B

eyond the bright lights of the casinos, Nevada is turning up some winning numbers. The American Electronics Association (AeA) ranks Nevada as number three in the nation in the growth of high tech sector jobs. The study also ranks the state at the top of the national chart for growth in high-tech exports, and the Milken Institute named Reno one of the top six emerging centers for "Knowledge Value Cities in the Digital Age."
      In a state where the chink of the roulette wheel has been the state song, this is music to the ears of economic development officials. The Las Vegas and Reno regions are attempting to diversify their economies and bring in industry not heavily dependent on the gambling and travel sectors. "There's a new Nevada taking shape," says Michael Thomas, executive director of TechAlliance@NewNevada. "We are perfectly situated to allow companies to exist in an environment that gives easy access to western markets, but provides an escape from the barriers of doing business that exists in other regions."

      In May 2001, Intuit, a small business financial solutions company, an-nounced plans to build a new state-of-the-art campus near Reno. The firm expects to employ 850 workers and will build three buildings by 2003. Company officials expect to occupy 150,000 sq. ft. (13,935 sq. m.) of space in the new Sierra Corporate Center, designed for high-tech tenants with a concentric fiber optic ring for high-speed Internet access.
      Intuit plans to headquarter its payroll operations in the Reno facility and will become the second largest high-tech employer in the area. "There are important changes taking place here in northern Nevada, and economic development is paying off," adds Thomas. Intuit officials believe the operation will play a large part of the company's future growth. "We've grown at a rapid pace," says Larry King Jr., vice president and general manager of Intuit's Payroll Services Group. "This groundbreaking is a sign of even more exciting things to come for Intuit and the Reno community."
      The Reno-Tahoe area is also home to the Reno-Tahoe Technology Center. The center, approximately 850,000 sq. ft. (78,965 sq. m.) of office space, will be the largest office development in northern Nevada. The campus will also feature numerous communications amenities and an on-site co-location data center. "This is significant," says Thomas, "because it represents a large investment in our belief that the tech sector is continuing to grow in the region."