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Nevada Businesses Need A More Educated Workforce

Nevada businesses need a more educated workforce. That was a major theme of Governor Brain Sandoval’s Conference on Businessthis week. Reno Public Radio’s Anh Gray has more.

Tray Abney is with The Chamber of Commerce of Reno, Sparks and Northern Nevada and he was among the business leaders and policymakers who attended the conference in downtown Reno. He says with Tesla and other new companies on their way to the region, established businesses are already seeing a boost.  

 

 

“They’re in the black for the first time in four or five years," Abney says. "As the new jobs move in, this means there’s a bigger customer base.”

 

 

The Nevada legislature recently passed more than $1 billion in tax increases on businesses. Abney says many small businesses are worried about how the tax hikes will affect their bottom line, but the state’s investment in education may pay-off in the long-run.

 

“They’re going to have a higher tax burden; there’s no question about that," Abney says. "The argument that’s being made, though, is they are now going to have a better educated workforce.”

 

Just this week, a Thumbtack.com survey of small businesses gave Nevada a B gradefor overall business friendliness. The grade took into account business regulations, the state’s tax code and hiring practices.

 

For a different analysis on how taxes affect the bottom line of a business, take a look at a new report from the Tax Foundation.

Anh Gray is a former contributing editor at KUNR Public Radio.