University Center for Economic Development - The College of Business at UNR

Ariel Martinez, University Center for Economic Development Strategic Planning and Economic Development Coordinator, was in Eureka, Nevada Monday, June 1, 2026 through Wednesday, June 3, 2026 for the 2026 Eureka Grant Summit, organized by the Nevada Governor's Office of Federal Assistance . Ariel presented an overview of work completed as part of the development of a new five-year community and economic development strategy the Center has been working for Eureka, Nevada in partnership with i-80 Gold Corp and Eureka County, Nevada.

Another day, another workshop! Today, Saturday, May 30, 2026, faculty and staff from the University Center for Economic Development were in Yerington, Nevada assisting in an annual evaluation and update to the Lyon County Libraries current five-year strategic plan. Center Strategic Planning and Economic Development Coordinators Nathan Strong and Ania Mason, along with Center Graduate Research Assistant Charity Ebere, facilitated a series of small group exercises focused on reviewing and updating (as needed) the current core values, mission and vision statements, and strategic goals and objectives as part of the Lyon County Library System's current five-year strategic plan.

Faculty and staff from the University Center for Economic Development were in Tonopah, Nevada between Wednesday, May 27, 2026 and Friday, May 29, 2026 to kick off the development of a new five-year strategic plan for the Town of Tonopah. This kick off effort involved a series of one-on-one and small group sessions with Town staff and three separate community meetings.

On Tuesday, May 26, 2026, faculty and staff from the University Center for Economic Development, including Frederick Steinmann and Ania Mason, were in Elko, Nevada presenting an update to the strategic plan for The City of Elko that the Center has been working on with the City over the past year. This strategic planning process has involved countless hours of internal and external stakeholder meetings, community meetings, a community needs assessment survey, and three separate strategic planning workshops with City elected and appointed officials and staff.

Dr. Fredrick Steinmann, Director of the University Center for Economic Development and Prinicapl Investigator of the Nevada Tech Hub, part of The College of Business at the University of Nevada, Reno, will be presenting at the upcoming Direct Lithium Extraction 2026 conference in Calgary, Alberta Canada June 8, 2026 through June 9, 2026.

Another day, another workshop! On Friday, May 15, 2026, University Center for Economic Development faculty and staff participated in the Nevada State Library and Archives annual Director’s Retreat and facilitated a planning session as part of a new comprehensive master plan the Center has been working on in partnership with the State Library.

On May 11, 2026, students from The College of Business at the University of Nevada, Reno's Spring 2026 BADM 779 Graduate Seminar in Logistics and Supply Chain Management course presented their results of a 16-week long effort to map and identify 'gaps' in the supply chain and value network of Nevada's Creative Economy industry sector. This effort largely focused on specific parts of the Creative Economy, including sports entertainment and media, film production, and live performances, concerts, and festivals.

The results of this research project, led by the University Center for Economic Development as part of a 2026 Nevada P-20 to Workforce Research Data System (NPWR) research grant from the OWINN - Office of Workforce Innovation, included targeted business creation, attraction, expansion, and retention and workforce development strategies designed to close these 'gaps' and capture more of the Creative Economy's overall economic impact.

A huge THANK YOU to the Detr Nevada, the Nevada Office of Workforce Innovation, Film Nevada, the Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development - GOED, the Travel Nevada, and the Nevada Arts Council for your engagement, participation, and support of this effort!

The University Center for Economic Development's very own Nathan Strong, Strategic Community and Economic Development Planning Coordinator, presented a poster highlighting some of his research at the University of Nevada, Reno's 2026 Northern Nevada Diversity Summit, held April 16, 2026 through April 17, 2026. Nathan's research, part of his Master of Arts in Anthropology program in the University's College of Liberal Arts, focused on the reconstruction of a Chinese mining community historically located in northeastern Nevada. Congratulations Nate!

On Thursday, May 7, 2026, Dr. Frederick Steinmann, Director of the University Center for Economic Development and Principal Investigator of the Nevada Tech Hub, participated in the 2026 Tahoe Economic Summit hosted by The Tahoe Prosperity Center. Dr. Steinmann presented an overview of shifting regional and statewide socio-demographic and economic characteristics and an overview of Nevada Tech Hub efforts to build a robust domestic 'lithium loop' in Nevada, including extraction and processing of critical elements, advanced manufacturing, recycling, and energy production and storage.

Thank you to the Tahoe Prosperity Center for the opportunity to be part of this amazing and important event!

Thank you for being part of the 2026 Tahoe Economic Summit!

From thoughtful conversations and new partnerships to challenging questions and shared ideas, this year’s Summit reflected the power of bringing diverse voices together around the future of Tahoe. We’re incredibly grateful to all of our speakers, sponsors, partners, exhibitors, volunteers, and attendees who helped make the day such a success.

As an organization focused on data-informed and community-driven decision-making, your feedback is incredibly important to us. Please take a few minutes to complete our post-event survey and help shape future Summits and regional conversations:

👉 https://forms.gle/DPp2NE718M9Ym7et9

Your input helps us better understand what resonated, what could be improved, and what topics and opportunities our community wants to continue exploring together.

We look forward to continuing the conversation and collaboration throughout 2026 with all of our incredible partners across the Basin—and we hope to see you again next year.

And next time…

MAKE SURE TO REGISTER TODAY! Space is limited!

The University Center for Economic Development, part of The College of Business at the University of Nevada, Reno at the University of Nevada, Reno, will host a 'Creative Economy Industry Sector Value Network and Supply Chain Symposium' on Monday, May 11, 2026.

Details of this symposium are provided below in the attached invite packet.

Registration is required. You can register online at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nevadas-creative-economy-sector-supply-chain-symposium-tickets-1988284998955?aff=oddtdtcreator

Thank you Detr Nevada, OWINN - Office of Workforce Innovation, Film Nevada, Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development - GOED, Travel Nevada, and Nevada Arts Council for your engagement, participation, and support of this effort!