Perspectives study crunches the numbers of Clark County

For the 23rd year, valley residents got an in-depth look at the people, places and businesses around them through the microscope of Perspectives 2002.

The annual Perspectives book and presentation are sponsored by the Metropolitan Research Association, a nonprofit organization funded by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Nevada Development Authority, KLAS-TV, Channel 8, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, College of Business and Wells Fargo Bank Nevada. The book provides up-to-date, countywide statistics and surveys broken down by ZIP code. This year, the book's compilers also provided a 10-year comparison, matching 2002's numbers against the numbers from 1993.

Perspectives host Jay Kornmayer, chairman of Wells Fargo Bank Nevada, said this year's theme, 1993 -2002 a Decade of Challenge and Change, adds a longer view than just looking at this year's numbers compared to the numbers from last year. He said that view shows that this 10-year period has been filled with unprecedented growth unmatched anywhere else in the world.

That growth shows in the numbers. In one year, Clark County's number of retirees grew by 3.9 percent. In the 10-year snapshot, retiree numbers surged by 71.8 percent. In one year the population of Clark County expanded by 5.3 percent, in 10 years that increase was 71.7 percent.

Perspectives speaker Dr. R. Keith Schwer, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at UNLV, said he anticipates that survey tools must be expanded to include more information from Clark County's growing Spanish-speaking population. This year's book shares 2000 U.S. Census data, but Schwer would like to see Clark County's Spanish speakers interviewed locally to provide more accurate numbers.

Only 3.1 percent of the 1,578,332 county's residents are Nevada natives, while 38.9 percent come from California. Other states lending large numbers of natives include Arizona, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Utah, New York, Washington, Colorado and Oregon.

Nevada Development Authority President Somer Hollingsworth, keynote speaker at the Perspectives event, said the NDA intends to bring even more residents and jobs to Southern Nevada. The Authority was founded in 1956 as the Southern Nevada Industrial Foundation or SNIF. The goal remains the same -- to attract, retain and expand businesses in the valley. The primary purpose is to diversify Nevada's economic base so that the local economy won't be so heavily dependant on gaming and tourism as the only source of income.

Hollingsworth said the Las Vegas Valley has plenty to offer relocating or expanding businesses. The 24-hour town provides a workforce capable and willing to work any shift.

"You can't find 24-hour workplaces in other places. Here it's no problem finding people to work swing or graveyard," Hollingsworth said.

Hollingsworth said additional reasons to pick Nevada include a state tax structure with no state income tax, an educated workforce, state incentives for businesses, a strong telecommunications system, a reliable power base and quick easy travel or shipping capability.

Hollingsworth said he and his staff use these carrots and more to attract high paying jobs. In the past, the Authority was willing to go after any business, but now they have set their sights on jobs with a median income of $20 an hour or more.

"We help everybody, but when we recruit we only go after quality companies," he said.

Hollingsworth said population growth isn't his goal, jobs are. He feels the valley will continue to boom even if he doesn't bring in jobs for the 5,000 new residents who move here every month.

"A lot of people blame us for the growth. I was on the radio the other day when a woman called in complaining and said, 'I remember when I could drive across town in five minutes.' I do, too, but the town was 4 1/2-feet wide then," Hollingsworth said.

Last year the Authority brought 50 new companies to the valley and helped expand 13 local businesses. Nineteen of those were in manufacturing, 14 in service industries, six in technology, six in warehouse or distribution, three in health care and two were company headquarters. Thirteen of these new companies moved from California.

Copies of the 2002 Perspectives book are available at the Nevada Development Authority offices, 3773 Howard Hughes Parkway. To order a copy, call 791-0000.


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