Regional Report: West/Southwest
While Reno and northern Nevada have experienced notable investments in tech and manufacturing, a study by the UNLV Brookings Mountain West Center for Business and Economic Research and Transportation Research Center noted that most of the development in the southern part of the state has been in “lower-productivity and power-wage concentrations.” A Southern Nevada Infrastructure Working Group is striving to address long-term sustainability and resilience through some of the study’s recommendations. It noted potential in warehousing and logistics due to proximity to Southern California ports, Mexico and I-15, as well as in pursuing industries that align with federal funding streams and the regional export economy, such as supply chains supporting elective batteries and clean energy. Other parts of the state are already experiencing growth in electric vehicle batteries. Battery manufacturer Lyten announced in October 2024 that it will build a $1 billion lithium-sulfur battery factory and create 1,000 jobs near Reno.