What Is Western Nevada Development District?

Western Nevada Development District (WNDD) is one of 326 multi-jurisdictional organizations in the U.S. and the only one of its type in Nevada.

WNDD was created as a four county voluntary association of local governments in 1983 consisting of Carson City, Douglas, Lyon and Storey Counties. As time progressed, Churchill, Mineral, and Pershing counties became members, and the region now comprises seven counties in western Nevada.

WNDD is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by county commissions and city councils. The Board of Directors is comprised of a majority of local elected officials and private sector representatives, who reflect various segments of the region: i.e., business and industry, finance, health, education, senior citizens, youth, and the nemployed/underemployed. WNDD is also:

• A forum to discuss and address common concerns and  opportunities of a regional nature
• An Economic Development District (EDD) designated by the Economic Development Administration (EDA), U.S. Department of Commerce
• A 501(c)(4) IRS designation
• Tax exempt by the Nevada Department of Taxation
• A Census Data Center Affiliate
• A provider of shared professional staff for its members
• Promoter of fiscal efficiency and working for opportunities through  joint activities

WNDD works primarily on behalf of the public sector in the seven county region, and has worked with local governments to develop project applications, secure funding and implement the following projects:

• Carson City Airport Industrial Park infrastructure
• Carson Valley Industrial Park Drainage
• Douglas County Meridian Industrial Park infrastructure
• Economic Feasibility Study for reconstruction of V&T Railroad (Carson   City, Douglas, Lyon and Storey Counties)
• Fallon, New River Business Park, infrastructure
• Fernley, park improvements (two projects)
• Fernley Wastewater Treatment Facility expansion (two projects)
• Flood mapping for disaster mitigation after the January 1997 floods
  (Carson City, Douglas, Lyon, and Storey Counties)
• Lovelock, information kiosk
• Lovelock Wastewater Treatment facility
• Lyon County, Santa Maria trail, Dayton
• Lyon County, Wilson Canyon trail improvements
• Mineral County, Rural Business Opportunity Grant, planning
• Mineral County, infrastructure for industrial park
• Mineral County, Hawthorne, store front improvements
• Northern Nevada Development Authority, NorthernNVision economic  development planning, WNDD provided $15,000 cash match, for the  seven county region
• Pershing County Industrial Park, infrastructure
• Silver Springs Airport, infrastructure
• Silver Springs, preliminary engineering report
• Silver Springs Wastewater Treatment facility
• Smith Valley (Lyon County), land acquisition for park
• Yerington, park improvements
• Yerington Waterline extension

WNDD maintains the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) to retain its status as an Economic Development District. The CEDS provides:

• An examination of the region (population, demographics, employment  levels, etc.) and identifies regional problems, opportunities, goals and  objectives.
• A CEDS update done each year and is completely revised every five years.
• A planning document for counties, cities, towns and tribes to cite for  their own uses and provides qualification for Economic Development  Administration funding.

WNDD’s work with the economic feasibility study for the V&T Railroad led to the creation of the TriCounty Railway Commission to further the work in implementing the reconstruction of the V&T Railway. The TriCounty Railway Commission was spun off into a separate entity resulting in the creation of the Northern Nevada Railroad Foundation. The Nevada Commission to Reconstruct the V&T Railway is a multi-jurisdictional organization now working to complete the reconstruction of this important railway to enhance northern Nevada as a tourist destination.

WNDD will continue its efforts regarding economic development in the seven county region through responding to the needs and requests of its members Working with a variety of partners, both public and private to develop and implement development projects.