The City of Reno and the Reno Redevelopment Agency are helping local businesses weather the economic downturn through a program called the Reno Community Vitality and Economic Program or RECOVER Program. RECOVER offers help in four ways through training, help with financing, fee changes as well as business attraction and retention. TrainingA number of training programs and courses will be available after the first of the New Year through a partnership between the City of Reno and Small Business Development Center. One of courses to be offered will be a Small Business Survival Workshop that will utilize the expertise provided by the group, SCORE, which is made up of retired senior executives. Watch this site or our City of Reno Facebook and Twitter accounts to be informed of the dates, times and locations of the upcoming classes. You may also sign up for RenoConnect for email notifications or call Reno Direct at 775-334-INFO (4636). For other courses offered by the Small Business Development Center at the University of Nevada, Reno visit http://www.nsbdc.org.
FinancingThe City of Reno is working with lenders to help small business owners secure financing. One program currently offered to qualifying businesses is the GROBusiness Loan Program that is offered to new or expanding businesses in the City of Reno. The program is administered by the Nevada Microenterprise Initiative, which is a private, non-profit economic development agency. Some of NMIs services include technical assistance, ongoing training as well as access to a variety of loans, networking and oversight. For more information about the GROBusiness Loan Program contact the Nevada Microenterprise Initiative call 775-324-1812 or visit www.4microbiz.org.Fee ChangesThe Reno City Council has agreed in concept and is now working to change the Reno Municipal Code to modify certain fee collection dates and infrastructure timing requirements to help your business with its cash-flow. Right now sanitary sewer connection fees are collected when a building permit is issued. The change would allow this fee to be collected when a certificate of occupancy is issued. Council members may also approach the Regional Transportation Commission and Truckee Meadows Water Authority Boards to discuss the possibility of changing the due dates for regional traffic impact fees and water connection fees. To be informed of any changes, watch this site or our City of Reno Facebook and Twitter accounts. You may also sign up for Reno Connect for email notifications or call Reno Direct at 775-334-INFO (4636). Business Attraction/RetentionThe City of Reno also recognizes new, quality jobs need to be created and has established community partnerships to attract and retain new businesses and industries. One effort seeks to capitalize on the areas unique renewable energy potential by focusing on companies that turn solar, wind and geothermal resources into energy. The Reno Redevelopment Agency has partnered with the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, University of Nevada-Reno, Truckee Meadows Community College and Desert Research Institute to recruit these businesses, particularly geothermal industries. The goal is to attract clean industries that provide high paying jobs now and for future generations.