Investment in small things is also taking shape at the University of Nevada, Reno. Nevada Ventures, a Reno-based venture capital fund has given UNR a three-year, $300,000 grant to begin studying nanosciences. The field is expected to provide advances in medicines and military hardware within the next few years. UNR is contributing an additional $100,000 to fund the Nevada Ventures Nanosciences Program with lab space and professors at UNR. Community and academic officials hope the program will spur additional investments. "And this is a good way to help slow down the brain drain of academic talent leaving Nevada," says Robb Smith, Nevada Ventures general partner. "It presents a pretty compelling opportunity to go to UNR."
        Reno area officials are touting the city's high-tech advantages as a new alternative to Silicon Valley and a hot spot for spin-offs. Fred Sibayan , CEO of Sierra VisionLaunch, a Reno-based incubator for start-ups, will bring several industry figures to the Reno area in the next year for tours and to hold discussions with business leaders in the area. Local Reno employer Intuit is consolidating its 525 payroll services employees into one corporate campus. The firm expects to open a 45,000-sq. ft. (4,180-sq. m.) hub center for sales, an additional 150,000-sq. ft. (1,393-sq. m.) building this year, and a third building in March 2003.
        "They have a great connection to the San Francisco Bay area and the technology there," says Chuck Alvey, CEO of the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada. "There are a lot of real positives to having them here."
        Henderson continues to be Nevada's hottest new business spot. According to Conway Data's new plant database, Henderson scored 10 major investments in 2001. Early in 2001 Hughes Electronics tapped Henderson as the site for its two-way satellite Internet service, the Spaceway Program, although those plans are on hold as Hughes merges with Littleton-based EchoStar.
        Henderson's success may be due to the targeted industry program. City officials identified five industry clusters, with 34 specific industry categories, that civic leaders wanted to attract: education services, both private and public; computer and electronic technology; medical and biomedical technology, driven by services offered by UNLV's (University of Nevada Las Vegas) Applied Research Initiative; the supplier industry; and senior living.

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