Clark County and Las Vegas Seek to Attract Business with $850k Investment During Super Bowl
Clark County and the City of Las Vegas have allocated $850,000 to attract big business leaders to Southern Nevada during the Super Bowl weekend. The initiative aims to showcase the region’s attractive work and leisure offerings to CEOs and encourage them to invest in the area. The public sector’s investment will be supplemented by over $1 million raised by the private sector, which will cover the expenses for the events on Super Bowl Sunday. Henderson, another city in the area, is yet to decide if it will participate by contributing $150,000.
While the majority of municipal officials support the expenditure, Las Vegas Councilwoman Victoria Seaman dissentingly voted against it, claiming that it misuses public funds. Seaman raised questions about why the state did not contribute funding through various economic development agencies. However, gaming executive and former Las Vegas Mayor Jan Jones Blackhurst defended the investment, emphasizing the need to promote the benefits of living and doing business in Southern Nevada.
The local officials behind the initiative are targeting Fortune 500 companies and have identified eight potential CEOs to engage with during the Super Bowl events. Las Vegas Councilman Brian Knudsen raised the possibility of attracting sports medicine-related businesses to the region due to its array of sports teams. However, Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman urged officials to focus on highlighting the positive aspects of the city, cautioning against airing any concerns publicly.
The Super Bowl-related events have evolved from a simple soiree into a series of outings aimed at building relationships with corporate executives. This has led to discussions about future funding from local governments to support these excursions. Shani Coleman, director of Clark County’s Community and Economic Development office, revealed that plans for a corporation and nonprofit are already underway to continue advancing transformative economic development in the area.
Clark County, via its treasurer Jeremy Aguero, is drawing up the Local Opportunity Collaborative Advancing Transformative Economic Development (LOCATED). Meanwhile, Commissioner Justin Jones has proposed involving the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) in shaping these efforts. However, LVCVA government affairs vice-president Lori Nelson-Kraft clarified that the Super Bowl events for CEOs do not fall under tourism-related initiatives.
Marilyn Kirkpatrick, a county commissioner, acknowledged that the concept of organizing events to attract business leaders is not new and is commonly practiced nationwide. However, she highlighted the need for accountability in order to ensure a satisfactory return on investment. Kirkpatrick also mentioned that the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA) currently has a booth in the Convention Center to connect with business leaders. The LVGEA intends to enhance its presence at conferences that bring decision-makers together, but Carolyn Kresser, the LVGEA spokeswoman, clarified that they do not have an agreement to utilize LVCVA floor space.
With this investment, Clark County and Las Vegas hope to bolster their economic development efforts and attract major corporations to the region. The initiative emphasizes the need to effectively communicate the advantages of operating in Southern Nevada, including its robust education system, efficient development processes, and diverse range of sports teams. However, officials must strike a balance between promoting the city’s strengths and addressing any concerns or challenges that may arise.
