New GIS database to locate properties, analyze business, map demographics and more

Media Contacts:
Faye I. Andersen, (775) 834-4822,
Karl Walquist, (775) 834-3891

Finding a suitable location to establish a company or business in northern Nevada just got a whole lot easier, thanks toNevada Site Search, an interactive geographic information system (GIS), hosted by Sierra Pacific Power Company's Econo6mic Development Department.

Nevada Site Search is making the jobs of brokers and developers in northern Nevada much easier.  It is also helping attract potential businesses to the state by making their search for available commercial land or buildings easy, plus generating site-specific demographic and business analysis reports all from one website.  Perhaps the best part is for brokers or developers listing property, it's free. 

This new GIS is part of the on-going evolution of Sierra Pacific Power's economic development efforts, which launched a Geographic Real Estate and Office Industrial Database in spring 2006.  The new Nevada Site Search was designed by GIS Planning and uses Google Maps which include features to zoom in/out, pan and identify other information on the map.  Users will be able to generate business reports for any available property that will show existing businesses on the map, color-coded by industry.

"We've come a long way from the days of static directories,"says Grant Sims, manager of Economic Development for Sierra Pacific Power Company. "Last year's launch of our geographic information system was a big improvement, but the new Nevada Site Search is faster, offers brokers and developers more options for analysis and reporting to clients, and can hold a much larger database than before."

Site searches for available properties can be conducted in 14 of Nevada's 17 counties, and can be tailored by property type for land, offices or commercial and industrial buildings; square footage; sales or lease terms; plus a host of other information, such as access to roads and railroads, population demographics, even educational facilities.

Of particular interest to regional economic development efforts is the ability of Nevada Site Search users to generate business cluster reports for available property based on the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada's Target2010, planning initiatives, and Northern Nevada Development Authority's NorthernNVision strategic initiative. 

"Nevada Site Search is a convenient one-stop-shop for showcasing available land, buildings and properties in the region,"said Ken Pierson, director of business development for EDAWN. "The system is easy to use and will go a long way in helping us promote Greater Reno-Tahoe as a top place to do business to prospective companies looking at our region."

"The new GIS-based database will make our presentations to prospective tenants and landlords much more comprehensive and informative. This tool will add value to us and our tenants, and is another great testament to the commitment the Economic Development Department at Sierra Pacific has to the community,"said Eric Bennett, vice president of CB Richard Ellis, the largest and most diverse commercial brokerage company in northern Nevada. 

To learn how to list available properties to Nevada Site Search, contact Cheree Boteler, at Sierra Pacific Power Company;caboteler@sppc.com; 775-834-3755. 

Headquartered in Reno, Nevada, Sierra Pacific Power Company is the principal utility for most of northern Nevada and the Lake Tahoe area of California. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sierra Pacific Resources which also is the holding company for Nevada Power Company, the electric utility for southern Nevada. Sierra Pacific Power also distributes natural gas in the Reno-Sparks area of northern Nevada.