Alliance brings some 3,400 jobs to Southern Nevada

A local economic development group says it helped bring 3,412 jobs to Southern Nevada in the past year.

Those jobs came with 36 companies that either relocated to Clark County or expanded here during that time, according to the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance, which recruited the businesses with help from a handful of regional development partners.

The new businesses include a tortilla chip maker, a food producer and a credit card company and carry an economic impact of $578 million, the LVGEA announced Thursday. And the alliance expects those businesses to further improve the economy by injecting $209 million into the region over the next year.

“More and more businesses are realizing the advantages of doing business in Southern Nevada,” Tom Skancke, the LVGEA’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “As we continue to attract businesses and industries here, we’re not only providing the residents of Southern Nevada with employment opportunities, we’re actively diversifying our economy and laying the foundations for the growth of new industries in the Las Vegas Valley.”

With a budget of $5 million, the alliance helps develop local economies — from Henderson to North Las Vegas to Mesquite — by working with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and local municipalities to offer businesses incentives like tax abatements and hiring grants. The LVGEA focuses on seven target industries: technology, renewable energy, gaming, tourism, logistics, manufacturing, health care, international business and defense.

The alliance last year published a strategic plan listing goals for the year ahead. Though the it fell short of its goal to bring 42 new businesses to the area, the alliance doubled their target of 1,750 jobs. Going forward, the alliance plans to refresh their strategic plan in the fall and move into next year with a larger target for both jobs and companies.

The LVGEA will be “refreshing our strategy,” said Jonas Peterson, the LVGEA’s chief operating officer. “Given our success, we want to take it to the next level.”

Here’s a look at some of the companies that recently relocated to Southern Nevada:

Kareo

A health care tech company that relocated from Southern California. Upon arrival, Kareo hired about 100 people.

BarclayCard

A credit card company that filled a hiring gap left by Citigroup when it left the Las Vegas market. BarclayCard hired more than 400 Southern Nevadans in its first year here.

Flowers Foods

A food production outfit that replaced Hostess Brands, taking over its facilities and hiring 60 people.

Bodybuilding.com

An Idaho-based company, Bodybuilding.com last year relocated to North Las Vegas and opened a 100,000 square-foot warehouse and distribution center. Company officials say favorable tax incentives — or about $150,000 in abatements — drew them to Southern Nevada.

R.W. Garcia

The tortilla chip maker is currently building a chip factory and plan to open in the fall, hiring 79 people in the process.

Contact reporter Ed Komenda at ekomenda@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0270. Follow him on Twitter @ejkomenda.