Henderson mayor hopeful for economic recovery

The days of intense, rapid growth that Henderson and the rest of Southern Nevada experienced over two decades will not make a comeback, but there are subtle signs the economy is inching toward a recovery.

So said Henderson Mayor Andy Hafen on Thursday in his annual State of the City address at Green Valley Ranch Resort.

"Economic indicators lead us to believe that we will start to see some improvements, and we are hopeful that will be the case," Hafen said to more than 800 people.

Property taxes continue to lag, however, and he said assessed valuations will come in lower than projected in 2012.

How fast the worst economy in eight decades rebounds hinges on the region's ability to diversify its economy, he said, adding that he thinks Henderson will lead the charge.

"I am very happy to be able to say that we've seen an increase in companies expanding or moving to Henderson over the past year," Hafen said. "These businesses will create more than 400 new jobs and add more than $120 million immediately into our economy."

Longtime existing businesses expanded in 2011, including Levi Strauss, which built a distribution hub for its clothing line in Henderson decades ago. Hafen said the company is expanding its operation by 50 percent and will add a "significant" number of jobs.

There are three major projects Hafen thinks could accelerate the city's recovery and cement its vision to become "America's premier community."

Chief among them is the $1.5 billion Las Vegas National Sports Complex on the city's west side. Phase one of the stadium project -- to be constructed south of the M Resort and east of Interstate 15 -- would feature a 20,000-seat stadium for soccer and an arena that would be a venue for basketball, hockey and entertainment.

Phase two calls for the construction of football and baseball stadiums.

"They are working to break ground by this summer," said Hafen, who made it clear the development will not receive public funding but said the city would do everything in its power to help the development.

Another $1.5 billion project is Union Village, which Hafen described as an integrated health care and mixed-use development that would feature several hospitals.

The site at U.S. Highway 95 and Galleria Road will be home to the $63 million Henderson Space and Science Center, which will largely be funded through private donations.

Hafen said the Union Village developers hope to break ground early next year.

"There is a lot of work left to do on both of these developments, but we've seen real, tangible progress with a great chance of being game changers in the Southern Nevada economy," he said.

A more immediate impact on the city's economy and quality of life is a plan by St. Rose Dominican Hospital, Sienna Campus, to build a $158 million expansion, adding 130 beds and doubling the size of the Green Valley hospital's emergency room.

Hafen said the city last year hosted its first Global Solar Summit. And it lived up to its name. Hafen said solar panel manufacturers and developers from a dozen nations attended the event, and the city plans to hold another one in 2012.

Hafen praised the city's fire and police departments. He said protocols implemented by the Fire Department led to Henderson leading the nation in cardiac survivability rates. And the police are involved in schools, teaching students about the perils of drug and alcohol abuse. He said the department has developed a nationally recognized cybercrime unit that targets predators.

He credited the city's employees, as well as its residents, for its success.

"Henderson is defined every day by thousands of acts of kindness and caring that lift and build us," Hafen said.

Contact reporter Doug McMurdo at dmcmurdo@review journal.com or 702-224-5512.