LVGEA Quigley Speaks At Rotary Club of Mesquite

By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

The new President/CEO of the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA), Tina Quigley spoke at the Rotary Club of Mesquite on Tuesday afternoon, June 14.

Quigley explained the LVGEA is a non-profit organization in a public-private partnership with Southern Nevada to work with local communities/cities to attract new business.

Quigley said it is her job to work with representatives in the Economic Development Office of communities throughout the southern Nevada region. In Mesquite that would be Assistant City Manager Martine Green.

The LVGEA gathers information from companies wanting to relocate or open a new business in the region. LVGEA has a website just for this collection purpose. They match requirements of the relocating companies to the Nevada locations that meet those requirements. Introductions are made and LVGEA continues to work with the parties involved providing information as needed to find a good fit for both parties and Nevada, Quigley said.

“It is our job to make sure we know all of the assets each community has to offer,” she said. “We help the communities with negotiations and tax incentives.”

Quigley told Rotarians that Southern Nevada has always been lucky economically because of having the resorts and gaming industry. But during the pandemic it was shown that gaming revenue can suddenly stop. This illustrates the need for the region to become more economically diversified, Quigley said.

Quigley said that the large manufacturing facility that Crown Holdings is bringing to Mesquite in the next year is a good start for diversifying this area.

Quigley said right now the average wage rate in Southern Nevada is $26.60 an hour. “It is a sign of a growing economy when wages go up,” said Quigley.

She explained that business tax incentives are used by communities to attract new businesses. She said it is really a tax abatement that is offered and it has no impact on the current revenue.
“There is no loss to the community,” Quigley said. “Offering a new business a reduced tax burden for a few years to locate in your town is a gain for the community,” Quigley said. ‘New tax revenue, even at a reduced rate, is revenue you didn’t have before.”

“Maintaining the tax incentives is a top priority of the LVGEA,” Quigley added. “We are informing Nevada legislature members that giving tax incentives is not giving away Nevada dollars.”

Mesquite City Councilman George Gault was present at the meeting. He stated that it cost the city $10,000 to be part of the LVGEA with a seat on the board. Gault said that it is advantageous for area business to be part of the LVGEA and know how and where the economy is trending and what business are coming to town that may need services from their own business.

President Linda Gault thanked Quigley for all her useful information.