Business and Economy

After two years of discussions, debates and drafts, the city of Reno is close to finalizing a new 20-year master plan. But what does that mean for the city and its residents?

The Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center has snagged companies like Tesla, Apple, and Switch among about 130 others. 

The massive industrial park opened in the early 2000s, thanks in part to the passion and perseverance of Dean Haymore, who has served as the director of building and community development for Storey County.

Haymore has just retired and he spoke with our contributor Brook Bentley to share some of his insights and memories. 

Nevada’s non-profit arts and culture organizations accounted for more than $471 million in economic activity, and 10,000 full-time jobs in 2015.

Recreational marijuana sales officially kicked off July 1 in Nevada. But what exactly does a retail cannabis brand look like?

Reno Public Radio’s Noah Glick explores that question.

As of midnight on Saturday, Nevada became the 5th state in the nation to allow the sale of cannabis for recreational use.

A district court judge in Carson City has granted a preliminary injunction that prohibits the state of Nevada from issuing distribution licenses for recreational pot to anyone other than wholesale alcohol distributors.

The ruling could impact the start date for retail cannabis sales, which were set to begin on July first.

Pot. Weed. Mary Jane. Ganja. There are many names for the plant recently legalized in Nevada for recreational use. But not all words are created equal and some industry reps are using the term cannabis instead of marijuana because of its historical context. Let’s turn to our contributor Brook Bentley to learn more.

Starbucks is expanding its operations in Minden, which will bring close to 100 new jobs within the next two years. Our contributor Brook Bentley reports.

The Starbucks distribution center in Carson Valley will expand over the next year with an additional 700,000 square feet. The roasting side of the operation will continue as is.

Drone use is on the rise in the Tahoe Basin, but the regulations remain murky for flying unmanned aircrafts on land owned by the U.S. Forest Service, along with state parks in Nevada and California. Our contributor Brook Bentley reports.

There are some blanket rules across the U.S. about using drones. They include flying at or below 400 feet, staying at least 5 miles away from airports, and never flying near response efforts for emergencies like wildfires.

The cannabis industry is projected to surge dramatically with the legalization of recreational pot in several states, including Nevada. But it’s not just the dispensaries who stand to benefit.

A court order could delay implementation of early recreational marijuana sales in Nevada. Reno Public Radio’s Paul Boger reports.

A district court judge in Carson City has placed a temporary restraining order preventing the state’s Department of Taxation from enforcing a deadline for submitting recreational marijuana license applications.

Increased tourism and the tax money associated with it was one of the top arguments for legalizing recreational cannabis. But how have other states dealt with pot tourism? Reno Public Radio's Paul Boger spoke with Northern Colorado Community Radio's Luke Runyon about what's going on in his state.

“Let’s chat about the impact legalized recreational marijuana had had on Colorado’s tourism industry.”

Washoe County recently conducted a citizen survey on quality of life in the area. Our News Director Michelle Billman spoke with contributor Bob Conrad of ThisisReno to learn about the results.

KUNR: What did the county learn from this study? What are residents saying about the local quality of life?

By legalizing recreational marijuana, Nevada voters have opened up the door for new businesses eager to serve this growing market.

But as Reno Public Radio’s Noah Glick reports, getting into the retail cannabis game comes at a high cost.

The Reno-Tahoe area has been undergoing significant change and growth since the Great Recession. And now regional tourism officials are hoping a new multi-million dollar brand campaign can help keep the momentum going.

Reno Public Radio’s Noah Glick reports.

Ambition. Grit. Adventure. These are all themes that make up the new Reno-Tahoe brand, called “Great Contrast.” It’s all part of a $4.4 million campaign funded by the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority, which tourism officials hope will bring more—and younger—people to the area.

Nevada’s middle class is faring better than any other state in the nation, according to an economic report from Forbes.

The Silver State scored the highest on the magazine’s new “American Dream Index,” that measures seven key economic factors impacting the middle class.

Johni Bill is a member of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony who just opened her own salon called Alluring Beauty in Sparks. Colony spokeswoman Stacey Montooth says Johni is a role model for other Native American entrepreneurs, who can face unique challenges. Montooth spoke to our contributor Brook Bentley of the Northern Nevada Business Weekly to explain why.

There’s not enough affordable housing in Washoe County…and more and more residents are getting priced out of owning their own homes.  That’s according to a study by the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency. Kim Robinson is the organization’s executive director and Jeremy Smith is GIS coordinator. They talked to our news director Michelle Billman about their findings.