last year, NCED worked with 24 "hot" prospects and, of those, 14 set up new operating facilities in Nevada, equating to a 58 percent success rate. The 14 companies include five manufacturing facilities, four distribution centers, three service companies and two renewable energy companies.

NCED recently approved tax incentives for four companies that the agency brought into Nevada:

• GSI Commerce Solutions, recently purchased by web giant eBay, is planning to open an internet fulfillment center in Storey County. They intend to hire at least 30 permanent employees and significantly more seasonal employees, in addition to a more than $6 million capital investment. GSI works with more than 500 clients worldwide to provide e-commerce technology, fulfillment, customer care and marketing services.  Some of its clients include Adidas, Aeropostale, HP and Elizabeth Arden.
• Toys "R" Us is the world's leading dedicated toy and juvenile products retailer. With its portfolio of e-commerce sites like toysrus.com, eToys.com, FAO.com and babyuniverse.com, they plan to open an internet fulfillment center in Storey County. They intend to hire more than 50 permanent employees and significantly more seasonal employees. They plan to invest more than $17 million in capital equipment. 
• Schluter Systems is committed to providing reliable ceramic and stone tile installation systems. It plans to open a Storey County facility that will serve as its West Coast distribution, customer service and training facility. They will hire at least 15 permanent employees and invest more than half a million dollars in capital equipment. Schluter also plans to invest more than $8 million in a 92,200-square-foot LEED certified facility to serve as a flagship operation.
• Casamar Holdings is the world leader in global sales and services to the world's fishing fleet.  It is the only company in the world with sales and service facilities in all the major tuna fishing grounds in the world.  The company is planning to expand their operations in Henderson to employ a total of 25 new permanent employees and increase their capital equipment by almost $3 million.

"We are seeing more projects where there is a definite timeline being followed which indicates the seriousness of the investment decision that a company is contemplating," said NCED executive director Mike Skaggs.  "I know we have several distribution and logistics firms looking to bring new facilities on line for the holiday demand which begins in September."

SOURCE Nevada Commission on Economic Development