Landing Tesla is latest chapter in Reno’s reinvention
By Dale Kasler, Sacramento Bee
RENO — It seems hard to believe, in the afterglow of the Tesla jackpot, that Reno was an economic basket case just a few years ago, with even bigger problems than Sacramento.
Yet even as unemployment soared and its casinos struggled during the recession, the “Biggest Little City in the World” was reinventing its economic base. The Reno-Sparks region marketed itself to distribution and manufacturing companies, and big names like eBay and Toys R Us began opening warehouse facilities.
The latest victory exceeded anyone’s expectations. After months of anticipation, Tesla Motors Inc. last week chose a sprawling industrial park east of Reno for its 6,500-employee “Gigafactory,” which will build batteries for the electric-car maker’s new mass-market vehicle. The news sent community and business leaders grasping for ways to describe how Tesla will transform the Reno area.
“They’re going to change the course of history within this community and within this state,” said Lance Gilman, the Stetson-wearing developer of the industrial park where Tesla will build.
Gilman compared Tesla’s pending arrival with the discovery of silver in northern Nevada in the 19th century and the opening of casinos in Las Vegas in the 20th. Gov. Brian Sandoval, announcing the company’s decision at the Capitol in Carson City, said Tesla will deliver $100 billion in economic benefit over the next two decades and expand the region’s economy by a whopping 20 percent.
This is huge. Well played Reno! I might float my resume to the folks at Tesla.
“Gilman compared Tesla’s pending arrival with the discovery of silver in northern Nevada in the 19th century”
so does that mean a legacy of stock fraud, massive environmental pollution that still affects water and soil quality 150 years later, and several boom and bust cycles that leave the landscape littered with ghost towns and broken dreams? Yes it is like the silver rush – everyone loves a get rich quick scheme. It isn’t like Tesla is going to hire unemployed casino workers. But yes, this Gilman guy who owns the property will score big whether Tesla succeeds, fails, or just fizzles. For most everyone else, their rent just went up!
LJAMES what a wet blanket your statements are. Tesla in Reno is far better than no Tesla in Reno. Surrounding businesses who will supply goods and services will also hire and expand putting more people to work and more tax dollars into the local governments.
Your the glass half empty type who thinks that it is not only half empty but someone is going to take the rest. Negative things happen to negative people!!!
It cost Sandoval and Nevada $1.3 billion to get Tesla. Interesting.
$1.2 billion in tax BREAKS is not the same thing as spending $1.3 billion to ‘get’ Tesla. Not at all. There is a difference between not getting money vs actually spending money. And if Tesla DIDN’T come to Nevada, they STILL wouldn’t get that $1.2 billion. But it’s estimated that since Tesla IS coming, the state will make a hundred times that.
Of course, government always overestimates revenues and underestimates expenses, but that’s a whole ‘nother story.
Dog. 1.3 Billion in Tax breaks are not the same thing as $1.3 billion spending? NEWSFLASH! Tesla finds a Free Lunch Program… for 20 years! LOL!
What’s your point? You think Tesla shouldn’t have come? Nevada STILL wouldn’t have gotten that money. It’s no skin off anybody’s nose. Except yours, apparently.
Dogula, I have to agree with you on this one. Tesla could be the beginning of one of the smartest moves the State of Nevada has made as it pertains to it’s own economic future. How many more companies will open to facilitate Tesla and it’s production output? I’m pretty sure there will be a few. As I see it there is no downside in this deal. And the Nevada Senate saw it the same way with a unanimous vote in favor.
Yeah Dog. So much for your “no government” approach! LOL! Again. TESLA FINDS A FREE LUNCH AND MORE… IN NEVADA! I mean, why can’t every Nevada Business get $1.3 billion in tax breaks, a free airplane trip and hookers; Sandoval can just take it out of the Education Budget. Siento, no comprende’ Dog.