Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN)

We had a great time connecting with our Silver Investors last night at our Silver Investor Exclusive Social hosted by the Eddy House.

Our Silver Investors enjoyed a closer look at the Eddy House and learned more about their work supporting homeless and at-risk youth across Northern Nevada through shelter, counseling, workforce development, and the resources young people need to reach independence.

Thank you to the team at the Eddy House for opening your doors and for all you do to serve our community! 💜

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Today, we are honored to highlight Alise Porto of Switch. Since 2015, Alise Porto has led Switch’s power and sustainability strategy, helping shape the future of resilient digital infrastructure. As Senior Vice President of Power and Sustainability, she oversees nationwide energy strategy, renewable procurement, utility partnerships, and large-scale infrastructure initiatives that support Switch’s long-term growth.

A recognized leader in sustainable energy, Alise drives ESG and operational initiatives that create measurable environmental impact across Switch’s ecosystem. She serves on the boards of EDAWN, the TRI Board, and the Advisory Board for Proximo Congress 2026, and participates in the Regional Transmission Coordination Task Force.

Alise is the only two-time recipient of the WISE (Women in Smart Energy) Award, honored in both 2022 and 2023 for advancing sustainable digital infrastructure. A proud Nevada native, she attended UNLV and completed UC Berkeley’s Sustainable Capitalism & ESG program.

"Switch became a platinum investor with EDAWN in 2015 and proudly continues that partnership because of EDAWN’s incredible leadership and lasting impact on Northern Nevada’s growth, innovation, and economic success."

Thank you, Alise and Switch, for all you do for Northern Nevada! 💙

EDAWN had the opportunity to host Major Investors at Nevada Women’s Fund’s Salute to Women of Achievement Luncheon today at the Downtown Reno Ballroom.

Thank you to Nevada Women’s Fund for another great event recognizing the women shaping Northern Nevada. Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees. 💜

Yesterday we brought EDAWN Investors together with the leaders of Northern Nevada's primary industries for our very first Exclusive Primary Industry Breakfast to highlight their key role in our region's economic vitality. These industries consist of the businesses bringing outside revenue into our region, creating high-quality jobs, and helping diversify our regional economy.

We were honored to welcome Governor Joe Lombardo, who shared remarks on Nevada's continued economic momentum, along with a keynote from Jim Emme, CEO of Now Foods, on what it takes to successfully grow a company in Northern Nevada.

Thank you to every company leader, investor, and partner who joined us. Northern Nevada moves forward because of you.💙

Last night, ten energy and climate-tech founders and a roster of regional ecosystem came together at Kiln in Reno to mark the end of the Spring 2026 Electrify Nevada Accelerator cohort. EDAWN co-hosted the evening with gener8tor and Kiln, which also offered guests a first look at Kiln's new Reno coworking space ahead of its June opening.

➡️ Read the full press release here: https://www.edawn.org/edawn-gener8tor-and-kiln-convene-investors-founders-and-regional-partners-in-reno-for-electrify-nevada-accelerator-showcase/

Amanda Berry Jones and Danielle Randol, EDAWN's Directors of Business Development, represented Northern Nevada this week at the SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington, D.C., alongside the Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED). 🌎

SelectUSA is the country's premier event for connecting international companies with U.S. markets. Throughout the week, the team met with global business leaders and site selectors to share what makes our region a strategic choice for expansion, from our targeted industry strengths to the partnerships that help companies land and grow here.

➡️ Learn more about doing business in Northern Nevada: https://www.edawn.org/site-selector/

This week is International Economic Development Council , and the Governor's Office has officially proclaimed May 4–8, 2026 as Economic Development Week in Nevada.

Economic development is a team effort. It takes strong partnerships between businesses, educational institutions, local governments, and community organizations to build a region where companies can grow and people can thrive. We're proud to play our part in that work here in Northern Nevada, alongside the many partners who help move our region forward every day.

Thank you to the Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED), our investors, and our partners across the region for collaborating with us to build a strong, vibrant Northern Nevada. 🌄

Members of the EDAWN team had the opportunity to join tours last week of Major Investor and Primary Company Redwood Materials at their facility in the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center, getting a firsthand look at the work underway across battery materials, recycling, and second-life energy storage. ⚡

A big thank you to Manny Becerra for organizing the tours, and to Don Tatro, who welcomed the groups and continues to be a valued partner in EDAWN's work across the region.

Redwood Materials' continued investment in Northern Nevada is a clear example of why our region is becoming a national hub for the lithium economy and clean energy innovation. 💙

EDAWN President & CEO Taylor Adams and SVP of Investor Relations & Events Sheila Imsdahl joined a group of community leaders this week for a tour of Liberty Dogs in Reno, the only training center of its kind in the world dedicated to pairing service dogs with veterans. 🐾

The visit offered a closer look at their mission and how our community can engage and partner with them. We are grateful to Liberty Dogs for opening their doors and sharing their work, and we are proud to have this one-of-a-kind facility in our region.

➡️ Learn more and get involved at https://www.libertydogs.org/

It's Volunteer Appreciation Week, and we want to take a moment to thank the investors who volunteer to make our Business Builders program possible.💙

This week, we welcomed our newest certified Business Builders volunteers at a reception at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino, marking one year since the program's relaunch. Our volunteers give their time to visit primary companies across our region and bring back the insights that help EDAWN empower them to thrive and drive lasting economic growth across Northern Nevada.

To every Business Builders volunteer: thank you for showing up for our region and we're grateful to work alongside you!