Courtesy photos
Rendering of the Innovation District located in the Southwest valley of Las Vegas. Thursday, October 19, 2023
Monday, Oct. 23, 2023 | 2 a.m.
Clark County officials want to create a district that promotes innovation and technology, and would rival other notable areas where tech is thriving such as the Silicon Valley in Northern California or near Salt Lake City.
The proposed technological district would set the stage for diversifying the economy, said Shani Coleman, Clark County’s director of community and economic development.
“We really wanted to lay that groundwork and create that space where people that promote those people to think about innovation and drive new thoughts,” she said.
The Clark County Commission earlier this month approved an action plan for the development of the district with offices for new technology and innovation companies as well as community spaces.
The district is located in the southwest valley, bordered by Russell Road to the north, Durango Drive on the west, Decatur Boulevard to the east and Robindale Road to the south.
The existing businesses in the district represent what the county hopes will be the future of Southern Nevada’s economy — one that includes more technology, advanced manufacturing, engineering and creative industries.
Many notable tech companies already call the area home, including the data center Switch and UNLV’s 122-acre Harry Reid Research and Technology Park. Other companies include: Pepsi Las Vegas, Boyd Gaming, Ainsworth Gaming Technology and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Apex.
“We want to make sure that we capitalize on those projects that are already in motion, and really highlight them as we go out into the public and invite other companies, other businesses to move into our innovation corridor,” Commissioner Justin Jones said.
Jones said the county has begun moving forward with funding a direct fiber connection between the Harry Reid Research Park and Switch to allow area businesses to connect with the resources of the two “anchors.”
Once hooked up, businesses would be able to connect to the fiber network of the two companies for faster data processing and computing, Jones said. That means jobs and research being accomplished at a more efficient pace.
This arrangement would make Las Vegas’ tech scene “pretty unique when you compare (Las Vegas’) position with other cities,” Jones said.
“I’m really excited to get the supercomputer connected throughout this corridor, I think this really has the potential to be a game changer for this area … and that’ll be an enormous attractor for businesses in this space,” Commissioner Michael Naft said.
The county intends to attract real estate developers to build housing in the area, and tap into their connections with the Regional Transportation Commission to create a robust transit system to connect offices with retail or dining in nearby spaces like the Arroyo Market Square.
There’s already the Durango Resort, set to open Nov. 20, and the mixed-use development UnCommons with retail and office spaces as well as more than 350 apartments projected to be completed by 2024.
Coleman said she doesn’t want the area to just be limited to the companies that move there and their employees.
“It’s not just about, OK, we created or we designated this area, and only the cool kids get in, but it’s about everything,” Coleman said. “Making sure that even if you’re on the opposite end of town, that you feel that this is a place for you to participate; this is a place for you to come; this is a place for you to be innovative; this is a place for you to learn; this is a place for you to play.”
Because the project is still in its early stages, there’s no set cost projections for the cost, its economic benefit or the completion date, officials said.
The county’s Office of Community and Economic Development recently applied for a $500,000 federal Tech Hubs Program Phase 1, which is “designed to drive regional technology and innovation-centric growth.”
If the county is awarded that, it could help with launching the first phases of the district, Coleman said.
In the immediate 12 to 18 months, the county will be looking at developing marketing and branding to help boost the district. They will also assemble a steering committee of county employees to lead and oversee the project.
“We’ve seen the success that other innovation districts around the world have had, and we’ve seen what they can mean for our goal for economic diversification,” Naft said. “That’s what we want, to the extent that we can make it easier for companies to relocate here (and) that we can help businesses that are already in place.”
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