NV GROW ACT

[Rev. 6/29/2024 7:34:43 PM--2023]

NV GROW ACT

Chapter 459, Statutes of Nevada 2015

AN ACT relating to economic development; directing the Office of Economic Development within the Office of the Governor to create a pilot program to encourage growth and expansion of existing businesses that are located in this State; setting forth the goals and functions of the pilot program; making an appropriation; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

[Approved: June 9, 2015]

(Leadlines for sections have been supplied by the Legislative Counsel of the State of Nevada)

The People of the State of Nevada, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. Legislative findings and declarations. The Legislature hereby finds and declares that:

1. It is vital to the overall health and growth of the economy of the State of Nevada to promote favorable conditions which allow the expansion of Nevada businesses that demonstrate the ability to grow;

2. As a result of the extraordinary economic challenges which have been, and are, confronting the State, the public has an interest in expanding the resources of this State to stimulate investment in Nevada’s economy;

3. It is the intent of the Legislature that resources be provided for the operation of the program described in section 2 of this act; and

4. The purpose of the program described in section 2 of this act is to stimulate investment in Nevada’s economy by providing technical assistance for businesses in this State that are expanding or ready to expand.

(Ch. 459, Stats. 2015 p. 2681; A—Ch. 430, Stats. 2017 pp. 2880, 2883)

Sec. 1.5. Short title. This act may be cited as the NV Grow Act.

(Added—Ch. 430, Stats. 2017 p. 2880)

Sec. 1.7. “Division” defined. As used in this act, unless the context otherwise requires, “Division” means the Division of Workforce and Economic Development of the College of Southern Nevada.

(Added—Ch. 570, Stats. 2019 p. 3666)

Sec. 2. Development, creation and oversight of NV Grow Program; employment of staff; requirements; definitions.

1. The Division, in consultation with the stakeholders group, shall develop, create and oversee the NV Grow Program to stimulate Nevada’s economy with a view toward providing assistance to businesses that are already located and operating in this State rather than recruiting businesses from other states to relocate in Nevada.

2. Under the auspices of the program:

(a) Institutions of the Nevada System of Higher Education located in Clark County shall, in cooperation with the geographic information system specialist employed at the College of Southern Nevada, mentor and track businesses participating in the program in Clark County. The Clark County Department of Business License will coordinate with the College to provide such data as may be necessary for the operation of the program in Clark County.

(b) The Nevada Small Business Development Centers located in Clark County and Washoe County shall each cooperate with the geographic information system specialist employed to assist businesses in Clark County that are participating in the program with marketing and other efforts.

3. The Division shall select the lead counselor and manage the NV Grow Program, which must include, without limitation:

(a) The employment and supervision of the lead counselor at the College of Southern Nevada who, in addition to his or her other duties, serves as the coordinator of the program. The Division shall, to the extent practicable, ensure that the work of the lead counselor of the program is supervised by at least two employees of the Division or an advisory team appointed by the Division.

(b) The employment and training of a geographic information specialist at the College of Southern Nevada who provides data to clients of the stakeholders group. To the extent practicable, the geographic information specialist must receive training in geographic information systems at the Nevada Small Business Development Center located in Washoe County.

(c) The appointment of the College of Southern Nevada as administrator of the geographic information system and fiscal agent for the program.

(d) An analysis and identification by the Division of businesses and business sectors in this State that are ready to expand and a determination of which of these businesses and business sectors will participate in the program.

(e) Identification by the Nevada Small Business Development Center located in Clark County and the Division of the skilled labor that exists in this State and its potential for growth.

(f) Targeting by the Centers and the Division of business sectors and occupations in this State that have demonstrated the ability to grow and stimulate the economy of the State.

(g) A focus by the Nevada Small Business Development Center located in Clark County and the Division on the utilization of existing resources.

(h) The harnessing of the academic expertise of the College of Southern Nevada and the Centers to provide economic and market data to contribute to the diversification and growth of the economy of this State.

(i) The use of geographic information systems by the College of Southern Nevada and the Centers to map areas of this State to determine locations in which retail sales and other commerce are flourishing and locations in which retail sales and commerce demonstrate the capacity for further growth.

(j) The elements described in subsection 2.

(k) The provision of informational and other assistance by the College of Southern Nevada to businesses and business sectors in this State, including, without limitation, business training, nontraditional marketing techniques and business mentoring.

(l) Such other components as the Division, in consultation with the stakeholders group, determines are likely to be necessary, advisable or advantageous for the growth and development of businesses located in this State.

4. The program shall, insofar as is possible, use the resources and expertise of the Centers and make available those resources and that expertise to businesses in this State for the purposes of:

(a) Developing business connections and business mentorships within the program;

(b) Exchanging data and other information with and between businesses and trade associations;

(d) Providing to businesses and business sectors data and other information that is calculated or otherwise generated through the use of geographic information systems; and

(e) Providing to participants in the NV Grow Program classes and resources on business development and business financing.

5. To the extent possible, the program must be conducted with the goal of selecting at least 30 businesses in Clark County to participate in the program every year.

6. To qualify to participate in the program, a business must:

(a) Have its principal place of business within the State of Nevada and have had its principal place of business in this State for at least 2 years;

(b) Generate at least $50,000 but not more than $700,000 in revenue; and

7. As used in this section:

(a) “Business plan” means a written statement of a set of business goals, the reasons those goals are believed to be attainable and the plan for reaching those goals.

(b) “Centers” means all institutions of the Nevada System of Higher Education, including, without limitation, the College of Southern Nevada and the University of Nevada, Reno.

(c) “Geographic information system” means a computerized database management system for the capture, storage, retrieval, analysis and display of spatial or locationally defined data.

(d) “Stakeholders group” means a group of persons interested in economic development in this State selected by the Division, including, without limitation, a representative of the College of Southern Nevada, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the Urban Chamber of Commerce of Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce, the African Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, the Vegas Chamber, the Henderson Chamber of Commerce, the Asian Community Development Council, the Valley Center Opportunity Zone, the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension in Clark County, Clark County and incorporated cities in Clark County and various entities affiliated with the Small Business Administration.

(Ch. 459, Stats. 2015 p. 2681; A—Ch. 430, Stats. 2017 pp. 2880, 2883; Ch. 570, Stats. 2019 p. 3666; Ch. 440, Stats. 2023 p. 2707)

Sec. 3. Duties of Nevada System of Higher Education. In assisting and carrying out the program described in section 2 of this act, the Centers, as defined in section 2 of this act, shall, without limitation, perform the following services:

1. Analyze data;

2. Ensure that businesses participating in the program understand the manner in which the data so analyzed will be applied to those businesses so that the businesses may make better business decisions and understand the current business market in which they exist;

3. Mentor the businesses as to the optimum use of data received under the program relative to the making of business decisions; and

4. With respect to the businesses participating in the program:

(a) Track the business decisions and growth of each business over the entire period of the program;

(b) Report the data tracked pursuant to paragraph (a), at least once each 6 months, to the Division; and

(c) Ensure the development of contacts with the Office of Economic Development and, if appropriate, the Regional Business Development Advisory Council for Clark County to facilitate participation in procurement programs and to further enhance the growth of each business.

(Ch. 459, Stats. 2015 p. 2683; A—Ch. 430, Stats. 2017 pp. 2882, 2883; Ch. 570, Stats. 2019 p. 3668)

Sec. 4. Duties of Division. The Division shall serve as a consultant to the stakeholders group described in subsection 2 of section 2 of this act, including, without limitation, collecting and analyzing data to ensure that the data used by the Centers is uniform.

(Ch. 459, Stats. 2015 p. 2683; A—Ch. 430, Stats. 2017 p. 2883; Ch. 570, Stats. 2019 p. 3668)

Sec. 4.5. Gifts, grants and donations. The Division may apply for any available grants, accept any gifts, grants or donations and use any such gifts, grants or donations to aid the Division in carrying out the program described in section 2 of this act.

(Ch. 459, Stats. 2015 p. 2683; A—Ch. 430, Stats. 2017 p. 2883; Ch. 570, Stats. 2019 p. 3669)