Sunday, September 26, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
Attracting businesses takes new strategy
Southern Nevada loses its advantage
By DAVE BERNS
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Bob Cooper, economic development manager for the city of Henderson, says Southern Nevada has lost much of its advantage when it comes to lower-priced housing.
Photo by Isaac Brekken.
|
Several years ago, the economic development director of the city of Henderson delivered his relocation pitch to businesses throughout California.
Today, he's much more selective.
Bob Cooper no longer tries to persuade businesses to move from Ontario, Burbank, the Coachella Valley, the Sacramento area.
The reason: Southern Nevada has lost much of its advantage when it comes to lower-priced housing.
"It's definitely changed how we play the game. Two or three years from now, if it continues with its trend rates, this is going to cause us more problems," Cooper says.
The Henderson-Las Vegas-North Las Vegas region continues to hold a competitive advantage when it comes to the costly housing markets of Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Santa Ana.
"They look at us still as a great bargain. They say, '$250,000 for a house, are you kidding me?' "
On the other hand, many Southern California business executives aren't flocking here because they might value their Newport Beach home, weekends spent boating on the ocean, a better-educated work force, a close proximity to their customers.
Or they may be critical of this region's Sin City image, replete with strippers, all-night gamblers and racy billboards.
