Web site aids local work force

Three economic developers are spending about $10,000 in private and taxpayer money on a Web site they say will bring young skilled workers to "Greater Reno-Tahoe."

The site, www.myNVdreamjob.com, lists links to about 30 regional businesses under a section called "cool career moves," as well as nine links to entertainment sites and four links to professional networking sites.

It will help bring workers ages 28 to 40 who make $30,000 a year or more to the region, economic developers say.

"Companies looking to relocate to Greater Reno-Tahoe or expand in the region are experiencing challenges in finding skilled workers," said Steve Hull, a consultant for the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada. "At the same time that companies are searching for skilled workers, young professionals entering the work force are having difficulties finding these open positions."

Other subsidized corporations funding the site are the Northern Nevada Development Authority and Nevadaworks.

Jared Lopiccolo, a 26-year-old president of the marketing agency Noble Studios, said he thinks the site is a good use of public money, but by providing only links to others sites, it will lose the attention of readers.

Lopiccolo, a board member of the Northern Nevada Development Authority, said the site should allow people to search for jobs and events, instead of being simply "a big link farm."

Agreeing with representatives from the three economic development corporations, Lopiccolo said the public should look at the site as part of the bigger $400,000 "Greater Reno-Tahoe: Welcome to Can Do" marketing campaign for the region.

"The reinvention of your career, the reinvigoration of your possibilities, the radical reinterpretation of your wildest dreams," the Web site says. "Come discover an invigorating new take on life, work and the tireless pursuit of a thriving, wide-smiling you."

Carole Vilardo, president of the Nevada Taxpayers Association, said the "Can Do" campaign has used public funds well. She said she especially likes the focus on skilled workers, because those people are more likely to pay higher property and sales taxes and use few social services.

Carson City Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ronni Hannaman said the public will accept the project if it produces results.

This is something it will do, said Northern Nevada Development Authority Executive Director Ron Weisinger, because the site has to meet the standards of the government and the businesses invested in the site.

One of the ways officials will advertise the site will be with banners at the Reno-Tahoe National Airport.

For funding, the Northern Nevada Development Authority gets 40 percent of its money from the state and Nevadaworks gets all of its money from the federal government. The Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada did not provide funding statistics as of Tuesday night.

• Contact reporter Dave Frank at dfrank@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.